🇹🇱

Flag of Timor-Leste

Asia

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Quick Facts

Capital
Dili
Flag adopted
2002
Population
1,391,221
Area
14,874 km²
Languages
Portuguese, Tetum
Currency
United States dollar ($) — USD
Demonym
East Timorese
Government
semi-presidential republic
Subregion
South-Eastern Asia
Driving side
Left
Timezones
UTC+09:00
Independence
1975

Religions

  • Roman Catholic 90.7%
  • Other 7.1%
  • Protestant Evangelical 1.9%

About This Flag

The flag of Timor-Leste (East Timor) features a red field with a black isosceles triangle based on the hoist side, overlaid with a smaller yellow triangle, and a white five-pointed star on the black triangle. Red represents the struggle for national liberation, yellow signifies the traces of colonialism, black symbolizes the obscurantism (ignorance) that must be overcome, and the white star serves as a guiding light toward peace.

The flag was originally designed by the independence movement FRETILIN and was first used in 1975 during the brief initial declaration of independence from Portugal. It was readopted on May 20, 2002, when Timor-Leste became the first new sovereign state of the 21st century.

What the colors & design mean

Red represents the struggle for national liberation. Black symbolizes the obscurantism and oppression that must be overcome. Yellow signifies the traces of colonialism in the nation's history. The white star is the guiding light of peace and hope for the future.

red yellow black white

Pattern: Complex Design

Bordering countries (1)

🇮🇩 Indonesia

Fun Facts

  • Timor-Leste was the first new sovereign state of the 21st century, gaining independence on May 20, 2002, after a long struggle that included Portuguese colonialism, Indonesian occupation (1975-1999), and UN transitional administration.
  • The flag was originally designed in 1975 for a declaration of independence that lasted only nine days before Indonesia invaded, and the same flag was restored 27 years later.
  • Timor-Leste is one of only two predominantly Catholic countries in Asia (the other being the Philippines), a legacy of over 400 years of Portuguese colonial rule.
  • The country occupies the eastern half of the island of Timor — 'Timor' itself comes from the Malay word for 'east,' making 'East Timor' literally 'East East' in translation.

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