Capital of Timor-Leste: Dili — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Timor-Leste is Dili. Timor-Leste sits in Asia, has a population of 1,341,296, and uses the USD. Official languages include Tetum, Portuguese.
Quick facts
- Capital: Dili
- Continent: Asia
- Population: ~1,341,296
- Area: 14,874 km²
- Population density: 90.2 people per km²
- Official languages: Tetum, Portuguese
- Currency: USD
- ISO code: TL
How big is Timor-Leste?
By population, Timor-Leste ranks 154th in the world, holding roughly 0.02% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 155th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Timor-Leste has 90.2 people per square kilometre, which is somewhat above the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Asia, Timor-Leste is the 45th most populous country of 48.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Timor-Leste in population are Estonia (1,326,590) and Mauritius (1,299,469).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Bahamas (13,943 km²) and Montenegro (13,812 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Tetum is listed as an official language of Timor-Leste alone, which is unusual — most official languages are shared across borders.
The USD is not unique to Timor-Leste — it is also used by Ecuador, El Salvador, Marshall Islands and Micronesia, and 2 others. Shared currencies usually mark a monetary union or a long-standing peg, and they are a useful shortcut in quizzes: get one country's currency and you often get several.
How to remember Timor-Leste
Dili, the capital and largest city, lies on the northern coast of the island of Timor, on a small area of flat land hemmed in by mountains. For the flag, picture a white star on a black arrow inside a yellow arrow.
The flag of Timor-Leste: red, yellow, black and white
🇹🇱 The flag is a red flag with a yellow arrowhead and a smaller black triangle pointing in from the flagpole, with a white star on the black triangle. Yellow stands for the colonial past, black for the obscurity that needs to be overcome, and red for the struggle for freedom. The white star stands for peace and a guiding light.
Region and neighbours
Timor-Leste is a country in Southeast Asia that covers the eastern half of the island of Timor, plus the coastal exclave of Oecusse in the island's northwest and the islands of Atauro and Jaco. It shares land borders with one country: Indonesia.
- Indonesia 🇮🇩 — capital Jakarta
Three facts about Timor-Leste
- Timor-Leste's independence was restored on 20 May 2002.
- Its official languages are Portuguese and Tetun.
- Timor-Leste took part in the 2026 ASEAN summit, held in the Philippines, as a full member of ASEAN.
Sources: Wikipedia: Timor-Leste, Wikipedia: Flag of Timor-Leste, Wikipedia: Dili, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Timor-Leste
- Asian capitals quiz — match Timor-Leste to Dili
- Asian flags quiz — spot the Timor-Leste flag among its neighbours
Timor-Leste capital quiz
What is the capital of Timor-Leste 🇹🇱?
- Malé
- Islamabad
- Dili
- Bandar Seri Begawan
Show answer
Dili
What is the capital of Bahrain 🇧🇭?
- Singapore
- Tashkent
- Dhaka
- Manama
Show answer
Manama
What is the capital of Bhutan 🇧🇹?
- Kuala Lumpur
- Thimphu
- Ulaanbaatar
- Beijing
Show answer
Thimphu
What is the capital of Qatar 🇶🇦?
- Jakarta
- Phnom Penh
- Doha
- Dili
Show answer
Doha
What is the capital of Armenia 🇦🇲?
- Yerevan
- Singapore
- Doha
- Dushanbe
Show answer
Yerevan
Timor-Leste is also in the Southeast Asia capitals quiz.
Timor-Leste in Asia
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Asia is the block Timor-Leste belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Timor-Leste.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Timor-Leste?
The capital of Timor-Leste is Dili.
What is the population of Timor-Leste?
About 1,341,296, making it the 154th most populous country in the world.
How big is Timor-Leste?
14,874 square kilometres, ranking 155th by land area, at a density of 90.2 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Timor-Leste use?
The USD, shared with 6 other countries.
What are the colours of the Timor-Leste flag?
The flag of Timor-Leste is a red flag with a yellow arrowhead and a smaller black triangle pointing in from the flagpole, with a white star on the black triangle. Yellow stands for the colonial past, black for the obscurity that needs to be overcome, and red for the struggle for freedom. The white star stands for peace and a guiding light.
Which countries border Timor-Leste?
Timor-Leste shares land borders with Indonesia.
How can I remember the capital of Timor-Leste?
Dili, the capital and largest city, lies on the northern coast of the island of Timor, on a small area of flat land hemmed in by mountains. For the flag, picture a white star on a black arrow inside a yellow arrow.
More capitals to learn
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