rp21 situational analysis - Pacific Health Voices

Situational analysis of drug and alcohol issues and responses in the Pacific
152
Demographics
The estimated population of Timor-Leste is
2.1 million, 723 comprising an Austronesian
(Malayo-Polynesian) majority, Papuans and
a small Chinese minority. 724 It is estimated
that 98 per cent of the population is Roman
Catholic, with only small numbers of Muslims
and Protestants. 725 Like many of the PICTs,
Timor-Leste has a young population, with
almost 40 per cent aged 14 years or under. 726
In addition, Timor-Leste has a high rate of
population growth at around 4 per cent per
annum 727 and, in contrast to other PICTs,
there is little evidence of the same level of
population mobility. It is not a beneficiary
under any of the Pacific regional seasonal
migration schemes. 728
Government
The unicameral National Parliament is
comprised of between 52 to 65 seats with
members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms. The most recent elections
were held in 2007 and the next are planned
for 2012. 729 The leader of the majority party
or majority coalition is appointed as Prime
Minister by the President. 730 The violence and
unrest of April–May 2006 are indicative of
the challenges still ahead for Timor-Leste
on many fronts and are likely to affect the
capacity to develop a national-level response
to substance use issues.
Health and development
Timor-Leste remains one of the poorest
countries in the Asia–Pacific region, ranking
158 out of 179 countries worldwide according
to the 2008 UNDP Human Development
Index. 731 In addition, it ranks low on other
key indicators such as life expectancy, literacy
and GDP per capita. The economy remains
vulnerable, with notable contractions
and negative growth related to the departure
of international personnel in 2002 and violence
in 2006. 732 The absence of adequate
infrastructure and skills represents a challenge
to investment and development, with
the World Bank ranking Timor 170 of 181
nations in its Doing Business report. 733
723 MDGMonitor: Tracking the Millenium Development Goals, available at:
(accessed April 2009).
724 Profile on Timor-Leste in CIA, The World Factbook, available at: (accessed November 2008).
725 Ibid.
726 Ibid.
727 Above, fn.721.
728 International Organization for Migration, available at:
(accessed April 2009).
729 Above, fn.724.
730 Ibid.
731 Above, fn.721.
732 Ibid.
733 Ibid.