East Timor, one of the world's newest and poorest nations, split from Indonesia after nearly a quarter of a century of repressive rule in which up to 183,000 people were killed through massacres, torture and starvation.

• Won independence after centuries of occupation
• Around a quarter of the population killed in 24 years
• Sporadic violence continues

The tiny territory broke away after voting for independence in a 1999 referendum surrounded by bloodshed blamed largely on pro-Jakarta militia backed by Indonesian military elements.

The United Nations estimates 1,000 people were killed. Towns were razed to the ground and infrastructure destroyed.

East Timor finally became independent in May 2002 after two-and-a-half years of U.N. administration.

The country comprises the east of Timor island and a small pocket on the western side. The rest belongs to Indonesia.

East Timor, heavily dependent on foreign aid, hopes prospective revenues from offshore oil and gas fields will reverse its fortunes and reduce its hunger levels.

Security remains fragile and the capital Dili is plagued by violent street gangs.

Deadly riots broke out in April 2006 after the government sacked hundreds of soldiers. Tens of thousands of people fled their homes amid fighting and looting. Ethnic and political violence flared again in August 2007 after inconclusive parliamentary elections led to a coalition government.

Population	1.1 million (Source: U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division, 2006)
Life expectancy	59.7 years (2005) (Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2007/8)
Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births)	52 (2005) (Source: U.N. Children's Fund - State of the World's Children 2007)
Underweight children, under age five	47 percent (Source: U.N. Children's Fund - State of the World's Children 2008)
Annual income per capita	$370 (Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2006)
Proportion below national poverty level	40 percent (2001) (Source: UNDP 2006)
Rural population	74 percent (2004) (Source: UNDP 2006 )
Youth unemployment	23 percent (2004) (Source: UNDP 2006)
Adult literacy	50.1 percent (1995-2005) (Source: UNDP 2007/8 )