Timor-Leste's demographic and development challenges

What is it about?

This paper focuses on Timor-Leste as a case study to explore its current and future population dynamics and highlight important issues that are considered crucial to integrate into the country’s development strategy, in order to maintain peace and build sustainable development in the country. It stands out as an important case study through having focused on the relationship between one of the fastest growing populations in the world and its expansive youth bulge. A critical context to this is the observation that the country’s peace-building and sustainable development efforts are hindered by the deterioration of the natural environment, which is associated with weak institutions and poor governance.

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Why is it important?

It is widely acknowledged that efforts to promote sustainable development cannot succeed if they remain disassociated from the knowledge and policy options linked to population dynamics. Demographic information is important for any country’s strategic planning, but it is particularly crucial for maintaining peace and sustainable development in conflict-affected communities. This is because when social, economic and environmental challenges are exacerbated by demographic factors this can lead post-conflict countries to relapse into conflict with enormous drawbacks in their sustainable development efforts. The unique demographic characteristics of Timor-Leste – Asia’s newest nation - have created many tough challenges to its nation-building process.

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