Timor-Leste (TLS)

Timor-Leste is a country in Asia with a population of 1,458,500. Timor-Leste, or East Timor, is a young nation on the island of Timor, known for its rugged mountains, Portuguese heritage, and a history of resilience. Timorese people value family, oral storytelling, and a deep connection to the land. Roman Catholicism is the main faith, but animist beliefs and rituals—such as sacred house ceremonies—remain important, especially in rural areas.

People Groups of Timor-Leste:

Timor-Leste Fast Facts:

Total People Groups:17
Total Population:1,458,500
Unengaged and Unreached:
People Groups:7
Population:236,300
Engaged yet Unreached:
People Groups:3
Population:85,000
No Longer Unreached:
People Groups:7
Population:1,137,200

Timor-Leste Realities:

Weighted GSEC: 4  
Dying Daily: 28  
Dying Daily without Christ: 27  
Birth Rate: 24.3  
Death Rate: 5.8

People Groups of Timor-Leste

Strategic Progress Index
All

17 people groups

PhotoPeople Group IDNameCountryPopulation ▼Strategic Progress IndexLanguageReligion
TetumTetumTimor-Leste566,000No Longer UnreachedTetun DiliRoman Catholicism
MambaiMambaiTimor-Leste256,000No Longer UnreachedMambaeRoman Catholicism
MakasaiMakasaiTimor-Leste162,000No Longer UnreachedMakasaeRoman Catholicism
AtoniAtoniTimor-Leste94,500Unengaged and UnreachedBaikenoRoman Catholicism
KemakKemakTimor-Leste83,000Unengaged and UnreachedKemakRoman Catholicism
BunakBunakTimor-Leste73,500No Longer UnreachedBunakAnimism
TokodeTokodeTimor-Leste53,000No Longer UnreachedTukudedeRoman Catholicism
DagodaDagodaTimor-Leste49,500Engaged yet UnreachedFatalukuRoman Catholicism
WaimahaWaimahaTimor-Leste24,000Unengaged and UnreachedWaima’aRoman Catholicism
Kairui-MidikKairui-MidikTimor-Leste20,000Unengaged and UnreachedKairui-MidikiRoman Catholicism
NauetiNauetiTimor-Leste20,000No Longer UnreachedNaueteRoman Catholicism
IdateIdateTimor-Leste18,000Engaged yet UnreachedIdatéRoman Catholicism
GaloliGaloliTimor-Leste17,500Engaged yet UnreachedGalolenRoman Catholicism
Deaf TimoreseDeaf TimoreseTimor-Leste6,900Unengaged and UnreachedIndonesian Sign LanguageRoman Catholicism
AdabeAdabeTimor-Leste6,700No Longer UnreachedAtauranRoman Catholicism
LakaleiLakaleiTimor-Leste4,300Unengaged and UnreachedLakaleiRoman Catholicism
HabuHabuTimor-Leste3,600Unengaged and UnreachedHabunRoman Catholicism

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

*Peoplegroups.org relies on updates from the field and other organizations for much of our data, so if you have any updates, please contact us. We use various international naming standards. For a list of these standards and fields, visit our Data Standards section.

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