Timor-Leste

Islam in Timor-Leste (East Timor) is a very small minority religion, with limited influence compared to Christianity, which overwhelmingly dominates the country.

1. Muslim Population
Muslims make up less than 1% of Timor-Leste’s population (out of about 1.3 million people). The majority of the population (over 97%) is Roman Catholic, making Timor-Leste one of the most Catholic countries in the world. The Muslim community numbers around 2,500 to 4,000 people, including:

  • Ethnic Malays.
  • Indonesian immigrants, especially from West Timor.
  • A small number of local Timorese converts.

2. History of Islam in Timor-Leste

  • Islam was introduced during the time of Indonesian occupation (1975–1999), when many Indonesians (mostly Muslims) migrated to East Timor as part of government-sponsored resettlement programs.
  • After Timor-Leste’s independence in 2002, many Indonesian Muslims returned to Indonesia, reducing the Muslim population significantly.
  • A handful of Muslim families of Arab or Malay descent were present even before Indonesian rule, but they remain a tiny group.

3. Religious Practices
There are two main mosques in Dili, the capital city:

  • An-Nur Mosque — the largest mosque in the country.
  • Al-Fatah Mosque — serving the small local and expatriate Muslim community.

The Muslim community observes:

  • Five daily prayers (Salah).
  • Fasting during Ramadan.
  • Eid celebrations (Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha).

Halal food and other Islamic resources are limited but available in Dili.

4. Muslim Organizations

  • Islamic associations exist, mostly for social, religious, and educational purposes.
  • These groups focus on maintaining Islamic teachings, prayer services, and supporting the small Muslim community.
  • Occasionally, support and contact come from neighboring Indonesia or Malaysia.

5. Social and Cultural Role

  • Islam has minimal influence on national politics, culture, or public life.
  • Religious freedom is protected by law, and Muslims can practice their faith freely.
  • Interfaith relations between Muslims, Christians, and followers of local animist traditions are generally peaceful and respectful.

6. Challenges
Muslims in Timor-Leste face:

  • Limited access to halal food, Islamic schools, and books.
  • Small and scattered community, making communal religious life difficult.
  • Occasional social suspicion or misunderstanding, as Islam is often associated with the former Indonesian occupation, but outright discrimination is rare.

7. Fun Fact
Despite its small Muslim population, Timor-Leste maintains diplomatic and economic ties with several Muslim-majority countries, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, due to geography and trade.

Timor-Leste (East Timor)
Country Code Top-Level Domain: .tl
Country Code: +670