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Timor-Leste declines in Human Development Rankings

By Charles Scheiner, La’o Hamutuk
6 December 2007

Click here for Timor-Leste's data in the latest Human Development Report, issued in November 2010.

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) issues a Human Development Report every year. The 2007/2008 edition, published on 27 November 2007, is entitled “Fighting climate change: human solidarity in a divided world.” In addition to the thematic discussion and a wealth of statistical data on health, education, economics and other factors, the UNDP calculates a “Human Development Index” (HDI) for each country. The HDI combines life expectancy, education (literacy and school enrollment) and income to produce a composite measure of human development.

In the 2007/2008 report, which is mostly based on data from 2005, the HDI for Timor-Leste is 0.514. Timor-Leste ranks 150th of 177 countries with data. Except for Yemen and several countries in Africa, this is the lowest in the world.

Timor-Leste’s human development index 2005 (from 2007/2008 report)
HDI valueLife expectancy at birth
(years)
Adult literacy rate
(% ages 15 and older)
Combined primary, secondary and tertiary gross enrolment ratio
(%)
1. Iceland (0.968) 1. Japan (82.3) 1. Georgia (100.0) 1. Australia (113.0)
148. Kenya (0.521)
149. Djibouti (0.516)
150. Timor-Leste (0.514)
151. Zimbabwe (0.513)
152. Togo (0.512)
133. Yemen (61.5)
134. Myanmar (60.8)
135. Timor-Leste (59.7)
136. Haiti (59.5)
137. Ghana (59.1)
121. Morocco (52.3)
122. Mauritania (51.2)
123. Timor-Leste (50.1)
124. Pakistan (49.9)
125. Côte d'Ivoire (48.7)
91. Iran (72.8)
92. Gabon (72.4)
93. Timor-Leste (72.0)
94. Thailand (71.2)
95. Honduras (71.2)
177. Sierra Leone (0.336) 177. Zambia (40.5) 139. Burkina Faso (23.6) 172. Niger (22.7)

Since last year, Timor-Leste’s human development index has risen slightly but its rank has dropped, falling below Madagascar, Cameroon, Swaziland, Djibouti, Lesotho, Kenya, Mauritania and Haiti in the rankings. Last year's 2006 UNDP Human Development Report, based on 2004 data, calculated Timor-Leste’s HDI as 0.512, ranking 142 out of 177, down from 140 the previous year, which was the first time the HDR included statistics about Timor-Leste. The principal reason for the decline is the Adult Literacy statistic, which dropped from 58.6% (rank 110) in 2004 to 50.1% (rank 123) in 2005, a change which probably reflects inconsistencies in data rather than people forgetting how to read.

The complete 2007/8 UNDP Human Development Report and related information are available from http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2007-2008/. A discussion of poverty and climate change in relation to Timor-Leste has been removed from UNDP website but is archived here by La'o Hamutuk.

The following statistical information for Timor-Leste is from the UNDP 2007/8 Human Development Report. In most cases, the information was collected in 2005. The link from each item will take you to that statistic for all countries. For reference, we have also included the values from the previous year. In a few cases, the numbers make no sense or changes from year to year seem unreasonable, but these figures are what was reported by UNDP.

Statistic

2007 report
(most data from 2005)

2006 report
(most data from 2004)

units
notes

1. Human development index

Human development index value, 2005

0.514

0.512

 

Life expectancy at birth, annual estimates, 2005

59.7

56.0

years

Adult literacy rate (aged 15 and older), 1995-2005

50.1%

58.6%

 1

Combined gross enrolment ratio for primary, secondary and tertiary education, 2005

72.0%

72%

 2

GDP per capita (PPP US$), 2005

 

..

 3 4

Life expectancy index

0.578

0.52

 

Education index

0.574

0.63

 

GDP index

0.390

0.39

 

GDP per capita (PPP US$) rank minus HDI rank

16

20

 

1a. Basic indicators for other UN member states

Life expectancy at birth, annual estimates (years), 2000-0559.7

55.2

years
Adult literacy rate (% aged 15 and older), 1995-200550.1%

58.6%

Combined gross enrolment ratio for primary, secondary and tertiary education (%), 200572%71.7%
Population, total (thousands), 20041,067,000887,000 
Fertility rate, total (births per woman), 2000-0577.8 
Under-five mortality rate (per 1,000 live births), 20056180per 1,000
Net primary enrolment rate (%), 200498%
HIV prevalence (% aged 15-49), 2005[<0.2]%[<0.2]%
Population undernourished (% of total population), 2002/049%8%
Population using an improved water source (%), 200458%58%

2. Human development index trends

Human development index (trends), 2005

0.514

0.512

 

3. Human and income poverty: developing countries

Human poverty index (HPI-1) rank95  
Human Poverty Index (HPI-1) value41.8%  

Probability at birth of not surviving to age 40 (% of cohort), 2000-05

21.2%

25.5%

 

Adult illiteracy rate (% aged 15 and older), 1995-200549.9%  5

Population not using an improved water source, 2004

42%

42%

 

Children underweight for age (% under age 5) 1996-2005

46%

46%

 

4. Human and income poverty: OECD countries, Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS

Probability at birth of not surviving to age 60 (% of cohort), 2000-05

37.0%

42.4%

 

5. Demographic trends

Total population, 1975

700,000

700,000

 

Total population, 2005

1,100,000

900,000

 

Total population, 2015

1,500,000

1,500,000

 

Annual population growth rate, 1975-2005

1.5%

1.0%

 

Annual population growth rate, 2005-15

3.4%

4.7%

 

Urban population (% of total), 1975

14.6%

14.6%

 

Urban population (% of total), 2005

26.5%

26.1%

 

Urban population (% of total), 2015

31.2%

31.2%

 

Population under age 15 (% of total), 2005

45.0%

41.6%

 

Population under age 15 (% of total), 2015

44.0%

46.7%

 

Population ages 65 and older (% of total), 2005

2.7%

2.9%

 

Population ages 65 and older (% of total), 2015

3.0%

3.0%

 

Total fertility rate (births per woman), 1970-75

6.2

6.2

 

Total fertility rate (births per woman), 2000-05

7.0

7.8

 

6. Commitment to health: resources, access and services

Public health expenditure (% of GDP), 2004

8.8%

7.3%

 

Private health expenditure (% of GDP), 2004

2.4%

2.3%

 

Health expenditure per capita (PPP US$), 2004

$143

$125

per capita

One-year-olds fully immunized against tuberculosis, 2005

70%

72%

 

One-year-olds fully immunized against measles, 2005

48%

55%

 

Contraceptive prevalence rate (% of married women ages 15-49), 1996-2005

10%

10%

 

Births attended by skilled health personnel, 1996-2005

18%

18%

 

Physicians (per 100,000 people), 1990-2004

10

10

 6

7. Water, sanitation and nutritional status

Population with sustainable access to improved sanitation, 2004

36%

36%

 

Population using an improved water source, 2004

58%

58%

 

Population undernourished (% total), 1990-92

11%

11%

 6

Population undernourished (% total), 2002-04

9%

8%

 

Children underweight for age (% under age 5), 1996-2005

46%

46%

 

Children under height for age (% under age 5), 1996-2005

56%

49%

 6

Infants with low birthweight, 1996-2005

12%

10%

 

9. Leading global health crises and risks

HIV prevalence (% ages 15-49), 2005

[<0.2%]

[<0.2%]

 

Children under age 5 using insecticide-treated bednets, 1999-2005

8%

8%

 7

Children under age 5 with fever treated with antimalarial drugs, 1999-2005

19%

47%

 

Tuberculosis cases - prevalence (per 100,000 people), 2005

713

692

/100,000

Tuberculosis cases detected under DOTS, 2005

44%

46%

 

Tuberculosis cases cured under DOTS, 2003

80%

81%

 

10. Survival: progress and setbacks

Life expectancy at birth, 1970-75

40.0

40.0

years

Life expectancy at birth, 2000-05

58.3

55.2

years

Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births), 2005

52

64

/1,000

Under-five mortality rate (per 1,000 live births), 2005

61

80

/1,000

Probability at birth of surviving to age 65, female (% of cohort), 2000-05

57.3%

52.7%

 

Probability at birth of surviving to age 65, male (% of cohort), 2000-05

52.9%

47.3%

 

Maternal mortality ratio adjusted (per 100,000 live births), 2000

380

660

/100,000 6

12. Literacy and enrolment

Net primary enrolment rate, 2005

98%

 

 8

Net secondary enrolment ratio, 2004

 

20%

 

14. Economic performance

GDP, 2005

$300,000,000

$300,000,000

 

GDP per capita (US$), 2005

$358

$367

per capita

18. Flows of aid, private capital and debt

Official development assistance (ODA) received (net disbursements) Total, 2005

$184,700,000

$152,800,000

 

Official development assistance (ODA) received (net disbursements) Per capita, 2005

$189.4

$172.2

per capita

Official development assistance (ODA) received (net disbursements) (as % of GDP), 2005

52.9%

45.1%

 

19. Priorities in public spending

Public expenditure on health (% of GDP), 2004

8.8%

7.3%

 

21. Energy and the environment

Electricity consumption per capita (kilowatt-hours), 2004

294

301

 kwh 9

Forest area (% total land), 2005

53.7  
Forest area (thousand sq km), 20058,000 km2
Forest area change from 1990-2005 (thousand sq km), 1990-2005-1,700 km2
Forest area, average annual change (%), 1990-2005-1.2%  

24. Carbon dioxide emissions and stocks

   
CO2 emissions, total (Mt CO2), 20040.2  

Carbon dioxide emissions - Per capita (metric tons), 2004

0.2

0.2

 

Carbon dioxide emissions - Share of world total (%), 2004

(.)

(.)

 

25. Status of major international environmental treaties (year of ratification/signature)

   

Ratification of environmental treaties - Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

nono 

Ratification of environmental treaties - Framework Convention on Climate Change

2006no 

Ratification of environmental treaties - Kyoto Protocol to the Framework Convention on Climate Change

2007no 15

Ratification of environmental treaties - Convention on Biological Diversity

2006no 
Vienna Convention for the protection of the Ozone Layer, 1988 nono 
Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layernono 
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, 2001nono 
UN Law of the Sea nono 
UN Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa

2003

no 

26. Refugees and armaments

Internally displaced people, 2006

100

 thousand

Refugees by country of asylum (thousands), 2006

0

0

thousand

Refugees by country of origin (thousands), 2006

0

0

thousand

Total armed forces, 2007

1

1

thousand

27. Crime and justice

Prison population total, 2007320  
Prison population (per 100,000 people), 200741  
Prison population (% female), 2007(.)  
Year in which countries have partially or completely abolished the death penalty1999  

28. Gender-related development index

Life expectancy at birth, female, 2005

60.5

57.1

years

Life expectancy at birth, male, 2005

58.9

54.9

years

Combined gross enrolment ratio for primary, secondary and tertiary education, female (%) , 200571%  
Combined gross enrolment ratio for primary, secondary and tertiary education, male (%) , 200573%  
29. Gender empowerment measure
Seats in parliament (% held by women)

25.3%

25.3%

 11

30. Gender inequality in education

Gross primary enrolment ratio, female (%), 2005

145%

  
Gross primary enrolment ratio (ratio of female ratio to male ratio)

0.92

  
Gross secondary enrolment ratio, female (%), 2005

52%

  
Gross secondary enrolment ratio (ratio of female ratio to male ratio), 2005

1.00

  

Gross tertiary enrolment - female ratio (%), 2005

12%

12%

 12 13

Gross tertiary enrolment - ratio of female to male, 2005

1.48

1.48

 12 13

31. Gender inequality in economic activity

Female economic activity rate (% ages 15 and older), 2005

54.3.%

53.5%

 

Female economic activity (index, 1990=100, ages 15 and older), 2005

109

107

 

Female economic activity (as % of male rate, ages 15 and older), 2005

66%

66%

 

32. Women's political participation

Women in government at ministerial level (as % of total), 2005

22.2%

22.2%

 14

Seats in lower house or single house held by women (as % of total), 2007

25.3%

25.3%

 14

33. Status of major international human rights instruments (year of ratification/signature)

International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, 1948

nono

 

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 1965

2003

yes

 

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966

2003

yes

 

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966

2003

yes

 

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, 1979

2003

yes

 

Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 1984

2003

yes

 

Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989

2003

yes

 

34. Status of fundamental labour rights conventions

Freedom of association and collective bargaining - Convention 87

nono

 

Freedom of association and collective bargaining - Convention 98

nono

 

Elimination of forced and compulsory labour - Convention 29

nono

 

Elimination of forced and compulsory labour - Convention 105

nono

 

Elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation - Convention 100

nono

 

Elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation - Convention 111

nono

 

Abolition of child labour - Convention 138

nono

 

Abolition of child labour - Convention 182

nono

 

Notes:

UNDP (United Nations Development Programme). 2006. The Path out of Poverty. National Human Development Report for Timor-Leste. Dili.
National or UNESCO Institute for Statistics estimate.
Data refer to a year other than that specified.
For the purposes of calculating the HDI, a national estimate of 1,033 (PPP US$) was used.
UNDP (United Nations Development Programme). 2006. The Path out of Poverty. National Human Development Report for Timor-Leste. Dili.
 
UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund). 2005. State of the World's Children 2006. New York.
National or UNESCO Institute for Statistics estimate.
Data are estimates produced by the UN Statistics Division.
10  No wage data are available.
11  The purpose of the elections held on 30 August 2001 was to elect the members of the constituent assembly of Timor-Leste. This body became the national parliament on 20 May 2002, the date on which the country became independent, without any new elections.
12  National or UNESCO Institute for Statistics estimate.
13  Data refer to an earlier year than that specified.
14  The purpose of the elections held on 30 August 2001 was to elect the members of the Constituent Assembly of Timor-Leste. This body became the National Parliament on 20 May 2002, the date on which the country became independent, without any new elections. (This is prior to the 30 June 2007 Parliamentary elections -- La'o Hamutuk)
15 Timor-Leste signed the Kyoto Protocol in late 2007, too late for inclusion in this UNDP report. - La'o Hamutuk

The Timor-Leste Institute for Development Monitoring and Analysis (La’o Hamutuk)
Institutu Timor-Leste ba Analiza no Monitor ba Dezenvolvimentu
Rua dos Martires da Patria, Bebora, Dili, Timor-Leste
P.O. Box 340, Dili, Timor-Leste
Tel: +670-3321040 or +670-77234330
email: 
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