Photo: Nhobgood Nick Hobgood · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Timor-Leste: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Timor-Leste is placed 90th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 65.91 (2025); Labour Income Share 31.09 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
90th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Timor-Leste on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
65.91
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Timor-Leste: 65.91. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in South-eastern Asia
- 82.17 Cambodia
- Land neighbours
- Indonesia 65.77
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
1.592
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Timor-Leste: 1.592. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in South-eastern Asia
- 0.263 Cambodia
- Land neighbours
- Indonesia 3.237
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
58.63
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Timor-Leste: 58.63. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in South-eastern Asia
- 4.478 Brunei
- Land neighbours
- Indonesia 49.96
02Over time
Which way Timor-Leste is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
Timor-LesteWorld median
Timor-Leste fell from 67.22 in 2000 to 65.91 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Timor-Leste World median 2025 65.913 57.720 2024 65.746 57.694 2023 65.562 58.158 2022 65.537 57.688 2021 64.914 56.066 2020 64.070 55.691 2019 64.416 57.871 2018 64.674 56.911 2017 64.205 56.738 2016 63.711 56.845 2015 64.422 56.788 2014 64.556 56.774 2013 64.765 56.229 2012 64.928 56.289 2011 65.127 56.297 2010 65.419 56.212 2009 65.889 56.255 2008 66.312 57.308 2007 66.784 56.933 2006 67.153 56.685 2005 66.941 56.129 2004 67.064 55.465 2003 67.282 55.630 2002 67.310 55.843 2001 66.878 56.018 2000 67.225 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
Timor-LesteWorld median
Timor-Leste fell from 37.5 in 2004 to 31.09 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Timor-Leste World median 2025 31.095 46.230 2024 31.090 46.060 2023 31.261 45.900 2022 31.078 45.615 2021 25.890 45.433 2020 38.387 47.267 2019 38.783 46.277 2018 52.511 46.187 2017 52.917 46.467 2016 47.011 46.798 2015 47.404 46.876 2014 52.102 47.281 2013 47.074 46.887 2012 52.864 46.231 2011 57.547 45.679 2010 52.337 46.024 2009 56.931 47.071 2008 44.956 45.312 2007 40.866 45.246 2006 39.746 45.670 2005 37.730 46.265 2004 37.498 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
Timor-LesteWorld median
Timor-Leste fell from 3.529 in 2000 to 1.592 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Timor-Leste World median 2025 1.592 5.08 2024 1.523 5.15 2023 1.525 5.21 2022 1.537 5.34 2021 2.344 6.04 2020 2.808 6.38 2019 3.148 5.36 2018 3.765 5.35 2017 4.254 5.59 2016 4.657 5.90 2015 3.678 6.41 2014 3.618 6.58 2013 3.570 6.71 2012 3.470 6.79 2011 3.385 6.90 2010 3.301 7.04 2009 3.289 6.67 2008 3.434 5.79 2007 3.523 6.00 2006 3.634 6.50 2005 3.611 7.09 2004 3.668 6.80 2003 3.540 6.95 2002 3.371 6.91 2001 3.386 6.96 2000 3.529 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
Timor-LesteWorld median
Timor-Leste fell from 61.32 in 2000 to 58.63 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Timor-Leste World median 2025 58.631 28.67 2024 58.796 29.04 2023 58.801 29.33 2022 57.317 29.67 2021 57.181 30.01 2020 57.628 30.54 2019 57.039 29.98 2018 57.931 30.15 2017 57.889 29.93 2016 57.784 29.91 2015 58.028 30.26 2014 58.356 30.47 2013 58.525 31.14 2012 59.072 31.00 2011 59.435 31.41 2010 59.981 32.37 2009 60.309 32.59 2008 60.627 31.76 2007 60.927 33.47 2006 61.014 34.27 2005 60.965 34.66 2004 60.981 35.51 2003 60.847 35.90 2002 60.794 35.96 2001 60.962 35.27 2000 61.321 35.67
03In context
Timor-Leste beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Timor-Leste and the countries it borders
Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Indonesia | 34th | 65.77 | 58.2 | 3.237 | 49.96 |
| Timor-Leste | 90th | 65.91 | 31.09 | 1.592 | 58.63 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across South-eastern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Timor-Leste in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Timor-Leste is ahead of the world, and behind
21 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median7
Statistics on which Timor-Leste does better than the middle country measured.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.833.71712.83▲ Improved since 2015
Timor-Leste: 3.717 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 169th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8114.241.81No earlier reading
Timor-Leste: 14.2 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 164th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1632.1919.16No earlier reading
Timor-Leste: 32.19 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 19th of 179 · derived.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.610.51.61No real change since 2015
Timor-Leste: 0.5 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3661.6853.36No real change since 2015
Timor-Leste: 61.68 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 40th of 182 · derived.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6666.9861.66No real change since 2015
Timor-Leste: 66.98 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 45th of 182 · derived.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 373▼ Worsened since 2015
Timor-Leste: 7 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Behind the world median7
Statistics on which Timor-Leste does worse than the middle country measured.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 988498▼ Worsened since 2015
Timor-Leste: 84 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Informal Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 36.7677.1936.76No earlier reading
Timor-Leste: 77.19 · world median 36.76 · Informal employment (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.857 to 94.44; lower is better.
Position 24th of 97 · derived, 1st = worst.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.166.5822.16▼ Worsened since 2015
Timor-Leste: 6.58 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 145th of 182 · derived.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.98.445.9No earlier reading
Timor-Leste: 8.4 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.88542.934.885▼ Worsened since 2015
Timor-Leste: 42.93 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,3849,32347,384▼ Worsened since 2015
Timor-Leste: 9,323 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 150th of 168 · derived.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.078.10632.07No earlier reading
Timor-Leste: 8.106 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Timor-Leste: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end6
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3846.0214.38Moved since 2015
Timor-Leste: 46.02 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 26th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8474.8631.84No real change since 2015
Timor-Leste: 74.86 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 28th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5150.1859.51Moved since 2015
Timor-Leste: 50.18 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 124th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95252.35657.95Moved since 2014
Timor-Leste: 252.35 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8933.5938.89Moved since 2015
Timor-Leste: 33.59 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 148th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.883.80418.88Moved since 2015
Timor-Leste: 3.804 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 181st of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Timor-Leste
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker (last 2024), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2021), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4) (last 2021), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management (last 2022), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2021), Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate (last 2021), Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees (last 2021), Trade Union Density and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2022). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Timor-Leste’s 15 topics
Work & Labour is Timor-Leste’s 6th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Peace & Securityjoint 30th of 1774/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability32nd of 1864/4 keys
- Gender & Equality51st of 1833/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 73rd of 1984/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality77th of 1592/3 keys
- Work & Labour90th of 1824/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions114th of 1944/4 keys
- Education & Knowledgejoint 123rd of 1984/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade111th of 1772/4 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 147th of 1963/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience146th of 1933/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing177th of 2003/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture164th of 1843/4 keys
- Digital & Technology182nd of 1984/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation167th of 1762/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Timor-Leste can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Japan2nd4/4 keysHighest in South-eastern Asia
Singapore17th4/4 keysThis page
Timor-Leste90th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Timor-Leste and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Timor-Leste on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Timor-Leste rank on work & labour?
Timor-Leste is placed 90th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Timor-Leste?
65.91 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Timor-Leste?
31.09 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How does Timor-Leste compare with Indonesia on work & labour?
Indonesia is placed 34th of 182, and Timor-Leste 90th. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Indonesia 65.77, Timor-Leste 65.91; Labour Income Share: Indonesia 58.2, Timor-Leste 31.09; Unemployment Rate: Indonesia 3.237, Timor-Leste 1.592; Vulnerable Employment: Indonesia 49.96, Timor-Leste 58.63.
How have Timor-Leste’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio fell from 67.22 in 2000 to 65.91 in 2025; Labour Income Share fell from 37.5 in 2004 to 31.09 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 3.529 in 2000 to 1.592 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 61.32 in 2000 to 58.63 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Timor-Leste?
No current reading is published for Timor-Leste on Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker, Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Trade Union Density and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 21 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Timor-Leste’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Timor-Leste (banner) — Nhobgood Nick Hobgood, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Timor-Leste: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/timor-leste/work