Timor-Leste: housing

How many people live in a household in Timor-Leste?

Timor-Leste's 1,340,925 people in private households lived in 250,270 households in 2022, an average of 5.4 people per household, according to INETL's Population and Housing Census 2022 main report. In 2015 the average was 5.8.

The report warns that the two censuses are not fully comparable, because the 2015 census counted people where they were on census night.

Official sources: INETL: Population and Housing Census 2022 Main Report (PDF)

What are houses like in Timor-Leste?

55.9% of occupied housing units in Timor-Leste had concrete or brick walls in 2022, up from 38.3% with concrete or stone walls in 2015, according to INETL's Population and Housing Census 2022 main report. The share was 81.6% in urban areas and 45.6% in rural areas.

Palm trunk (bebak) and bamboo are the next most common wall materials. Only 27.4 thousand people lived in a dwelling with all basic facilities. 9.5% of conventional dwellings were vacant, and Dili had the lowest vacancy rate, at 7.6%. No house price or rent index is published.

Official sources: INETL: Population and Housing Census 2022 Main Report (PDF)

What is Timor-Leste's urbanisation rate?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2025, is 28.8%. Its high point since 2005 was 2010, at 29.6%; its low point was 2005, at 26.3%. East Asia & Pacific median: 63.1%; Timor-Leste is 25th highest of 30. Worldwide: 175th of 193.

How many people in Timor-Leste live in slums?

UN-Habitat puts the share of city dwellers living in slums in Timor-Leste at 33.9% in 2022. Since 2006 it has ranged from 33.9% (2018) to 56.1% (2006). It is 7th highest of 27 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 17.9%. Worldwide: 67th of 170.

What share of people in Timor-Leste have electricity?

94.3%: that is the share of people with access to electricity in Timor-Leste for 2024, according to the World Bank. The peak was 100.0% in 2021 and the low 33.5% in 2005. East Asia & Pacific median: 100.0%; Timor-Leste is 24th highest of 30. Worldwide: 134th of 193.

What share of homes in Timor-Leste cook with clean fuels?

In 2024, the share of people using clean cooking fuels in Timor-Leste was 19.0%, according to the WHO. That is the highest since at least 2005. East Asia & Pacific median: 82.0%; Timor-Leste is 27th highest of 30. World rank, highest first: 162nd of 192.