East Timor, known as the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in full, is an island country located at the eastern end of the Nusa Tenggara Islands, including the Oucusi area on the east and west coasts of Timor island and the neighboring island of Aotoru and the Yako island on the east. It borders with Indonesia West Timor on the west and is separated by the Timor Sea with Australia.

East Timor was once under colonial rule by Portugal and after the outbreak of civil war in 1975 it was annexed by Indonesia. In August 1999, its citizens voted and decided to leave Indonesia and became independent. On May 20, 2002 it became formally independent.

East Timor is the world's poorest country, and most of its supplies depend on foreign aid. Agriculture also depend on the method of slash-and-burn, leading to deforestation and soil erosion and damage to the local ecological environment. Offshore oil and gas development in East Timor has greatly supplemented the government's revenue, and natural gas is transported to Australia through pipes.