Timor-Leste

The infant mortality rate stands at 35.900 deaths per 1,000 live births, which is extremely high compared to global standards and regional leaders. This statistic highlights persistent and severe public health challenges, particularly concerning maternal and child healthcare access and quality.

The fertility rate of 2.71 children per woman indicates a population growing significantly above the replacement level (2.1), suggesting continued rapid population expansion. This growth, combined with a relatively low life expectancy (67.69 years), points to a very youthful population structure, increasing future demands on education and job creation.

Timor-Leste maintains a high proportion of forest cover, with 61.661% of its land area classified as forest. This suggests successful conservation efforts or limited industrial development pressure compared to many rapidly developing nations in Southeast Asia, preserving critical natural capital.

Despite the dramatic economic contraction (-18.136% GDP growth), the reported unemployment rate is extremely low at 1.521%. This counterintuitive figure likely indicates widespread informal employment, underemployment, or limitations in how official unemployment statistics are captured in developing economies.