What is the capital of East Timor?

The capital of East Timor is Dili. Officially called Timor-Leste, the country occupies the eastern half of Timor island and several nearby islands in Southeast Asia. Dili sits on the island’s northern coast, where a narrow coastal plain meets mountains and the Ombai Strait.

Dili became the administrative capital of Portuguese Timor in 1769, when Portuguese authorities moved their base from Lifau. The city later experienced Japanese occupation during World War II, Indonesian rule after 1975, and extensive destruction following East Timor’s 1999 independence referendum. After a period of United Nations administration, Dili became the capital of the independent nation in 2002.

A common mix-up is confusing Dili with Baucau, East Timor’s second-largest city, or with Maliana and Suai, which are important regional centers but not the national capital. Dili is also the country’s largest city and its principal political, economic, and transport hub.