Dili Díli |
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City | |
Dili with Atauro Island in background
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Coordinates: 8°34′S 125°34′E / 8.567°S 125.567°ECoordinates: 8°34′S 125°34′E / 8.567°S 125.567°E | |
Country | East Timor |
District | Dili District |
Settled | 1520 |
Government | |
• District administrator | Jaime Correia (2012) |
Area | |
• City | 48.268 km2 (18.636 sq mi) |
Elevation | 11 m (36 ft) |
Population (2015 census) | |
• City | 222,323 |
• Density | 4,600/km2 (12,000/sq mi) |
• Metro | 234,331 |
Climate | Aw |
Dili (Portuguese/Tetum: Díli, Indonesian: Kota Dili) is the capital, largest city, chief port and commercial centre of East Timor.
Dili lies on the northern coast of Timor island, the easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. It is the seat of the administration of the district of Dili, which is the administrative entity of the area and includes the island of Atauro and some cities close to Dili city. The city is divided into the subdistricts of Nain Feto, Vera Cruz, Dom Aleixo and Cristo Rei and is divided into several sucos, which are headed by an elected chefe de suco. 18 of the 26 sucos of the four subdistricts are categorised as urban.
There is no city administration beside the district administrator, who was appointed by state government. The East Timorese government started to plan in 2009 to change the status of districts into municipalities. These will have an elected mayor and council.
The 2010 census recorded a population of 193,563 in the areas of Dili district classified as urban, with a population of 234,331 in the whole district including rural areas such as Atauro and Metinaro.
Dili is a melting pot of the different ethnic groups of East Timor, due partly to the internal migration of young men from around the country in search of work. This has led to a gender imbalance, with the male population significantly larger than the female. Between 2001 and 2004, the population of Dili district grew by 12.58%, with only 54% of the district's inhabitants born in the city. 7% were born in Baucau, 5% each in Viqueque and Bobonaro 4% in Ermera, and the remainder in other districts or overseas.