The economy of East Timor is ranked as a lower-middle income economy by the World Bank. It is placed 158th by Human Development Index, indicating a low level of human development. 20% of the population is unemployed, and 52.9% lives on less than US $1.25 a day. About half of the population is illiterate.
The country continues to suffer the after effects of a decades-long independence struggle against Indonesia, which damaged infrastructure and displaced thousands of civilians.
In 2007, a bad harvest led to deaths in several parts of Timor-Leste. In November 2007, eleven subdistricts still needed food supplied by international aid.
There are no patent laws in East Timor.
Read more about Economy Of East Timor: History
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