West Timor

West Timor
Timor Barat
Dutch Timor
Indonesian Timor
Location of West Timor in Timor Island
Location of West Timor in Timor Island
Country Indonesia
Province East Nusa Tenggara
CityKupang
RegenciesBelu Regency, Kupang Regency, Malaka Regency, North Central Timor Regency, South Central Timor Regency
Area
 • Total
14,513.03 km2 (5,603.51 sq mi)
Elevation2,427 m (7,963 ft)
Population
 (mid 2023 estimate)[1]
 • Total
2,011,269
 • Density140/km2 (360/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+8 (Central Indonesia Time)
Area code(62)3xx
Vehicle signDH
HDIIncrease 0.631 (Medium)

West Timor (Indonesian: Timor Barat) is an area covering the western part of the island of Timor, except for the district of Oecussi-Ambeno (an East Timorese exclave). Administratively, West Timor is part of East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. The capital as well as its main port is Kupang. During the colonial period, the area was named Dutch Timor and was a centre of Dutch loyalists during the Indonesian National Revolution (1945–1949).[2][3] From 1949 to 1975 it was named Indonesian Timor.[4][5]

The total area of West Timor is 14,513.03 km2 (5,603.51 sq mi), including offshore islands. The highest peaks are Mount Mutis, 2,427 meters (7,963 ft) above sea level, and Mount Lakaan, 1,600 meters (5,249 ft) above sea level. The main languages of West Timor are Dawan, Marae and Tetun, as well as several other languages, such as Kemak, Bunak and Helong, are also used in East Timor. The other three languages which are only used in the local area of the Austronesian language group from the Fabron branches are Ndao, Rote and Sabu. The most populous cities and towns are Kupang City with 466,632 inhabitants according to the official estimates for mid 2023, Atambua Town with 85,838 inhabitants, Kefamenanu Town with 49,589 inhabitants, Soe Town with 41,640 inhabitants, and Betun Town with 41,631 inhabitants.[1]

  1. ^ a b c Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.53)
  2. ^ Great Britain. Foreign Office. Historical Section (1920), Dutch Timor and the Lesser Sunda Islands, H.M.S.O, retrieved 17 January 2014
  3. ^ Area study of Dutch Timor, Netherlands East Indies, Terrain Study No. 70, Allied Geographical Section, 1943, hdl:1959.1/1180950, retrieved 17 January 2014
  4. ^ "Political refugees 'flock' to Indonesian Timor". The Canberra Times. 25 February 1975. p. 1. Retrieved 17 January 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "10,000 waiting to go' to Indonesian Timor". The Canberra Times. 4 September 1975. p. 3. Retrieved 17 January 2014 – via National Library of Australia.


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