Timor-Leste has made impressive progress since independence in 2002 but
remains a fragile post-conflict nation with pressing development needs. With oil and
gas production having recently come to a halt, progress on diversifying the economy
and developing the private sector is urgently needed. Fiscal deficits are financed by the
country’s considerable Petroleum Fund savings, but regular large withdrawals are
expected to lead to its full depletion by the end of the 2030s. A new coalition
government—formed following parliamentary elections in May 2023—targets higher
growth and achieving fiscal sustainability.