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Statistics of Road Accidents in Timor-Leste:
Timor-Leste experiences concerning rates of traffic accidents over the last 7–8 years.
In 2017, Timor was ranked #84 for having one of the highest road accident rates, with a death rate of 19.34 per 100,000 people, leading to 2.77% of total deaths in Timor-Leste.
Only last year, in 2024, the Timorese National Police (PNTL) reported a total of 2,218 road accidents.
Out of this significantly large number, 117–142 people died, 465 suffered serious injuries, and 1,636 suffered minor injuries.
Every year shows a devastating amount of fatalities, ranging from 80 to hundreds. The reason for these many accidents is the result for:
Speeding
Not using a helmet when cycling or driving a motorbike.
Being distracted when driving.
Poor road conditions.
Lack of traffic signs.
Poor road enforcement.
Driving under the influence.
Driving under stress.
The trend of road accidents is clearly rising, and urgent action is needed from everyone. To learn how you can help make our roads safer, visit Learn About the Laws and View Safety Tips to explore practical safety advice and better understand the traffic laws in Timor-Leste.
Road accidents do not only cause deaths, they also leave behind many people with serious injuries and disabilities. Survivors often face broken bones, head trauma, or long-term conditions that make it difficult to work or go to school. This places a heavy financial burden on families, especially when the injured person is the main provider.
The impact also extends to the health system. Hospitals in Timor-Leste often struggle with limited resources, and treating accident victims takes away beds, medicines, and doctors that are needed for other patients. Road crashes therefore hurt not only individuals and families but also the wider community and the nation’s development.
The bar graph in Figure 1 compares the road traffic fatality rates of Timor-Leste, Brunei, and Singapore in 2021. Timor-Leste had a fatality rate of 12 per 100,000 people, which is much higher than Brunei (7.5) and Singapore (1.9).
The difference shows that road deaths in Timor-Leste are still a serious problem, and that safer practices, stronger laws, and better road conditions can make a huge difference. Singapore, for example, has some of the lowest rates in the world due to strict enforcement, safe infrastructure, and strong awareness campaigns.
Figure 1.
The bar in Figure 2 graph shows the report of road accidents in Timor-Leste for the year 2024. In total, 2,218 accidents were reported. Out of these, 1,636 people suffered minor injuries, while 465 were seriously injured. Tragically, 117 people lost their lives.
This data highlights the heavy impact of road crashes in Timor-Leste. While fatalities are devastating, the large number of injuries is also a serious problem, leaving many families struggling with long-term medical needs and financial burdens. These numbers make it clear that urgent efforts are needed to improve road safety and prevent further loss of life.
Figure 2.
Reference
Martins, F. (2025, January 8). Road traffic accidents claimed 117 lives in 2024 - TATOLI Agência Noticiosa de Timor-Leste. TATOLI Agência Noticiosa de Timor-Leste. https://en.tatoli.tl/2025/01/08/road-traffic-accidents-claimed-117-lives-in-2024/10/?utm
ATO. (2025). Timor-Leste Road Safety Profile 2025. Asiantransportobservatory.org. https://asiantransportobservatory.org/analytical-outputs/roadsafetyprofiles/timor-leste-road-safety-profile-2025/?utm
Index Mundi. (2019). Brunei - Mortality caused by road traffic injury (per 100,000 people). Indexmundi.com. https://www.indexmundi.com/facts/brunei/indicator/SH.STA.TRAF.P5?utm
ATO. (2025a). Singapore Road Safety Profile 2025. Asiantransportobservatory.org. https://asiantransportobservatory.org/analytical-outputs/roadsafetyprofiles/singapore-road-safety-profile-2025/?utm
WHO. (2017). Awareness in Road Injuries. Who.int. https://www.who.int/timorleste/activities/awareness-in-road-injuries/
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