Timor-Leste Military Strength (2026): Army, Air Force, Navy & Budget

Timor-Leste armed forces in numbers

Finance

Military spending: $48 million#143 of 156
Military spending as % of GDP: 2.3%#51 of 156

Equipment and personnel: Global Firepower 2023 military strength ranking (2023). Spending: World Bank / SIPRI military expenditure data (CC BY 4.0).

Timor-Leste military spending 2010–2025

$2610'

$2111'

$3312'

$3213'

$3014'

$3715'

$2616'

$2517'

$2118'

$3419'

$3820'

$3921'

$4422'

$5523'

$4324'

$4825'

Military spending of Timor-Leste grew by 82% between 2010 and 2025, from $26 million to $48 million (current US dollars), and stood at 2.3% of GDP in 2025.

Armed forces of Timor-Leste

Branches and forces

Timor-Leste Defense Force (Falintil-Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, Falintil (F-FDTL)): Land Component, Air Force Component, Naval Component Ministry of Interior: National Police of Timor-Leste (Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste, PNTL) (2025)

Personnel

approximately 2,000 Defense Forces (2025)

Service age and conscription

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; according to Timorese law on military service, all citizens 18-30 must contribute to the defense of independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the country and render their contribution through defense and security institutions (2025)

Equipment and suppliers

the military is lightly armed with a limited inventory consisting mostly of donated equipment from countries such as Australia, China, Portugal, South Korea, and the US (2025)

Good to know

the Timor-Leste Defense Force (F-FDTL) has both external defense and internal security roles; it also engages in national development missions, international peacekeeping, and regional security cooperation; the F-FDTL has ties with a variety of partners, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, the UN, and the US (2025)

Military expenditure (% of GDP)

2024: 2.5% · 2023: 2.5% · 2022: 1.4% · 2021: 1.2% · 2020: 1.8%

Forces and service: CIA World Factbook (public domain).

Timor-Leste compared with its neighbours

Country	Strength rank	Military spending
Timor-Leste	—	$48 million
Indonesia	#13	$15.0 billion

Frequently asked questions about the Timor-Leste military

How strong is the military of Timor-Leste?

Timor-Leste is not covered by the Global Firepower ranking. It spent $48 million on its military in 2025 (2.3% of GDP).

How much does Timor-Leste spend on its military?

$48 million in 2025, or 2.3% of GDP. Since 2010 spending has risen by 82% in current US dollars.

Is there conscription in Timor-Leste?

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; according to Timorese law on military service, all citizens 18-30 must contribute to the defense of independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the country and render their contribution through defense and security institutions (2025)

How many soldiers does Timor-Leste have?

approximately 2,000 Defense Forces (2025)

Military strength ranking Neighbouring countries of Timor-Leste