Dili () is the capital and largest city of Timor-Leste. It lies on the northern coast of the island of Timor, in a small area of flat land hemmed in by mountains. The climate is tropical with distinct wet and dry seasons.
The city has served as the economic hub and chief port of what is now Timor-Leste since its designation as the capital of Portuguese Timor in 1769. It also serves as the capital of the Dili Municipality, which includes some rural subdivisions in addition to the urban ones that make up the city itself. Dili's growing population is relatively youthful, being mostly of working age. The local language is Tetum; however, residents include many internal migrants from other areas of the country.
The initial settlement was situated in what is now the old quarter in the eastern side of the city. Centuries of Portuguese rule were interrupted in World War II, when Dili became the site of a battle between Allied and Japanese forces. The damaged city returned to Portuguese control following the war. In 1975, a civil war between Timorese political parties broke out, leading to a declaration of independence and a subsequent invasion by Indonesia. Under Indonesian rule infrastructure in the city was developed, with landmarks such as the Immaculate Conception Cathedral and Cristo Rei of Dili being built during this time. The city expanded as its population grew to over 100,000 people.
Resistance to Indonesian rule faced violent repression, and a massacre in Dili led to international pressure culminating in an independence referendum. Following a vote for independence violence erupted in the city, destroying huge amounts of its infrastructure and leading to an exodus of refugees. A period of United Nations rule followed, during which international agencies began the reconstruction of the city. Dili became the capital of an independent Timor-Leste in 2002. A period of violence in 2006 saw another period of infrastructure damage and population displacement. In 2009, the government launched the City of Peace campaign to reduce tensions. As the population has continued to grow and the original site of the city has filled up, the urban area has expanded into coastal areas to the east and west of the main city.
Infrastructure in Dili continues to be developed; the city was the first location in Timor-Leste to see 24 hours of electricity, although its water infrastructure remains relatively limited. Levels of education are higher than the national average, and the country's universities are located in the city. An international port and airport lie within the city limits. Most economic activity comes from the tertiary sector and public employment. To further build the economy, the Timorese government has been developing the tourism-based potential of the city, focusing on cultural, environmental, and historical attractions.
History
Initial Portuguese settlement
thumb|left|upright|Former coat of arms
Dili has played a central role in the history of Timor-Leste. The tumultuous history of the city has resulted in a great deal of information being lost; archives in the city were destroyed in 1779, 1890, 1975, and 1999. The first recorded Portuguese voyage to the island from Portuguese Malacca occurred in 1516, returning with sandalwood. In 1521, sandalwood was left out of a list of products under royal monopoly, leaving most trade with Timor in the hands of private enterprises. It was originally intended that the administration be set up at Vemasse further east, but perhaps because of the favourable geography, a settlement was established at Dili instead. More permanent buildings of one or two stories were constructed throughout the late 19th century. In 1863, Dili was declared a city (although the news may not have arrived to the city until the next year), and East Timor became directly subordinate to the Lisbon government. In 1866 the territory was again put under the jurisdiction of Macau. An 1887 mutiny in Dili led to the death of the governor at the time. The territory was separated from Macau for the last time in 1896, again coming directly under the jurisdiction of Lisbon, and becoming a full province in 1909.
thumb|[[Municipal Market of Dili|Former Market Hall built by the Portuguese]]
Permanent structures in Portuguese style continued to be constructed into the 20th century. Four distinct residential districts developed around the city core. Bidau was the largest, and Benamauc joined it on the eastern side. Caicole developed to the south between the city and Lahane. Colmera developed as a commercial area to the west with a large number of Muslim traders. Motael continued to develop, becoming the site of the city's lighthouse. Motael Church began to be built in 1901. Inland to the southwest, a Chinese cemetery was established, and beyond that a military area known as Taibesse.
Destruction, reconstruction, and Indonesian rule
thumb|A Japanese ship off Dili in 1943
During World War II, Portugal and its colonies remained neutral, but the Allies saw East Timor as a potential target for Japanese invasion. Upon the outbreak of the Pacific War in 1941, Australian and Dutch troops were sent to Dili despite Portuguese objections. In response, the Japanese invaded Dili as part of a two-pronged invasion of Timor. The city had been mostly abandoned prior to the invasion, The Japanese left the Portuguese governor nominally in position, but took over administration. Much of Dili was destroyed during the war,
thumb|alt=Map showing Dili's urban area not reaching the Comoro river|Dili in the 1940s was what today is the old city
Following the Second World War, Dili covered what today is the old core of the city, within the sucos of Acadiru Hun, Bemori, Bidau Lecidere, Caicoli, Colmera, Culu Hun, Gricenfor, Motael, and Santa Cruz. Portuguese Timor became a full part of Following the initial post-war reconstruction of Dili's immediately critical infrastructure, an urban plan was developed in 1951 covering urban layout, road development, zoning, and building regulations. The last Portuguese governor fled Dili for Atauro Island on 26 August, as the civil war continued.
thumb|left|The integration monument was built by Indonesian authorities to celebrate freedom from European rule
This invasion brought the territory under Indonesian rule. On 17 July 1976, Indonesia annexed East Timor, which it designated its 27th province. Despite Indonesian attempts to restrict rural-urban migration, the population of Dili continued to grow, reaching 80,000 people in 1985, and over 100,000 in 1999, and economic growth for the territory remained centred in Dili. Part of the internal migration was due to people fleeing the continuing conflict in rural areas. Nonetheless, many in the city continued to support the Fretilin-led resistance, providing a communications link between the rebels and the rest of the world, and setting up safe houses in the city. Others who supported Indonesian rule became informants, known as mau'hu. On 12 November 1991, Indonesian forces were filmed shooting at a funeral procession. This led to global condemnation of Indonesia's rule in East Timor, increasing pressure for East Timorese self-determination. In the first 48 hours, international media organisations present in the city reported 145 deaths. Most foreigners were evacuated. Administrative buildings were looted, and much of the city was destroyed by fire. 120,000 people became refugees. International pressure grew for an international peacekeeping force to replace the Indonesian military, which Indonesia agreed to on 12 September. On 14 September, the UN evacuated refugees that had been sheltering in its Dili compound to Australia. The Australian-led International Force East Timor arrived on 20 September. Most of the 150,000 people displaced were from Dili, including about half of the city's residents. Focusing the peace campaign on Dili reflects the influence it has on the entire country, with the government expecting its impacts would extend beyond the city itself. of which 210,250 lived in urban areas. In 2018 the population reached 281,000 people. During a period of COVID-19 restrictions, the city was hit by the worst flood in 50 years in April 2021.
Geography
Buildings and monuments
thumb|upright|Dili Municipality (prior to the separation of Atauro), with sucos considered urban in red
The old quarter of the city lies within what is now the city's eastern half. including 68,000 homes.
The government has identified a number of heritage buildings in the city, especially in the old quarter. The National Library of Timor-Leste is intended to serve as both a library and a national archive.
thumb|Dili City Hall
Notable churches include the Motael Church, the oldest in the country, which became associated with resistance to Indonesian rule. It is positioned at the end of a Stations of the Cross pathway including over 500 steps.
The National Stadium has two seating stands, one on either side, with grass banks providing space for other spectators. It has a capacity of around 9,000 people. It is often used to host association football, the most popular sport in the country, although infrastructure issues mean the national team must sometimes play home games in other countries. In the past it has been used to host refugees and distribute aid.
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Palacio do Governo 2011.jpg|Government Palace, Dili (Timor-Leste's prime minister's Office)
File:Hindu Tempel Dili04.jpg|Pura Girinatha Hindu temple, built during Indonesian occupation
File:2017-03-30 Kathedrale von Dili 1.jpg|Dili Cathedral
File:110623-F-HS649-551 (5881875275).jpg|Cristo Rei of Dili atop a summit on Fatucama peninsula outside of Dili
File:Painel pateo AMRT1.jpg|Timorese Resistance Archive and Museum
</gallery>
Administration
thumb|upright|Administration of district Dili (prior to the separation of Atauro)
Dili is the administrative centre of the Dili Municipality, The municipality has an elected mayor and council.
Timor-Leste's municipalities are divided into administrative posts, and each of these is divided into sucos. The central city of Dili is spread over four of the six administrative posts within Dili municipality: Cristo Rei, Dom Aleixo, Nain Feto, and Vera Cruz. The Hera suco is the easternmost suco of Cristo Rei. Tibar, to the west of the main city, is the easternmost suco of the Bazartete Administrative Post in the Liquiçá Municipality. Almost all of the sucos of Dili are among those with the country's highest living standards and the greatest access to public services. every suco within the city proper was ranked within the highest level of living standards.
In 2004 18,331 people were working in the agricultural sector, 1,885 in resources and manufacturing, 5,027 in hospitality, 3,183 in finance, real estate, and logistics, 6,520 in government services and security, 879 in home industries, 6,354 for international diplomatic bodies, and 2,142 unknown. Some tourism and industrial complexes are being developed within the metropolitan area. Important hotels include Hotel Timor and Hotel Dili. of which 82.4% were urban. The city contains almost twice as many dwellings as all other urban areas in the country combined. A dialect of Malay-based creole called Dili Malay is spoken by perhaps 1,000 residents with ancestral links to Alor Island. Migration into the city has led to clustering of incoming migrants into areas with others of similar backgrounds.
<!--HISTORICAL DEMOGRAPHICS
In 2004, the number of dwellings in Dili Municipality was 26,114, while the number of households was 31,702. The population increased from 175,730 to 234,331 between 2004 and 2010, while the average household size increased from 5.5 to 6.7. Within the Dili metropolitan area, the total population was 223,793 as of 2010, containing 33,163 households with an average size of 6.7. The gender ratio is slightly more unbalanced, with 53% male and 47% female. The population growth of the Dili Municipality from 2004 to 2010 represented 40% of the country's total population growth, and is driven in part by internal migration, especially that of younger people. Dili's airport and port were rehabilitated in the six years following this, along with electricity and telecommunications. The rapid population growth of the city has put a strain on some of its infrastructure services. By 2009, Comoro was producing 32 MW, part of a ring surrounding the country. as well as another cable connecting to the Indonesian island of Alor. As of 2020, there were 3 telecommunications companies in the country: Telemor, Telkomcel, and Timor Telecom.
Water and sanitation
thumb|upright|alt=Very shallow water flowing through a concrete channel flanked by banana trees|A canal in western Dili
Access to clean water and sanitation is an issue for some households. As of 2013, while 36% of households were connected to the water supply system, half Dili received less than six hours of water a day. Furthermore, water quality was irregular, with boiling advised.
Dili is the location of the country's water testing laboratory, and thus its water quality is regularly monitored. There is no city-wide sewerage system. Dili also has one of the country's two septage treatment facilities. It is expected that this bridge will also be expanded to four lanes in the future. Even under Indonesian rule, during which the use of Portuguese was banned, Portuguese street names like Avenida Marechal Carmona remained unchanged, although they were prefixed with the Indonesian word Jalan or 'road'.
Sea
thumb|alt=Red and yellow cargo ship being unloaded by cranes|Cargo ship in the [[Port of Dili in 2018, before it was converted to a passenger port]]
The Port of Dili has a total berth length of . Depths alongside the berth range from to . Construction began on 30 August 2019, with completion scheduled for August 2021. As of December 2020, construction was 42% complete, with delays including Chinese workers returning to China during the COVID-19 pandemic. The port was then expected to open in April 2022. The port received its first ships on 30 September that year, and was officially inaugurated on 30 November 2022.
A dry port has been created from the main Port of Dili, and there is a naval port in Hera. A twice-weekly ferry service operates between Dili and Oecusse, and a ferry travels between Dili and Atauro once a week. is located in the city.
Culture
Within the city, cultural differences exist not only between different ethnolinguistic groups, but between more established residents of the city, and recent immigrants who retain different cultural practices. Legal traditions reflecting Portuguese and Indonesian rule do not always align with customary practices, such as in the recognition of marriages. Those who migrate internally into Dili retain cultural and identity links to their rural areas of origin, which are passed down through generations. Urban residents often return to rural areas for traditional ceremonies, especially during the dry season, and elections.
There is some more homogeneity at the aldeia level due to families settling near relatives, although this is also not consistent. Aldeia nearer the outskirts, or in areas formerly populated by Indonesian civil servants, are both more densely populated and particularly heterogenous both ethnolinguistically and socioeconomically. Some street art continues to reflect a theme of resistance. The composition of these groups often reflects areas of rural origin, The development of cultural facilities has included the building up of cultural institutions such as libraries and museums, and the development of audio-visual multimedia centres through which information will be more accessible. The country's first locally produced feature film, Beatriz's War, was released a couple of years later. which was repeated in 2020. Radio is very popular, and the city has 13 FM radio stations.
Consulate generals
Honorary consulates
- Germany [https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/aussenpolitik/laenderinformationen/timorleste-node/timorleste-233678?openAccordionId=item-2583696-1-panel]
Twin towns – sister cities
Dili is twinned with the following places:
- Canberra, Australia (2004)
- Coimbra, Portugal (2002)
- Darwin, Australia (2003)
- Lisbon, Portugal (2001)
- Macau, China (2024)
- Manila, Philippines (2011)
- Margao, India (2001)