Timorese (Tetum) DNA
Genetic origins and closest populations · Timor · Southeast Asia
Timor lies at the eastern end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, and its eastern half became the independent nation of Timor-Leste in 2002, after centuries of Portuguese rule and Indonesian rule from 1975 to 1999. Tetum, an Austronesian language, is one of its official languages alongside Portuguese, while other languages of the island, such as Fataluku and Bunak, are Papuan. This page uses the Tetum Kamanasa average. In our model, it is 49.1% Southern Chinese Neolithic farmer, 40.6% Papuan and Near Oceanian and 10.2% Southeast Asian Neolithic farmer: an almost even meeting of the Austronesian-related ancestry that arrived within the last few thousand years and the much older ancestry of New Guinea and its neighbours. The closest modern averages come from the same eastern islands, the Lamaholot of Lembata (0.0238), other Tetum samples and Kei islanders. The closest ancient groups are precolonial people from Nebira in Papua New Guinea (0.0245) and Late Iron Age Liang Toge on Flores (0.0288).
- Ancient components in our model: Southern Chinese Neolithic farmers 49.1%, Papuan and Near Oceanian 40.6%, Southeast Asian Neolithic farmers 10.2%
- Closest modern population in our data: Lamaholot (Lembata Hadakewa), distance 0.0238
- Closest ancient group in our data: Papua New Guinea Nebira Precolonial, distance 0.0245
Where does Timorese (Tetum) DNA sit on the genetic map of the world? To answer, we take the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the Timorese (Tetum) individuals sampled in Timor, listed in the G25 sheet as "Tetum_Kamanasa" and compare them with deep ancestral reference populations, with other modern groups and with ancient genomes. It is one of 335 populations in our atlas.
Ancient make-up of the Timorese (Tetum) average
In a model built from deep ancestral reference populations, the largest share of the Timorese (Tetum) average, 49.1%, goes to Southern Chinese Neolithic farmers, ahead of Papuan and Near Oceanian (40.6%) and Southeast Asian Neolithic farmers (10.2%). The Southern Chinese Neolithic farmers component reflects the Neolithic rice and millet farmers of southern China, whose descendants spread into Southeast Asia. The Papuan and Near Oceanian share (40.6%) reflects the ancestry of the first peoples of New Guinea and Australia.
The fit is acceptable (fit distance 0.028): treat the proportions as a good approximation rather than exact values. This population was modelled with a global set of reference populations (ancient genomes, plus modern stand-ins where no suitable ancient genome exists), because West Eurasian sources alone cannot describe it.
Closest modern populations to Timorese (Tetum)
Among the modern populations in the G25 data, the closest to the Timorese (Tetum) average is Lamaholot (Lembata Hadakewa), at a distance of 0.024 (very close). Next come Tetum (Umanen Lawalu) at 0.025 and Keiese (Ohoidertutu) at 0.027. Leaving aside the other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet, the nearest other populations are Lamaholot (Lembata Hadakewa) (0.024), Keiese (Ohoidertutu) (0.027) and Seluwasan (0.032). By the tenth closest (Tetum (Umaklaran)) the distance grows to 0.040, a common pattern for a population that shares ancestry with its neighbours while keeping a profile of its own.
| # | Population | Distance | Closeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamaholot (Lembata Hadakewa) | 0.0238 | Very close |
| 2 | Tetum (Umanen Lawalu) | 0.0251 | Close |
| 3 | Keiese (Ohoidertutu) | 0.0274 | Close |
| 4 | Seluwasan | 0.0321 | Close |
| 5 | Yamdena | 0.0348 | Close |
| 6 | Keiese (Faan) | 0.0363 | Close |
| 7 | Fordata | 0.0364 | Close |
| 8 | Lamaholot (Flores Bama) | 0.0384 | Close |
| 9 | Lamaholot (Lembata Waipukang) | 0.0387 | Close |
| 10 | Tetum (Umaklaran) | 0.0396 | Close |
Distances are Euclidean distances between averaged G25 coordinates. On our scale, below 0.025 is very close, below 0.050 close, below 0.080 moderate, and beyond that distant.
Closest ancient populations to Timorese (Tetum)
If we search ancient DNA for the best match to Timorese (Tetum), Papua New Guinea Nebira Precolonial (Pre-colonial) comes first, at 0.025, with Indonesia Flores LIA Liang Toge next. That is a very close match, which suggests strong genetic continuity between those ancient people (or close relatives of theirs) and the modern population. A close ancient match is not proof of direct descent: it means those individuals carried a similar overall mix of ancestry.
| # | Ancient sample or group | Period | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Papua New Guinea Nebira Precolonial | Pre-colonial | 0.0245 |
| 2 | Indonesia Flores LIA Liang Toge | Late Iron Age | 0.0288 |
| 3 | Indonesia Pantar Late Medieval Majapahit Jareng Bori | Late Medieval, c. 1300-1500 AD | 0.0413 |
| 4 | Solomon Islands 500BP | c. 1450 AD | 0.0501 |
| 5 | Indonesia Morotai N-EBA Tanjung Pinang | Early Bronze Age | 0.0815 |
| 6 | Vanuatu 2000BP | c. 50 BC | 0.1128 |
| 7 | Vanuatu 2350BP | c. 400 BC | 0.1143 |
| 8 | Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Nan Madol Saudeleur Period | Saudeleur period, c. 1100-1630 AD | 0.1197 |
| 9 | Indonesia Morotai EBA Aru Manara | Early Bronze Age | 0.1202 |
| 10 | Indonesia Kayoa N Gua Uattamdi | Neolithic | 0.1208 |
Compare yourself with Timorese (Tetum)
Paste your G25 coordinates (scaled, one line, with or without a name in front) and we compute your genetic distance to the Timorese (Tetum) average and to its closest neighbours, right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
| # | Population | Your distance | Closeness |
|---|
This list only covers Timorese (Tetum) and its neighbours. To find out which of our reports actually fits your DNA, run the free Report Finder: it runs the same fit test that every report uses before an order.
No G25 coordinates yet? Get a free simulated G25 from your raw DNA file, or order G25 coordinates.
About these numbers
A word of caution: these figures describe the average of the Timorese (Tetum) individuals who were sampled, not every person who identifies as Timorese (Tetum). Individuals vary around that average, and identity is about history, language and family, not about a genetic score. Read this page as a map of deep ancestry, not as a definition.
Method: averaged G25 coordinates, Euclidean distances to other modern and ancient averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations (data generated 2026-10-01). Read the full method.
Go deeper than the average
This page describes the Timorese (Tetum) average. For your own DNA, Advanced Ancestry Report (16€) gives a full ancestry breakdown with no regional focus, in a personal PDF report.
Comprehensive DNA analysis comparing your genetics to over 2,000 modern reference populations.
More populations from Southeast Asia
Frequently asked questions
What is the ancient genetic make-up of Timorese (Tetum)?
Modelled with deep ancestral reference populations, the Timorese (Tetum) average is about 49.1% Southern Chinese Neolithic farmers, 40.6% Papuan and Near Oceanian and 10.2% Southeast Asian Neolithic farmers. These proportions are model estimates for a group average, not exact values for any one person.
Which populations are genetically closest to Timorese (Tetum)?
Leaving aside other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet (such as Tetum (Umanen Lawalu)), the closest modern populations to the Timorese (Tetum) average are Lamaholot (Lembata Hadakewa), Keiese (Ohoidertutu) and Seluwasan. The closest ancient matches are Papua New Guinea Nebira Precolonial, Indonesia Flores LIA Liang Toge and Indonesia Pantar Late Medieval Majapahit Jareng Bori.
Can a DNA test tell me if I am Timorese (Tetum)?
No DNA test can confirm an ethnicity or a nationality. What DNA can show is how similar your genome is to the sampled Timorese (Tetum) average and to its neighbours. If you have G25 coordinates, paste them in the comparison box on this page to check that for free.
Which ExploreYourDNA report suits Timorese (Tetum) ancestry?
Our regional report for this part of the world does not fit the Timorese (Tetum) average closely, so the full Advanced Ancestry Report (no regional focus) is the better choice. The DNA Mega-Analysis adds Neanderthal %, traits and closest ancient populations. The free Report Finder checks every report against your own DNA first.
Where does the data on this page come from?
From the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the sampled individuals: genetic distances to other modern and ancient population averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations. The full method is described at https://www.exploreyourdna.com/populations#method.