Small Island Development States

Small Island Developing States or SIDS are low-lying coastal countries that tend to share similar sustainable development challenges, including small but growing populations, limited resources, remoteness, susceptibility to natural disasters, vulnerability to external shocks, excessive dependence on international trade, and fragile environments. Fifty-two countries are presently classified as SIDS by the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, including Timor-Leste. SIDS were recognized as a special case both for their environment and development at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) that also known as the Earth Summit, which was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 3 to 14 June 1992.