Togo

Background

Between the 11th and 16th centuries, a variety of ethnic communities established themselves in the Togo area. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, the coastal zone evolved into a significant hub for the slave trade, leading to the designation of the surrounding area as "The Slave Coast." In 1884, Germany proclaimed the territory a protectorate named Togoland, which encompassed what is now Togo. Following World War I, governance of Togo shifted to France. French Togoland achieved independence in 1960, becoming Togo.

General Gnassingbe EYADEMA, who assumed military leadership in 1967, governed Togo authoritatively for nearly forty years. Although multi-party elections were introduced in the early 1990s, EYADEMA predominantly controlled the political landscape. His party, the Rally of the Togolese People (RPT), has held power almost continuously since 1967, with its successor, the Union for the Republic, continuing to secure a majority in the current legislative assembly. Following EYADEMA's passing in 2005, the military appointed his son, Faure GNASSINGBE, as president, subsequently facilitating his official election two months later. Togo conducted its first relatively free and fair legislative elections in 2007. Since that time, GNASSINGBE has initiated a gradual process of democratic reform. The nation has conducted several presidential and legislative elections, and in 2019, it held its inaugural local elections in 32 years.

Despite these advancements, the process of political reconciliation has progressed at a sluggish pace, and the country frequently experiences outbreaks of protests from discontented citizens, resulting in clashes between security forces and demonstrators. Constitutional amendments in 2019 aimed at implementing a runoff system for presidential elections and establishing term limits have not significantly alleviated the discontent felt by many Togolese after over five decades of one-family governance. Under the new regulations, GNASSINGBE has qualified for his current fourth term and an additional fifth term. The upcoming presidential election is scheduled for 2025.

Area

Climate

tropical; in the south, it is hot and humid; the north experiences a semiarid climate

Terrain

features gently undulating savanna in the north; central hilly regions; a southern plateau; and a low coastal area with vast lagoons and marshlands

Land use

Location

Located in Western Africa, it borders the Bight of Benin, situated between Benin and Ghana

Coastline

56 km

Elevation

Irrigated land

70 sq km (2012)

Map references

Africa

Land boundaries

Maritime claims

Natural hazards

the harmattan wind, which is hot and dry, can impair visibility in the northern region during winter; droughts occur periodically

Geography - note

extends across six unique geographic areas; the climate ranges from tropical to savanna

Natural resources

resources include phosphates, limestone, marble, and cultivable land

Area - comparative

somewhat smaller than the state of West Virginia

Geographic coordinates

8 00 N, 1 10 E

Population distribution

it ranks among the more densely populated countries in Africa, with a majority of its inhabitants living in rural areas; population density is highest in the southern region along or near the Atlantic coast, as illustrated in this population distribution map

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Literacy

Languages

French serves as the official language and the language of business, while Ewe and Mina are spoken in the southern regions. In the north, Kabye (also referred to as Kabiye) and Dagomba are prevalent.

Religions

The religious composition includes Christians at 42.3%, followers of folk religions at 36.9%, Muslims at 14%, Hindus <1%, Buddhists <1%, Jews <1%, others <1%, and those with no affiliation at 6.2% (2020 estimate).

Sex ratio

Birth rate

30.17 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

4.64 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median age

Population

Nationality

Tobacco use

Urbanization

Age structure

Ethnic groups

Adja-Ewe/Mina constitutes 42.4%, Kabye/Tem makes up 25.9%, Para-Gourma/Akan accounts for 17.1%, Akposso/Akebu represents 4.1%, Ana-Ife is at 3.2%, other Togolese comprise 1.7%, foreigners are 5.2%, and no response accounts for 0.4% (2013-14 estimate).

Child marriage

Dependency ratios

Physician density

0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Health expenditure

Net migration rate

-1.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.6 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.03 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

Education expenditure

Infant mortality rate

Population growth rate

2.37% (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.99 (2025 est.)

Population distribution

Togo is recognized as one of the more densely populated countries in Africa, with a majority of its inhabitants living in rural areas; population density is greatest in the southern regions, particularly along or near the Atlantic coastline, as illustrated in this population distribution map.

Life expectancy at birth

Maternal mortality ratio

349 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation facility access

Alcohol consumption per capita

Major urban areas - population

1.982 million LOME (capital) (2023)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

8.4% (2016)

Mother's mean age at first birth

25 years (2017 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

63.7% (2017 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

15.2% (2017 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Climate

tropical; characterized by heat and humidity in the southern regions; semiarid conditions in the northern areas

Land use

Urbanization

Methane emissions

Waste and recycling

Environmental issues

deforestation caused by slash-and-burn farming practices and the utilization of wood as fuel; minimal rainforest coverage remaining, with much of it severely degraded; desertification; contamination of water sources; air pollution prevalent in metropolitan regions

Total water withdrawal

Carbon dioxide emissions

Particulate matter emissions

33.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

14.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

International environmental agreements

Flag

description: five equal horizontal stripes of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; a five-pointed white star is placed on a red square located in the upper-left corner

meaning: the five horizontal bands represent the country's regions; red symbolizes the loyalty and patriotism of the people; green signifies hope, fertility, and agriculture; yellow denotes mineral wealth and the belief that diligence and strength will yield prosperity; the star represents life, purity, peace, dignity, and national independence

history: incorporates the colors associated with the Pan-African movement

Capital

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

Constitution

Country name

Independence

27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

Legal system

customary law system

Government type

presidential republic

Judicial branch

Executive branch

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 April (1960)

National color(s)

green, yellow, red, white

National heritage

Political parties

Action Committee for Renewal or CAR 
Alliance of Democrats for Integral Development or ADDI 
Democratic Convention of African Peoples or CDPA 
Democratic Forces for the Republic or FDR 
National Alliance for Change or ANC 
New Togolese Commitment 
Pan-African National Party or PNP 
Pan-African Patriotic Convergence or CPP 
Patriotic Movement for Democracy and Development or MPDD 
Socialist Pact for Renewal or PSR 
The Togolese Party 
Union of Forces for Change or UFC 
Union for the Republic or UNIR 

Legislative branch

National anthem(s)

National symbol(s)

lion

Administrative divisions

5 regions (régions, singular - région); Centrale, Kara, Maritime, Plateaux, Savanes

Legislative branch - lower chamber

Legislative branch - upper chamber

Diplomatic representation in the US

Diplomatic representation from the US

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AIIB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; not a party state to the ICCt

Budget

Exports

Imports

Industries

phosphate extraction, agricultural processing, cement production, handicrafts, textile manufacturing, beverage production

Labor force

3.345 million (2024 est.)

Public debt

Remittances

Exchange rates

Debt - external

Economic overview

a low-income economy in West Africa; predominantly agrarian; features a deep-water port; an emerging hub for international shipping; progressing in privatization and enhancing public budgeting transparency; significant phosphate mining sector; extremely high levels of rural poverty

Unemployment rate

Exports - partners

UAE 40%, India 13%, Angola 13%, Burkina Faso 4%, Cote d'Ivoire 3% (2023)

Imports - partners

China 26%, India 26%, Belgium 6%, Netherlands 6%, USA 3% (2023)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP growth rate

Agricultural products

cassava, maize, yams, sorghum, soybeans, beans, rice, vegetables, oil palm fruit, cotton (2023)

Exports - commodities

gold, refined petroleum, soybeans, phosphates, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews (2023)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, garments, rice, palm oil, motorcycles and cycles (2023)

Current account balance

Taxes and other revenues

14.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$9.926 billion (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use

Population below poverty line

45.5% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Industrial production growth rate

4.2% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Coal

Petroleum

Electricity

Natural gas

Electricity access

Energy consumption per capita

Electricity generation sources

Internet users

Broadcast media

One government-owned television channel featuring various transmission locations; five privately owned local television stations; availability of cable television; a state-operated radio network comprising two stations; numerous privately owned radio stations alongside several community radio outlets; broadcasts from various international media outlets accessible (2019)

Internet country code

.tg

Telephones - fixed lines

Telephones - mobile cellular

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Ports

Airports

7 (2025)

Railways

Merchant marine

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

5V

Military - note

The Togolese Armed Forces (FAT) are tasked with both external defense and the maintenance of internal security. Their principal concerns include border security, counter-terrorism efforts, and maritime safety. In recent times, the FAT has intensified operations in the northern border area to safeguard the frontier against banditry, illegal smuggling, and incursions from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), a coalition of militant groups associated with al-Qa'ida that operates in Mali and extends its activities into neighboring Burkina Faso. Following an assault by JNIM fighters on a Togolese military installation that resulted in the deaths of multiple soldiers, the Togolese Government declared a state of emergency in the northern region in 2022. Additionally, the Navy and Air Force have sharpened their focus on addressing piracy and smuggling incidents in the Gulf of Guinea.

Since its establishment in 1963, the Togolese military has played a significant role in the nation’s political landscape, marked by incidents of assassinations, coups, and a crackdown in 2005 that led to the deaths of hundreds of civilians. Over the last ten years, there have been efforts to reform and professionalize the military, which have included enhancing its participation in UN peacekeeping missions, engaging in multinational exercises, and receiving training from foreign allies, particularly from France and the United States. Furthermore, Togo has set up a regional peacekeeping training facility for military personnel and police in Lome, projected to be operational by 2025.

Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Togolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Togolaise, FAT): Comprising the Togolese Army, Togolese Navy, Togolese Air Force, and National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale Togolaise or GNT)

Ministry of Security and Civil Protection: Togolese Police (2025)

Military service age and obligation

Military service for both men and women is mandatory between the ages of 18 and 24, with an initial service commitment of 24 months; there is no conscription as of 2025.

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The FAT possesses a limited stock of primarily outdated or older weaponry sourced from various nations including Brazil, France, Russia/former Soviet Union, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States (2025).

Military and security service personnel strengths

The estimated number of active personnel in the Armed Forces, including the Gendarmerie, is around 20,000 (2025).

Terrorist group(s)

Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM)

Refugees and internally displaced persons