Togo

Location

• Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
• stretches through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Lomé	2,188,376	Capital
Sokodé	117,811
Kara	104,207
Atakpamé	80,683
Kpalimé	75,084
Bassar	61,845
Dapaong	58,071
Tsévié	55,775
Aného	47,579
Mango	37,748

Size

• 21,925 square miles
• 56,785 square kilometers
• slightly smaller than West Virginia

History

From the 11th to the 16th centuries, various ethnic groups settled the Togo region. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, the coastal region became a major trading center for enslaved people, and the surrounding region took on the name of "The Slave Coast." In 1884, Germany declared the area a protectorate called Togoland, which included present-day Togo. After World War I, colonial rule over Togo was transferred to France. French Togoland became Togo upon independence in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA, installed as military ruler in 1967, ruled Togo with a heavy hand for almost four decades. Despite the facade of multi-party elections instituted in the early 1990s, EYADEMA largely dominated the government. His Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has been in power almost continually since 1967, with its successor, the Union for the Republic, maintaining a majority of seats in today's legislature. Upon EYADEMA's death in 2005, the military installed his son, Faure GNASSINGBE, as president and then engineered his formal election two months later. Togo held its first relatively free and fair legislative elections in 2007. Since then, GNASSINGBE has started the country along a gradual path to democratic reform. Togo has held multiple presidential and legislative elections, and in 2019, the country held its first local elections in 32 years. Despite those positive moves, political reconciliation has moved slowly, and the country experiences periodic outbursts of protests from frustrated citizens, leading to violence between security forces and protesters. Constitutional changes in 2019 to institute a runoff system in presidential elections and to establish term limits have done little to reduce the resentment many Togolese feel after more than 50 years of one-family rule. GNASSINGBE became eligible for his current fourth term and one additional fifth term under the new rules. The next presidential election is set for 2025. 

Climate

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain

gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes

Languages

French (official, language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (in the north)

Religions

Christian 42.3%, folk religion 36.9%, Muslim 14%, Hindu <1%, Buddhist <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, none 6.2% (2020 est.)

Government

presidential republic

• Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1992, effective 14 October 1992; revised 6 May 2024amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one fifth of the National Assembly membership; passage requires four-fifths majority vote by the Assembly; a referendum is required if approved by only two-thirds majority of the Assembly or if requested by the president; constitutional articles on the republican and secular form of government cannot be amended
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
• Legal System: customary law system
• Executive Branch: chief of state: President Jean-Lucien Kwassi Savi de TOVE (since 3 May 2025)head of government: President of Council of Ministers Faure GNASSINGBE (since 3 May 2025)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the president of the council of ministerselection/appointment process: president is appointed by the national assembly for one six-year term; the president of the council of ministers is the leader of the majority party in the national assembly and is confirmed by the Constitutional Court with no term limitselection results: 2020: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE (UNIR) 70.8%, Agbeyome KODJO (MPDD) 19.5%, Jean-Pierre FABRE (ANC) 4.7%, other 5%2015: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE (UNIR) 58.8%, Jean-Pierre FABRE (ANC) 35.2%, Tchaboure GOGUE (ADDI) 4%, other 2%note: in May 2024, the President signed into law changes to the constitution that converted the presidential system to a parliamentary republic and created the President of Council of Ministers position
• Judicial Branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (organized into criminal and administrative chambers, each with a chamber president and advisors); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, including the court president)judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president appointed by decree of the president of the republic on the proposal of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy, a 9-member judicial, advisory, and disciplinary body; other judicial appointments and judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Assembly; judge tenure NAsubordinate courts: Court of Assizes (sessions court); Appeal Court; tribunals of first instance (divided into civil, commercial, and correctional chambers; Court of State Security; military tribunal
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: Parliamentlegislative structure: bicameralnote: party lists are required to contain equal numbers of men and women

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• low-income West African economy; primarily agrarian economy; has a deep-water port; growing international shipping locale; improving privatization and public budgeting transparency; key phosphate mining industry; extremely high rural poverty
• Budget: revenues: $1.801 billion (2023 est.)expenditures: $2.407 billion (2023 est.)note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land
• Industries: phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, beverages
• Agricultural Products: cassava, maize, yams, sorghum, soybeans, beans, rice, vegetables, oil palm fruit, cotton (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 70.2% (2022 est.)arable land: 48.7% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 3.1% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 18.4% (2022 est.)forest: 22.1% (2022 est.)other: 7.6% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: refined petroleum, garments, rice, palm oil, motorcycles and cycles (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: China 26%, India 26%, Belgium 6%, Netherlands 6%, USA 3% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: gold, refined petroleum, soybeans, phosphates, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: UAE 40%, India 13%, Angola 13%, Burkina Faso 4%, Cote d'Ivoire 3% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports