Africa :: TOGO

  • Introduction :: TOGO

  • French Togoland became Togo 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, the government was largely dominated by President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has been in power almost continually since 1967 and its successor, the Union for the Republic, maintains a majority of seats in today's legislature. Upon EYADEMA's death in February 2005, the military installed the president's son, Faure GNASSINGBE, and then engineered his formal election two months later. Democratic gains since then allowed Togo to hold its first relatively free and fair legislative elections in October 2007. After years of political unrest and condemnation from international organizations for human rights abuses, Togo is finally being re-welcomed into the international community.

  • Geography :: TOGO

  • Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
    8 00 N, 1 10 E
    Africa
    total: 56,785 sq km
    land: 54,385 sq km
    water: 2,400 sq km
    country comparison to the world: 126
    slightly smaller than West Virginia
    total: 1,880 km
    border countries (3): Benin 651 km, Burkina Faso 131 km, Ghana 1,098 km
    56 km
    territorial sea: 30 nm
    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
    tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
    gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes
    mean elevation: 236 m
    elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
    highest point: Mont Agou 986 m
    phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land
    agricultural land: 67.4%
    arable land 45.2%; permanent crops 3.8%; permanent pasture 18.4%
    forest: 4.9%
    other: 27.7% (2011 est.)
    70 sq km (2012)
    hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts
    deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas
    party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
    signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
    the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna

  • People and Society :: TOGO

  • 7,756,937
    note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 100
    noun: Togolese (singular and plural)
    adjective: Togolese
    African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
    French (official, the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (the two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north)
    Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%
    Togo’s population is estimated to have grown to four times its size between 1960 and 2010. With nearly 60% of its populace under the age of 25 and a high annual growth rate attributed largely to high fertility, Togo’s population is likely to continue to expand for the foreseeable future. Reducing fertility, boosting job creation, and improving education will be essential to reducing the country’s high poverty rate. In 2008, Togo eliminated primary school enrollment fees, leading to higher enrollment but increased pressure on limited classroom space, teachers, and materials. Togo has a good chance of achieving universal primary education, but educational quality, the underrepresentation of girls, and the low rate of enrollment in secondary and tertiary schools remain concerns.
    Togo is both a country of emigration and asylum. In the early 1990s, southern Togo suffered from the economic decline of the phosphate sector and ethnic and political repression at the hands of dictator Gnassingbe EYADEMA and his northern, Kabye-dominated administration. The turmoil led 300,000 to 350,000 predominantly southern Togolese to flee to Benin and Ghana, with most not returning home until relative stability was restored in 1997. In 2005, another outflow of 40,000 Togolese to Benin and Ghana occurred when violence broke out between the opposition and security forces over the disputed election of EYADEMA’s son Faure GNASSINGBE to the presidency. About half of the refugees reluctantly returned home in 2006, many still fearing for their safety. Despite ethnic tensions and periods of political unrest, Togo in 2016 was home to more than 18,000 refugees from Ghana.
    0-14 years: 40.44% (male 1,573,363/female 1,563,267)
    15-24 years: 19.34% (male 749,002/female 751,571)
    25-54 years: 32.58% (male 1,255,524/female 1,271,804)
    55-64 years: 4.27% (male 156,249/female 175,089)
    65 years and over: 3.37% (male 112,845/female 148,223) (2016 est.)
    total dependency ratio: 81.8%
    youth dependency ratio: 76.8%
    elderly dependency ratio: 5%
    potential support ratio: 19.9% (2015 est.)
    total: 19.7 years
    male: 19.4 years
    female: 20 years (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 193
    2.66% (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 15
    33.7 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 28
    7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 131
    0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 98
    urban population: 40% of total population (2015)
    rate of urbanization: 3.83% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
    LOME (capital) 956,000 (2015)
    at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
    0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
    15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
    25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
    55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
    65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
    total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
    21
    note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2013/14 est.)
    368 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 40
    total: 43.7 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 50.1 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 37 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 45
    total population: 65 years
    male: 62.3 years
    female: 67.7 years (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 177
    4.43 children born/woman (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 27
    15.2% (2010)
    5.2% of GDP (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 45
    0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
    0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)
    improved:
    urban: 91.4% of population
    rural: 44.2% of population
    total: 63.1% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 8.6% of population
    rural: 55.8% of population
    total: 36.9% of population (2015 est.)
    improved:
    urban: 24.7% of population
    rural: 2.9% of population
    total: 11.6% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 75.3% of population
    rural: 97.1% of population
    total: 88.4% of population (2015 est.)
    2.4% (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 26
    106,300 (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 41
    5,100 (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 35
    degree of risk: very high
    food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
    vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever
    respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
    water contact disease: schistosomiasis
    animal contact disease: rabies (2016)
    6.4% (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 169
    16.2% (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 41
    4.8% of GDP (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 91
    definition: age 15 and over can read and write
    total population: 66.5%
    male: 78.3%
    female: 55.3% (2015 est.)
    total: 12 years
    male: NA
    female: NA (2011)
    total number: 774,801
    percentage: 47% (2010 est.)

  • Government :: TOGO

  • conventional long form: Togolese Republic
    conventional short form: Togo
    local long form: Republique Togolaise
    local short form: none
    former: French Togoland
    etymology: derived from the Ewe words "to" (water) and "go" (shore) to give the sense of "by the water"; originally, this designation applied to the town of Togo (now Togoville) on the northern shore of Lake Togo, but the name was eventually extended to the entire nation
    presidential republic
    name: Lome
    geographic coordinates: 6 07 N, 1 13 E
    time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
    5 regions (regions, singular - region); Centrale, Kara, Maritime, Plateaux, Savanes
    27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
    Independence Day, 27 April (1960)
    several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1992, effective 14 October 1992; amended 2002, 2007 (2016)
    customary law system
    accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
    citizenship by birth: no
    citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Togo
    dual citizenship recognized: yes
    residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
    18 years of age; universal
    chief of state: President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 4 May 2005)
    head of government: Prime Minister Komi KLASSOU (since 5 June 2015)
    cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
    elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 25 April 2015 (next to be held in 2020); prime minister appointed by the president
    election results: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE (UNIR) 58.8%, Jean-Pierre FABRE (ANC) 35.2%, Tchaboure GOGUE 4%, other 2%
    description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (91 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)
    elections: last held on 25 July 2013 (next to be held in 2018)
    election results: percent of vote by party - UNIR 46.7%, CST 28.9%, Rainbow Alliance 10.8%, UFC 7.7%, independent 0.8%, other 5.1%; seats by party - UNIR 62, CST 19, Rainbow Alliance 6, UFC 3, independent 1
    highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (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 upon the proposal of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy, a 9-member judicial, advisory, and disciplinary body; other judge appointments and judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Assembly; judge tenure NA
    subordinate 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
    Action Committee for Renewal or CAR [Dodji APEVON]
    Democratic Convention of African Peoples or CDPA [Brigitte ADJAMAGBO-JOHNSON]
    National Alliance for Change or ANC [Jean-Pierre FABRE]
    Pan-African Patriotic Convergence or CPP [Edem KODJO]
    Rainbow Alliance (a coalition including CAR and CDPA) [Brigitte ADJAMAGBO-JOHNSON]
    Save Togo Collective or CST (a coalition including: ANC and PSR) [Ata Messan Zeus AJAVON
    Socialist Pact for Renewal or PSR [Abi TCHESSA]
    Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Gagou KOKOU]
    Union of Forces for Change or UFC [Gilchrist OLYMPIO]
    Union for the Republic or UNIR [Faure GNASSINGBE]
    NA
    ACP, AfDB, 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, MINUSMA, 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
    chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Yokoudema KADOKALIH (since 26 October 2015)
    chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
    telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212
    FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190
    chief of mission: Ambassador David R. GILMORE (since December 2015)
    embassy: 4332 Blvd. Gnassingbe Eyadema, Cite OUA, Lome
    mailing address: B.P. 852, Lome; 2300 Lome Place, Washington, DC 20521-2300
    telephone: [228] 2261-5470
    FAX: [228] 2261-5501
    five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; a white five-pointed star on a red square is in the upper hoist-side corner; the five horizontal stripes stand for the five different regions of the country; the red square is meant to express the loyalty and patriotism of the people; green symbolizes hope, fertility, and agriculture; yellow represents mineral wealth and faith that hard work and strength will bring prosperity; the star symbolizes life, purity, peace, dignity, and Togo's independence
    note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
    lion; national colors: green, yellow, red, white
    name: "Salut a toi, pays de nos aieux" (Hail to Thee, Land of Our Forefathers)
    lyrics/music: Alex CASIMIR-DOSSEH
    note: adopted 1960, restored 1992; this anthem was replaced by another during one-party rule between 1979 and 1992

  • Economy :: TOGO

  • This small, sub-Saharan economy depends heavily on both commercial and subsistence agriculture, which provides employment for a significant share of the labor force. Some basic foodstuffs must still be imported. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton generate about 40% of export earnings with cotton being the most important cash crop. Togo is among the world's largest producers of phosphate and seeks to develop its carbonate phosphate reserves.
    The government's decade-long effort, supported by the World Bank and the IMF, to implement economic reform measures, encourage foreign investment, and bring revenues in line with expenditures has moved slowly. Togo completed its IMF Extended Credit Facility in 2011 and reached a Heavily Indebted Poor Country debt relief completion point in 2010 at which 95% of the country's debt was forgiven. Togo continues to work with the IMF on structural reforms. Progress depends on follow through on privatization, increased openness in government financial operations, progress toward legislative elections, and continued support from foreign donors.
    Togo’s 2015 economic growth remained steady at 5.4%, largely driven by infusions of foreign aid, infrastructure investment in the port and mineral sectors, and improvements in the business climate. Foreign direct investment inflows have slowed in recent years.
    $10.85 billion (2015 est.)
    $10.3 billion (2014 est.)
    $9.775 billion (2013 est.)
    note: data are in 2015 US dollars
    country comparison to the world: 156
    $4.165 billion (2015 est.)
    5.3% (2015 est.)
    5.4% (2014 est.)
    5.4% (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 37
    $1,500 (2015 est.)
    $1,400 (2014 est.)
    $1,400 (2013 est.)
    note: data are in 2015 US dollars
    country comparison to the world: 215
    15.8% of GDP (2015 est.)
    11.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
    10% of GDP (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 99
    household consumption: 113.2%
    government consumption: 16.7%
    investment in fixed capital: 21.8%
    investment in inventories: 0%
    exports of goods and services: 54.1%
    imports of goods and services: -105.8% (2015 est.)
    agriculture: 28.5%
    industry: 20.9%
    services: 50.6% (2015 est.)
    coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (manioc, tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish
    phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, beverages
    9.1% (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 14
    2.595 million (2007 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 111
    agriculture: 65%
    industry: 5%
    services: 30% (1998 est.)
    NA%
    32% (1989 est.)
    lowest 10%: 3.3%
    highest 10%: 27.1% (2006)
    revenues: $1.061 billion
    expenditures: $1.3 billion (2015 est.)
    25.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 116
    -5.7% of GDP (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 178
    67.3% of GDP (2015 est.)
    59.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 48
    calendar year
    1.8% (2015 est.)
    0.2% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 117
    2.5% (31 December 2010)
    4.25% (31 December 2009)
    country comparison to the world: 110
    NA%
    $1.14 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
    $1.036 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 149
    $2.017 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
    $2.025 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 155
    $1.65 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
    $1.642 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 145
    $NA
    -$523 million (2015 est.)
    -$592 million (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 89
    $1.246 billion (2015 est.)
    $1.326 billion (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 152
    reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa
    India 14.6%, Burkina Faso 11.3%, China 11.3%, Benin 9.6%, Ghana 9%, Lebanon 8.3%, Nigeria 6.1%, Niger 5.9% (2015)
    $1.881 billion (2015 est.)
    $2.212 billion (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 167
    machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products
    China 22.9%, Belgium 20.3%, Netherlands 11.9%, France 6.6%, India 4.8%, Singapore 4.4% (2015)
    $574 million (31 December 2015 est.)
    $507 million (31 December 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 144
    $1.034 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
    $995.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 165
    Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
    591.45 (2015 est.)
    494.42 (2014 est.)
    494.42 (2013 est.)
    510.53 (2012 est.)
    471.87 (2011 est.)

  • Energy :: TOGO

  • population without electricity: 5,000,000
    electrification - total population: 27%
    electrification - urban areas: 35%
    electrification - rural areas: 21% (2013)
    100 million kWh (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 197
    1.1 billion kWh (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 151
    0 kWh (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 204
    1.1 billion kWh (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 64
    86,000 kW (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 178
    21.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 192
    0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 191
    78.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 17
    0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 133
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 198
    0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 197
    0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 134
    0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
    country comparison to the world: 199
    0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 136
    13,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 146
    0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 137
    12,280 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 133
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 136
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 200
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 193
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 141
    0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)
    country comparison to the world: 200
    1.8 million Mt (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 156

  • Communications :: TOGO

  • total subscriptions: 52,690
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (July 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 155
    total: 4.657 million
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 62 (July 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 121
    general assessment: fair system based on a network of microwave radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and a mobile-cellular system
    domestic: microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for conventional system; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 60 telephones per 100 persons with mobile-cellular use predominating
    international: country code - 228; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Symphonie (2015)
    2 state-owned TV stations with multiple transmission sites; 5 private TV stations broadcast locally; cable TV service is available; state-owned radio network with multiple stations; several dozen private radio stations and a few community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available (2007)
    .tg
    total: 538,000
    percent of population: 7.1% (July 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 138

  • Transportation :: TOGO

  • number of registered air carriers: 1
    inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8
    annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 769,904
    annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km (2015)
    5V (2016)
    8 (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 163
    total: 2
    2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2013)
    total: 6
    914 to 1,523 m: 4
    under 914 m: 2 (2013)
    total: 568 km
    narrow gauge: 568 km 1.000-m gauge (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 112
    total: 11,652 km
    paved: 2,447 km
    unpaved: 9,205 km (2007)
    country comparison to the world: 129
    50 km (seasonally navigable by small craft on the Mono River depending on rainfall) (2011)
    country comparison to the world: 102
    total: 61
    by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 38, carrier 3, chemical tanker 5, container 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1
    foreign-owned: 21 (China 1, Lebanon 6, Romania 1, Syria 6, Turkey 4, UAE 1, US 1, Yemen 1) (2010)
    country comparison to the world: 66
    major seaport(s): Kpeme, Lome

  • Military and Security :: TOGO

  • Togolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Togolaise, FAT): Togolese Army (l'Armee de Terre), Togolese Navy (Forces Naval Togolaises), Togolese Air Force (Force Aerienne Togolaise, TAF), National Gendarmerie (2013)
    18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 2-year service obligation (2012)
    NA% (2012)
    1.6% of GDP (2011)

  • Transnational Issues :: TOGO

  • in 2001, Benin claimed Togo moved boundary monuments - joint commission continues to resurvey the boundary; talks continue between Benin and Togo on funding the Adjrala hydroelectric dam on the Mona River
    refugees (country of origin): 18,476 (Ghana) (2015)
    transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money laundering not a significant problem