Introduction

Background: |  |

`
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 multiparty elections instituted in the early 1990s, the government was largely dominated by President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has maintained power almost continually since 1967 and 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

Location: |  |
`Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana`
Geographic coordinates: |  |
`8 00 N, 1 10 E`
Map references: |  |
`Africa`
Area: |  |
`total: 56,785 sq km country comparison to the world: 125 land: 54,385 sq km water: 2,400 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`slightly smaller than West Virginia`
Land boundaries: |  |
`total: 1,647 km border countries: Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km`
Coastline: |  |
`56 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 30 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm`
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`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Agou 986 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 44.2% permanent crops: 2.11% other: 53.69% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`70 sq km (2003)`
Total renewable water resources: |  |
`14.7 cu km (2001)`
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic / industrial / agricultural): |  |
`total: 0.17 cu km/yr (53%/2%/45%) per capita: 28 cu m/yr (2000)`
Natural hazards: |  |
`hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts`
Environment - current issues: |  |
`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`
Environment - international agreements: |  |
`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`
Geography - note: |  |
`the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna`

People

Population: |  |
`6,771,993 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 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`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 40.9% (male 1,387,537/female 1,381,040) 15-64 years: 56% (male 1,878,114/female 1,912,132) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 92,689/female 120,481) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 19.3 years male: 19 years female: 19.5 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`2.762% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 18`
Birth rate: |  |
`35.58 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 26`
Death rate: |  |
`7.96 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 106`
Net migration rate: |  |
`0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 108`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 43% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 3.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`LOME (capital) 1.593 million (2009)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 51.48 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 44 male: 58.43 deaths/1,000 live births female: 44.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 62.71 years country comparison to the world: 177 male: 60.19 years female: 65.3 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`4.69 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 29`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`3.2% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 22`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`120,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 39`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`7,700 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 28`
Major infectious diseases: |  |

`
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
`

Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 87% of population rural: 41% of population total: 60% of population unimproved: urban: 13% of population rural: 59% of population total: 40% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 24% of population rural: 3% of population total: 12% of population unimproved: urban: 76% of population rural: 97% of population total: 88% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Togolese (singular and plural) adjective: Togolese`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%`
Religions: |  |
`Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%`
Languages: |  |
`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)`
Literacy: |  |
`definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 60.9% male: 75.4% female: 46.9% (2003 est.)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 8 years (2007)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`4.6% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 78`

Government

Country name: |  |
`conventional long form: Togolese Republic conventional short form: Togo local long form: Republique togolaise local short form: none former: French Togoland`
Government type: |  |
`republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule`
Capital: |  |
`name: Lome geographic coordinates: 6 08 N, 1 13 E time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)`
Administrative divisions: |  |
`5 regions (regions, singular - region); Centrale, Kara, Maritime, Plateaux, Savanes`
Independence: |  |
`27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)`
National holiday: |  |
`Independence Day, 27 April (1960)`
Constitution: |  |
`adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992`
Legal system: |  |
`customary law system`
International law organization participation: |  |
`accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt`
Suffrage: |  |
`18 years of age; universal`
Executive branch: |  |

`
chief of state: President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 4 May 2005);
head of government: Prime Minister Gilbert HOUNGBO (since 7 September 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the prime minister
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 4 March 2010 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE 60.9%, Jean-Pierre FABRE 33.9%, Yawovi AGBOYIBO 3%, other 2.2%
`

Legislative branch: |  |
`unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 14 October 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - RPT 39.4%, UFC 37.0%, CAR 8.2%, independents 2.5%, other 12.9%; seats by party - RPT 50, UFC 27, CAR 4`
Judicial branch: |  |
`Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme`
Political parties and leaders: |  |

`
Action Committee for Renewal or CAR [Yawovi AGBOYIBO]; Democratic Convention of African Peoples or CDPA; Democratic Party for Renewal or PDR; Juvento [Monsilia DJATO]; Movement of the Believers of Peace and Equality or MOCEP; National Alliance for Change or ANC [Jean-Pierre FABRE]; Pan-African Patriotic Convergence or CPP; Rally for the Support for Development and Democracy or RSDD [Harry OLYMPIO]; Rally of the Togolese People or RPT [Faure GNASSINGBE]; Socialist Pact for Renewal or PSR; Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Gagou KOKOU]; Union of Forces for Change or UFC [Gilchrist OLYMPIO]
`

Political pressure groups and leaders: |  |
`NA`
International organization participation: |  |
`ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO`
Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Kadangha Limbiya BARIKI chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia McMahon HAWKINS embassy: 4332 Blvd. Gnassingbe Eyadema, Cite OUA, Lome mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome; 2300 Lome Place, Washington, DC 20512-2300 telephone: [228] 261-5470 FAX: [228] 261-5501`
Flag description: |  |

`
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
`

National anthem: |  |
`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

Economy - overview: |  |

`
This small, sub-Saharan economy suffers from anemic economic growth and depends heavily on both commercial and subsistence agriculture, which provides employment for 65% 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 the world's fourth-largest producer of phosphate. 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. Progress depends on follow through on privatization, increased openness in government financial operations, progress toward legislative elections, and continued support from foreign donors. Togo is on track with its IMF Extended Credit Facility and reached a HIPC debt relief completion point in 2010 at which 95% of the country's debt was forgiven. Economic growth prospects remain marginal due to declining cotton production and underinvestment in phosphate mining.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$5.974 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 157 $5.778 billion (2009 est.) $5.596 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$3.194 billion (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`3.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 3.2% (2009 est.) 2.4% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$900 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 216 $900 (2009 est.) $900 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 47.4% industry: 25.4% services: 27.2% (2009 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`2.595 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 110`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: 65% industry: 5% services: 30% (1998 est.)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`NA%`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`32% (1989 est.)`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 27.1% (2006)`
Investment (gross fixed): |  |
`18.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 109`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $602.3 million expenditures: $692.1 million (2010 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`2.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 2% (2009 est.)`
Central bank discount rate: |  |
`4.25% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 96 4.75% (31 December 2008)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`NA%`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$754.5 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147 $789.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$1.238 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 158 $1.306 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$817.7 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 154 $862.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$NA`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish`
Industries: |  |
`phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, beverages`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`2.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 120`
Electricity - production: |  |
`230 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 175`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`640 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 152`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`514 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by Ghana (2007 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 133`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`21,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 123`
Oil - exports: |  |
`1,547 bbl/day (2005) country comparison to the world: 117`
Oil - imports: |  |
`15,270 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 124`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 195`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 191`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 128`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 186`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 125`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 194`
Current account balance: |  |
`$-339 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 $-236 million (2009 est.)`
Exports: |  |
`$859 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 $818 million (2009 est.)`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa`
Exports - partners: |  |
`Germany 17.57%, Ghana 12.74%, Burkina Faso 11.02%, India 10.22%, Belgium 7.1%, Benin 6.92%, Netherlands 5.94%, Mali 4.41% (2009)`
Imports: |  |
`$1.337 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 167 $1.261 billion (2009 est.)`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products`
Imports - partners: |  |
`China 36.58%, France 8.64%, Netherlands 6.76%, India 5.06%, US 4.4% (2009)`
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |  |
`$686 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $703.2 million (31 December 2009 est.)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$NA (31 December 2010) $1.573 billion (31 December 2008 est.)`
Exchange rates: |  |
`Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 495.28 (2010) 472.19 (2009) 447.81 (2008) 482.71 (2007) 522.59 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`178,700 (2009) country comparison to the world: 129`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`2.187 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 129`
Telephone system: |  |

`
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 40 telephones per 100 persons with mobile-cellular use predominating
international: country code - 228; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Symphonie
`

Broadcast media: |  |
`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 are obtainable (2007)`
Internet country code: |  |
`.tg`
Internet hosts: |  |
`860 (2010) country comparison to the world: 168`
Internet users: |  |
`356,300 (2009) country comparison to the world: 123`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`8 (2010) country comparison to the world: 163`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2010)`
Airports - with unpaved runways: |  |
`total: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2010)`
Railways: |  |
`total: 532 km country comparison to the world: 110 narrow gauge: 532 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 7,520 km country comparison to the world: 146 paved: 2,376 km unpaved: 5,144 km (2000)`
Waterways: |  |
`50 km (seasonally navigable by small craft on the Mono River depending on rainfall) (2009) country comparison to the world: 103`
Merchant marine: |  |
`total: 53 country comparison to the world: 69 by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 40, chemical tanker 2, container 2, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 23 (China 2, Greece 1, Lebanon 6, Romania 1, Syria 5, Turkey 4, UAE 1, UK 3) (2010)`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Kpeme, Lome`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`Togolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Togolaise, FAT): Ground Forces, Togolese Navy (Marine du Togo), Togolese Air Force (Force Aerienne Togolaise, TAF), National Gendarmerie (2011)`
Military service age and obligation: |  |
`18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; 2-year service obligation (2006)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 1,577,572 females age 16-49: 1,589,715 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 1,104,536 females age 16-49: 1,158,061 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 74,036 female: 73,515 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`1.6% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 93`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`in 2001, Benin claimed Togo moved boundary monuments - joint commission continues to resurvey the boundary; in 2006, 14,000 Togolese refugees remain in Benin and Ghana out of the 40,000 who fled there in 2005; talks continue between Benin and Togo on funding the Adjrala hydroelectric dam on the Mona River`
Refugees and internally displaced persons: |  |
`refugees (country of origin): 5,000 (Ghana) IDPs: 1,500 (2007)`
Illicit drugs: |  |
`transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money laundering not a significant problem`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011