
Togo in the World
Togo - Introduction 2014
top of pageBackground: 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 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.
Togo - Geography 2014
top of pageLocation: Western Africa bordering the Bight of Benin between Benin and Ghana
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N 1 10 E
Map reference
Area
Rank: 126
Land: 54,385 km²
Water: 2,400 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries
Border countries: (3) Benin 644 km; Burkina Faso 126 km; Ghana 877 km
Coastline: 56 km
Maritime claims
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 highest point: Mont Agou 986 m
Natural resources: phosphates limestone marble arable land
Land use
Land use
Permanent crops: 3.7%
Other: 52.1% (2011)
Irrigated land: 73 km² (2003)
Major rivers
Major watersheds area km²
Total water withdrawal
Total renewable water resources: 14.7 km³ (2011)
Natural hazards: hot dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts
Geography
Note: the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna
Togo - People 2014
top of pagePopulation: 7,351,374
Rank: 100
Growth rate: 2.71% (2014 est.)
Growth rate rank: 22
Below poverty line: 32% (1989 est.)
Nationality
Adjective: Togolese
Ethnic groups: African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe Mina and Kabre) 99% European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
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)
Religions: Christian 29% Muslim 20% indigenous beliefs 51%
Demographic profile
Age structure
Age structure
15-24 years: 19.7% (male 723,237/female 726,350)
25-54 years: 32.1% (male 1,173,492/female 1,188,961)
55-64 years: 4.2% (male 145,743/female 163,384)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 104,277/female 136,406) (2014 est.)
Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 75.2 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 5 %
Potential support ratio: 20.2 (2014 est.)
Median age
Male: 19.3 years
Female: 19.8 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.71% (2014 est.)
Rank: 22
Birth rate: 34.52 births/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 29
Death rate: 7.43 deaths/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 116
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 82
Population distribution
Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: 3.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas
Population: LOME (capital) 1.524 million (2011)
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants
Sex ratio
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: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birth
Maternal mortality ratio
Infant mortality rate
Rank: 44
Male: 53.38 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 39.88 deaths/1000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 178
Male: 61.49 years
Female: 66.71 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.53 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Rank: 28
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 15.2% (2010)
Drinking water source:
urban: 91.4% of population
rural: 40.3% of population
total: 60% of population
urban: 8.6% of population
rural: 59.7% of population
total: 40% of population (2012 est.)
rural: 40.3% of population
total: 60% of population
urban: 8.6% of population
rural: 59.7% of population
total: 40% of population (2012 est.)
Current health expenditure
Physicians density: 0.05 physicians/1000 population (2008)
Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1000 population (2011)
Sanitation facility access:
urban: 25.5% of population
rural: 2.5% of population
total: 11.3% of population
urban: 74.5% of population
rural: 97.5% of population
total: 88.7% of population (2012 est.)
rural: 2.5% of population
total: 11.3% of population
urban: 74.5% of population
rural: 97.5% of population
total: 88.7% of population (2012 est.)
Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 2.9% (2012 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 21
People living with hivaids: 128,100 (2012 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 40
Deaths: 7,200 (2012 est.)
Deaths rank: 30
Major infectious diseases
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
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 4.3% (2008)
Rank: 169
Alcohol consumption
Tobacco use
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 16.5% (2010)
Rank: 41
Education expenditures: 4.5% of GDP (2011)
Rank: 91
Literacy
Total population: 60.4%
Male: 74.1%
Female: 48% (2011 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Youth unemployment
Togo - Government 2014
top of pageCountry name
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
Geographic coordinates: 6 07 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
Dependent areas
Independence: 27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day 27 April (1960)
Constitution: several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1992 effective 14 October 1992; amended 2002 last in 2005 (2005)
Legal system: customary law system
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
Head of government: Prime Minister Kwesi Seleagodji AHOOMEY-ZUNU (since 23 July 2012)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
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 (91 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held on 25 July 2013 (next to be held in 2018)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UNIR 62 CST 19 Rainbow Alliance 6 UFC 3 independents 1
Judicial branch
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); appeals courts; tribunals of first instance (divided into civil commercial and correctional chambers; Court of State Security; military tribunal
Political parties and leaders:
Socialist Pact for Renewal or PSR
Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Gagou KOKOU]
Union for the Republic or UNIR [Faure GNASSINGBE]
Union of Forces for Change or UFC [Gilchrist OLYMPIO]
Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Gagou KOKOU]
Union for the Republic or UNIR [Faure GNASSINGBE]
Union of Forces for Change or UFC [Gilchrist OLYMPIO]
International organization participation: ACP AfDB AU ECOWAS EITI (candidate country) Entente FAO FZ G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC (national committees) ICRM IDA IDB IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO (correspondent) ITSO ITU ITUC (NGOs) MIGA 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
Diplomatic representation
In the us chancery: 2,208 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 234-4,212
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 232-3,190
From the us embassy: 4,332 Blvd. Gnassingbe Eyadema Cite OUA Lome
From the us mailing address: B. P. 852 Lome; 2,300 Lome Place Washington DC 20,521-2,300
From the us telephone: [228] 2,261-5,470
From the us FAX: [228] 2,261-5,501
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
National symbols
National anthem
Lyrics and music: Alex CASIMIR-DOSSEH
National heritage
Togo - Economy 2014
top of pageEconomy overview: 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 Togo 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. Progress depends on follow through on privatization increased openness in government financial operations progress toward legislative elections and continued support from foreign donors. Foreign direct investment inflows have slowed over recent years. Togo completed its IMF Extended Credit Facility in 2011 and reached a HIPC 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.
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$6.964 billion (2012 est.)
$6.594 billion (2011 est.)
$6.594 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 160
Real gdp growth rate:
5.6% (2012 est.)
4.8% (2011 est.)
4.8% (2011 est.)
Rank: 46
Real gdp per capita:
$1100 (2012 est.)
$1100 (2011 est.)
$1100 (2011 est.)
Rank: 217
Gross national saving:
8.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
10.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
10.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
Rank: 136
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 9.7%
Investment in fixed capital: 18.7%
Investment in inventories: 1.2%
Exports of goods and services: 36.9%
Imports of goods and services: -54%: (2013 est.)
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 33.7%
Services: 38.7% (2013 est.)
Agriculture products: coffee cocoa cotton yams cassava (manioc tapioca) corn beans rice millet sorghum; livestock; fish
Industries: phosphate mining agricultural processing cement handicrafts textiles beverages
Industrial production growth rate: 5.1% (2013 est.)
Rank: 54
Labor force: 2.595 million (2007)
Rank: 111
By occupation industry: 5%
By occupation services: 30% (1998 est.)
Labor force
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemployment
Population below poverty line: 32% (1989 est.)
Gini index
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Highest 10: 27.1% (2006)
Distribution of family income gini index
Budget
Expenditures: $983 million (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -3.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 139
Taxes and other revenues: 19.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
Rank: 170
Public debt
Revenue
Fiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.6% (2012 est.)
Rank: 78
Central bank discount rate: 4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 90
Commercial bank prime lending rate: NA%
Stock of narrow money: $1.057 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 146
Stock of broad money: $1.819 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 152
Stock of domestic credit: $1.471 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 139
Market value of publicly traded shares: $N/A
Current account balance: -$372.2 million (2012 est.)
Rank: 94
Exports: $960.5 million (2012 est.)
Rank: 161
Commodities: reexports cotton phosphates coffee cocoa
Partners: India 14.2% Lebanon 10.6% Burkina Faso 7.6% Benin 7.5% China 6.1% Niger 5.8% Netherlands 5.2% Ghana 4.4% (2012)
Imports: $1.604 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 168
Commodities: machinery and equipment foodstuffs petroleum products
Partners: China 40.4% Netherlands 7.9% France 5.4% UK 5.3% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $441.6 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 146
Debt external: $658.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 168
Stock of direct foreign investment at home
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
500.7 (2013 est.)
510.53 (2012 est.)
495.28 (2010 est.)
472.19 (2009)
447.81 (2008)
500.7 (2013 est.)
510.53 (2012 est.)
495.28 (2010 est.)
472.19 (2009)
447.81 (2008)
Togo - Energy 2014
top of pageElectricity
Production: 127.1 million kWh (2010 est.)
Production rank: 195
Consumption: 676.1 million kWh (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 161
Exports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 202
Imports: 710 million kWh (2010 est.)
Imports rank: 71
Installed generating capacity: 85,000 kW (2010 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 177
Generation sources fossil fuels: 21.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 190
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 188
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 78.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 16
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 129
Coal
Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 137
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 191
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 128
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 196
Crude oil
Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 199
Products consumption: 28,670 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 117
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 135
Products imports: 9,773 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products imports rank: 131
Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Production rank: 198
Consumption: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 199
Exports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Exports rank: 192
Imports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Imports rank: 136
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2013 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 199
Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 1.445 million Mt (2011 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Togo - Communication 2014
top of pageTelephones
Main lines in use: 225,000 (2012)
Main lines in use rank: 127
Mobile cellular: 3.518 million (2012)
Mobile cellular rank: 124
Telephone system
Domestic: microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for conventional system; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 50 telephones per 100 persons with mobile-cellular use predominating
International: country code - 228; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) 1 Symphonie (2010)
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 available (2007)
Internet
Country code: .tg
Hosts: 1168 (2012)
Hosts rank: 170
Users: 356,300 (2009)
Users rank: 123
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Togo - Military 2014
top of pageMilitary expenditures:
NA% (2012)
1.6% of GDP (2011)
NA% (2010)
1.6% of GDP (2011)
NA% (2010)
Military and security forces
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 2-year service obligation (2012)
Space program
Terrorist groups
Togo - Transportation 2014
top of pageNational air transport system
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
Airports: 8 (2013)
Rank: 162
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4
With unpaved runways: 2 (2013)
Heliports
Pipelines
Railways
Rank: 110
Narrow gauge: 568 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways
Rank: 129
Paved: 2,447 km
Unpaved: 9,205 km (2007)
Waterways: 50 km (seasonally navigable by small craft on the Mono River depending on rainfall) (2011)
Rank: 103
Merchant marine
Rank: 66
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)
Ports and terminals
Togo - Transnational issues 2014
top of pageDisputes international: 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 and internally displaced persons
IDPs: undetermined (2012)
Illicit drugs: transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money laundering not a significant problem
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