Background: 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.

Area
Total: 56,785 km²
Land: 54,385 km²
Water: 2,400 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries
Total: 1,880 km
Border countries (3): (3) Benin 651 km; Burkina Faso 131 km; Ghana 1,098 km

Coastline: 56 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 30 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Note: the US does not recognize the territorial sea claim

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
Highest point: Mont Agou 986 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 236 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 70.2% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 48.7% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 18.4% (2023 est.)
Forest: 22.4% (2023 est.)
Other: 7.4% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 70 km² (2012)

Natural hazards: hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts

Geography
Note: stretches through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna

Population
Total: 8,917,994 (2024 est.)
Male: 4,395,271
Female: 4,522,723
Distribution: one of the more densely populated African nations, with most of the population residing in rural communities; density is highest in the south on or near the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map
Growth rate: 2.41% (2024 est.)

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.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 38.7% (male 1,749,533/female 1,699,084)
15-64 years: 57% (male 2,486,142/female 2,597,914)
65 years and over: 4.3% (2024 est.) (male 159,596/female 225,725)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 75.4 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 67.8 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 7.6 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 13.2 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 20.7 years (2024 est.)
Male: 19.9 years
Female: 21.4 years

Population growth rate: 2.41% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 30.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 5.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: one of the more densely populated African nations, with most of the population residing in rural communities; density is highest in the south on or near the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map

Urbanization
Urban population: 44.5% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 3.6% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 1.982 million LOME (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 349 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 38.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 43 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 33.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 72.1 years (2024 est.)
Male: 69.5 years
Female: 74.7 years

Total fertility rate: 4.13 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 13% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 41.5% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 29% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 18% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 80.8% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 53.3% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 15.2% (2017 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2% (2024 est.); 2% (2023 est.); 2% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Lome
Geographic coordinates: 6 07 N, 1 13 E
Time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the name comes from a local word meaning 'little market'

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

Legal system: customary law system

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt

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 ministers
Election/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 limits
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

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Parliament
Legislative structure: bicameral
Note: party lists are required to contain equal numbers of men and women

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

National anthem
Title: 'Salut à toi, pays de nos aieux' (Hail to Thee, Land of Our Forefathers)
Lyrics/music: Alex CASIMIR-DOSSEH
History: adopted 1960, restored 1992; anthem was replaced during one-party rule between 1979 and 1992

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 5.3% (2024 est.); 6.4% (2023 est.); 5.8% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 5.3% (2024 est.); 6.4% (2023 est.); 5.8% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 78.3% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 13.1% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 22.3% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 24.4% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -38.1% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 18% (2024 est.)
Industry: 20% (2024 est.)
Services: 52% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Industries: phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, beverages

Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 3.345 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 2% (2024 est.); 2% (2023 est.); 2% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2% (2024 est.); 2% (2023 est.); 2% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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

Taxes and other revenues: 14.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $1.722 billion (2020 est.); $1.665 billion (2019 est.); $1.703 billion (2018 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: gold, refined petroleum, soybeans, phosphates, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $2.389 billion (2020 est.); $2.261 billion (2019 est.); $2.329 billion (2018 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, garments, rice, palm oil, motorcycles and cycles (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 326,000 kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 1.815 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 1.1 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 206.938 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 57.2% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 96.5%
Access electrification - rural areas: 25%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 79.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 11.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 8.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 163,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 10 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 163,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 14,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas
Consumption: 176.16 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 176.16 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 2.656 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 372,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 1.941 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 343,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 4.538 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 67,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.) less than 1
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 7.05 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 74 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 37% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 114,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 2.2% of GDP (2024 est.); 3% of GDP (2023 est.); 4% of GDP (2022 est.); 2.8% of GDP (2021 est.); 2.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Airports: 7 (2025)

Railways
Total: 568 km (2014)
Narrow gauge: 568 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

Merchant marine
Total: 397 (2023)
By type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 10, general cargo 250, oil tanker 56, other 80