Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
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 [time series]
.tg
Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]
860 (2010) country comparison to the world: 168
Internet users [time series]
356,300 (2009) country comparison to the world: 123
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
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
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
178,700 (2009) country comparison to the world: 128
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
2.187 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 129
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish
Central bank discount rate [time series]
4.25% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 94 4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
NA% (31 December 2009 est.) NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Current account balance [time series]
-$339 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 -$236 million (2009 est.)
Debt - external [time series]
$NA (31 December 2010) $1.573 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
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.
Electricity - consumption [time series]
640 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 152
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports [time series]
514 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by Ghana (2007 est.)
Electricity - production [time series]
230 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 175
Exchange rates [time series]
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 507.71 (2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 482.71 (2007), 522.59 (2006)
Exports [time series]
$859 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 $818 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities [time series]
reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa
Exports - partners [time series]
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)
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$3.074 billion (2010 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$5.927 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 $5.738 billion (2009 est.) $5.565 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 47.4% industry: 25.4% services: 27.2% (2009 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$900 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 220 $900 (2009 est.) $900 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
3.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 107 3.1% (2009 est.) 1.8% (2008 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 27.1% (2006)
Imports [time series]
$1.337 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 166 $1.261 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities [time series]
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products
Imports - partners [time series]
China 36.58%, France 8.64%, Netherlands 6.76%, India 5.06%, US 4.4% (2009)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
2.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 123
Industries [time series]
phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, beverages
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
2.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 2% (2009 est.)
Investment (gross fixed) [time series]
18.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 107
Labor force [time series]
2.595 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 109
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 65% industry: 5% services: 30% (1998 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$NA
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 168
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 124
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 119
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 127
Oil - consumption [time series]
21,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 123
Oil - exports [time series]
1,547 bbl/day (2005) country comparison to the world: 118
Oil - imports [time series]
15,270 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 122
Oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113
Population below poverty line [time series]
32% (1989 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$686 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116 $703.2 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of broad money [time series]
$1.238 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 $1.306 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$817.7 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 $862.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$754.5 million (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 146 $789.7 million (31 December 2009 est)
Unemployment rate [time series]
NA%
Geography
total: 56,785 sq km country comparison to the world: 125 land: 54,385 sq km water: 2,400 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Climate [time series]
tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Coastline [time series]
56 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Agou 986 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
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 environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]
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
Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]
total: 0.17 cu km/yr (53%/2%/45%) per capita: 28 cu m/yr (2000)
Geographic coordinates [time series]
8 00 N, 1 10 E
Geography - note [time series]
the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna
Irrigated land [time series]
70 sq km (2003)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 1,647 km border countries: Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 44.2% permanent crops: 2.11% other: 53.69% (2005)
Location [time series]
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
Map references [time series]
Africa
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 30 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts
Natural resources [time series]
phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land
Terrain [time series]
gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes
Total renewable water resources [time series]
14.7 cu km (2001)
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
5 regions (regions, singular - region); Centrale, Kara, Maritime, Plateaux, Savanes
Capital [time series]
name: Lome geographic coordinates: 6 08 N, 1 13 E time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution [time series]
adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Togolese Republic conventional short form: Togo local long form: Republique togolaise local short form: none former: French Togoland
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
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
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
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
Executive branch [time series]
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%
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
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
Government type [time series]
republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
Independence [time series]
27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
International organization participation [time series]
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
Judicial branch [time series]
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Legal system [time series]
French-based court system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Legislative branch [time series]
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
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
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
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 27 April (1960)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
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; 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 parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
NA
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal (adult)
Introduction
Background [time series]
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.
Military
Manpower available for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 1,462,206 females age 16-49: 1,463,189 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 983,283 females age 16-49: 1,004,887 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]
male: 71,081 female: 69,969 (2010 est.)
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Togolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Togolaise, FAT): Ground Forces, Togolese Navy (Marine du Togo), Togolese Air Force (Force Aerienne Togolaise, TAF), National Gendarmerie (2010)
Military expenditures [time series]
1.6% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 96
Military service age and obligation [time series]
18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; 2-year service obligation (2006)
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 41.4% (male 1,252,389/female 1,244,914) 15-64 years: 55.8% (male 1,645,885/female 1,719,810) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 66,192/female 102,618) (2010 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
35.88 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 31
Death rate [time series]
8.15 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
3.7% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 123
Ethnic groups [time series]
African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
3.3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 21
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
9,100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 35
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
130,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 41
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 53.23 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 45 male: 60.29 deaths/1,000 live births female: 45.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Languages [time series]
French (official and 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)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 62.25 years country comparison to the world: 178 male: 59.74 years female: 64.83 years (2010 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 60.9% male: 75.4% female: 46.9% (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases [time series]
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)
Median age [time series]
total: 19.2 years male: 18.9 years female: 19.4 years (2010 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Togolese (singular and plural) adjective: Togolese
Net migration rate [time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 104
Population [time series]
6,587,239 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 (July 2010 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
2.773% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 20
Religions [time series]
Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 7 years (2007)
Sex ratio [time series]
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 (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
4.74 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 32
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 42% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 4.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
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
Illicit drugs [time series]
transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money laundering not a significant problem
Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]
refugees (country of origin): 5,000 (Ghana) IDPs: 1,500 (2007)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
8 (2010) country comparison to the world: 162
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Merchant marine [time series]
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 (Ports and terminals) [time series]
Kpeme, Lome
Railways [time series]
total: 532 km country comparison to the world: 113 narrow gauge: 532 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways [time series]
total: 7,520 km country comparison to the world: 145 paved: 2,376 km unpaved: 5,144 km (2000)
Waterways [time series]
50 km (seasonally on Mono River depending on rainfall) (2008) country comparison to the world: 104