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Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]

total: 52,706 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media [time series]

1 state-owned TV station with multiple transmission sites; five private TV stations broadcast locally; cable TV service is available; state-owned radio network with two stations (in Lome and Kara); several dozen private radio stations and a few community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available (2019)

Internet country code [time series]

.tg

Internet users [time series]

total: 1.99 million (2021 est.) percent of population: 12.36% (2019 est.)

Telecommunication systems [time series]

general assessment: system based on a network of microwave radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and a mobile-cellular system; telecoms supply 8% of GDP; 3 mobile operators; 12% of residents have access to the Internet; mobile subscribers and mobile broadband both increasing (2020) domestic: fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular 77 telephones per 100 persons with mobile-cellular use predominating (2019) international: country code - 228; landing point for the WACS submarine cable, linking countries along the west coast of Africa with each other and with Portugal; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Symphonie (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 46,499 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2020 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 6,516,510 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 78.71 (2020 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products [time series]

cassava, maize, yams, sorghum, beans, oil palm fruit, rice, vegetables, cotton, groundnuts

Budget [time series]

revenues: 1.023 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 1.203 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-3.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings [time series]

Moody's rating: B3 (2019) Standard & Poors rating: B (2019)

Current account balance [time series]

-$383 million (2017 est.) -$416 million (2016 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.442 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $1.22 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Economic overview [time series]

Togo has enjoyed a period of steady economic growth fueled by political stability and a concerted effort by the government to modernize the country’s commercial infrastructure, but discontent with President Faure GNASSINGBE has led to a rapid rise in protests, creating downside risks. The country completed an ambitious large-scale infrastructure improvement program, including new principal roads, a new airport terminal, and a new seaport. The economy depends heavily on both commercial and subsistence agriculture, providing employment for around 60% of the labor force. Some basic foodstuffs must still be imported. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton and other agricultural products generate about 20% 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, which provide more than 20% of export earnings. Supported by the World Bank and the IMF, the government's decade-long effort 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, and in January 2017, the IMF signed an Extended Credit Facility arrangement consisting of a three-year $238 million loan package. Progress depends on follow through on privatization, increased transparency in government financial operations, progress toward legislative elections, and continued support from foreign donors. Togo’s 2017 economic growth probably remained steady at 5.0%, largely driven by infusions of foreign aid, infrastructure investment in its port and mineral industry, and improvements in the business climate. Foreign direct investment inflows have slowed in recent years.

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 617.4 (2017 est.) 593.01 (2016 est.) 593.01 (2015 est.) 591.45 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.)

Exports [time series]

$1.67 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $1.7 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

refined petroleum, crude petroleum, electricity, calcium phosphates, cotton (2019)

Exports - partners [time series]

India 16%, Benin 15%, Burkina Faso 6%, France 6%, Morocco 5% (2019)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$5.232 billion (2018 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 84.5% (2017 est.) government consumption: 11.4% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.4% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -1.4% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 43.1% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -61% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]

agriculture: 28.8% (2017 est.) industry: 21.8% (2017 est.) services: 49.8% (2017 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income [time series]

43.1 (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 27.1% (2006)

Imports [time series]

$2.26 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $2.33 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

refined petroleum, motorcycles, crude petroleum, rice, broadcasting equipment (2019)

Imports - partners [time series]

China 18%, South Korea 13%, India 11%, Belgium 10%, Netherlands 8%, United States 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

5% (2017 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

0.6% (2019 est.) 0.9% (2018 est.) -0.9% (2017 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.595 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 65% industry: 5% services: 30% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

55.1% (2015 est.)

Public debt [time series]

75.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 81.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) [time series]

$17.45 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.) $17.15 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.) $16.26 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP growth rate [time series]

4.4% (2017 est.) 5.1% (2016 est.) 5.7% (2015 est.)

Real GDP per capita [time series]

$2,100 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.) $2,100 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.) $2,100 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$77.8 million (31 December 2017 est.) $42.6 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

21.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

6.9% (2016 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 9.5% male: 12.3% female: 7.4% (2017 est.)

Energy

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption [time series]

1.261 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

70% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

29% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

1.14 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

230,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

232.6 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 43% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 77% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 19% (2019)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

15,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

13,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Environment

Air pollutants [time series]

particulate matter emissions: 32.71 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 3 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 3.06 megatons (2020 est.)

Climate [time series]

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Environment - current issues [time series]

deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; very little rain forest still present and what remains is highly degraded; desertification; 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, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 67.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 45.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 18.4% (2018 est.) forest: 4.9% (2018 est.) other: 27.7% (2018 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis

Major watersheds (area sq km) [time series]

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 sq km)

Revenue from coal [time series]

coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources [time series]

forest revenues: 3.96% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources [time series]

14.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal [time series]

municipal: 140.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 6.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 76 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 43.4% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 3.6% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling [time series]

municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,109,030 tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 22,181 tons (2012 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 2% (2012 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 56,785 sq km 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 [time series]

highest point: Mont Agou 986 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 236 m

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 (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,880 km border countries (3): Benin 651 km, Burkina Faso 131 km, Ghana 1098 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 67.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 45.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 18.4% (2018 est.) forest: 4.9% (2018 est.) other: 27.7% (2018 est.)

Location [time series]

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana

Major watersheds (area sq km) [time series]

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 sq km)

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 30 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim 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

Population distribution [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

5 regions (regions, singular - region); Centrale, Kara, Maritime, Plateaux, Savanes

Capital [time series]

name: Lome geographic coordinates: 6 07 N, 1 13 E time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: Lome comes from "alotime" which in the native Ewe language means "among the alo plants"; alo trees dominated the city's original founding site

Citizenship [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

history: several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1992, effective 14 October 1992 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one fifth of the National Assembly membership; passage requires four-fifths majority vote by the Assembly; a referendum is required if approved by only two-thirds majority of the Assembly or if requested by the president; constitutional articles on the republican and secular form of government cannot be amended; amended 2002, 2007, last in 2019 when the National Assembly unanimously approved a package of amendments, including setting presidential term limits of two 5-year mandates

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 etymology: derived from the Ewe words "to" (river) and "godo" (on the other side) to give the sense of "on the other side of the river"; originally, this designation applied to the town of Togodo (now Togoville) on the northern shore of Lake Togo, but the name was eventually extended to the entire nation

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Eric W. STROHMAYER (since 11 April 2019) embassy: Boulevard Eyadema, B.P. 852, Lome mailing address: 2300 Lome Place, Washington, DC 20521-2300 telephone: [228] 2261-5470 FAX: [228] 2261-5501 email address and website: consularLome@state.gov https://tg.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Frederic Edem HEGBE (since 24 April 2017) chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190 email address and website: embassyoftogo@hotmail.com https://embassyoftogousa.com/

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 4 May 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Victoire Tomegah DOGBE (since 28 September 2020) 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 22 February 2020 (next to be held February 2025); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE (UNIR) 72.4%, Agbeyome KODJO (MPDD) 18.4%, Jean-Pierre FABRE (ANC) 4.4%, other 5%

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, while 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]

presidential republic

Independence [time series]

27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

International law organization participation [time series]

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

highest courts: 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 judicial 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

Legal system [time series]

customary law system

Legislative branch [time series]

description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (91 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed, party-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 20 December 2018 (next to be held in 2023) election results: percent of vote by coalition/party - NA; seats by party - UNIR 59, UFC 6, NET 3, MPDD 3, other 2, independent 18; composition - men 75, women 16, percent of women 17.6%

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)

National symbol(s) [time series]

lion; national colors: green, yellow, red, white

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Action Committee for Renewal or CAR [Yaovi AGBOYIBO] Alliance of Democrats for Integral Development or ADDI [Tchaboure GOGUE] Democratic Convention of African Peoples or CDPA [Brigitte ADJAMAGBO-JOHNSON] Democratic Forces for the Republic or FDR [Dodji APEVON] National Alliance for Change or ANC [Jean-Pierre FABRE] New Togolese Commitment [Gerry TAAMA] Pan-African National Party or PNP [Tikpi ATCHADAM] Pan-African Patriotic Convergence or CPP [Edem KODJO] Patriotic Movement for Democracy and Development or MPDD [Agbeyome KODJO] Socialist Pact for Renewal or PSR [Abi TCHESSA] The Togolese Party [Nathaniel OLYMPIO] Union of Forces for Change or UFC [Gilchrist OLYMPIO] Union for the Republic or UNIR [Faure GNASSINGBE]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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 slave trading center and the surrounding region took on the name of "The Slave Coast." In 1884, Germany declared a region including present-day Togo as a protectorate called Togoland. After World War I, 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, 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. Since 2007, President GNASSINGBE has started the country along a gradual path to democratic reform. Togo has since held multiple presidential and legislative elections deemed generally free and fair by international observers. Despite those positive moves, political reconciliation has moved slowly, and the country experiences periodic outbursts of violent protest by frustrated citizens. Recent constitutional changes to institute a runoff system in presidential elections and establish term limits has done little to reduce the resentment many Togolese feel after over 50 years of one-family rule.

Military and Security

Maritime threats [time series]

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2020, there were 98 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a 24% decrease from the total number of incidents in 2019, it included all three hijackings and 9 of 11 ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2020, a record 130 crew members were kidnapped in 22 separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 95% of kidnappings worldwide; approximately 51% of all incidents of piracy and armed robbery are taking place off Nigeria, which is a decrease from the 71% in 2019 and an indication pirates are traveling further to target vessels; Nigerian pirates are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2021-002 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 9 January 2021, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea.

Military - note [time series]

the first Togolese Army unit was created in 1963, while the Air Force was established in 1964; the Navy was not established until 1976; since its creation, the Togolese military has a history of interfering in the country s politics with assassinations, coups, influence, and a large military crackdown in 2005 that killed hundreds; over the past decade, it has made some efforts to reform and professionalize; over the same period, the military has increased its role in UN peacekeeping activities and as of 2021, more than 10% of the Army was deployed on peacekeeping missions; Togolese police have also been deployed on peacekeeping operations, and Togo maintains a regional peacekeeping training center for military and police in Lome; the Navy and Air Force have increasingly focused on combating piracy and smuggling in the Gulf of Guinea

Military and security forces [time series]

Togolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Togolaise, FAT): Togolese Army (l'Armee de Terre), Togolese Navy (Forces Naval Togolaises), Togolese Air Force (Armee de l Air), National Gendarmerie (2021) note - the Gendarmerie falls under the Ministry of Defense but also reports to the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection on many matters involving law enforcement and internal security

Military and security service personnel strengths [time series]

approximately 9,000 personnel, including about 8,000 Army (2021)

Military deployments [time series]

925 Mali (MINUSMA) (Sep 2021)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions [time series]

the FAT's small inventory is a mix of older equipment from a variety of countries, including Brazil, France, Germany, Russia/former Soviet Union, the UK, and the US; since 2010, it has received limited amounts of newer--largely secondhand--equipment; the Navy has received patrol boats from China, France, South Africa, and the US (2021)

Military expenditures [time series]

2% of GDP (2020 est.) 3.1% of GDP (2019) 2% of GDP (2018) 1.9% of GDP (2017) 1.8% of GDP (2016)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for military service; 2-year service obligation; the military is an all-volunteer force (2021)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 39.73% (male 1,716,667/female 1,703,230) 15-24 years: 19.03% (male 817,093/female 820,971) 25-54 years: 33.26% (male 1,423,554/female 1,439,380) 55-64 years: 4.42% (male 179,779/female 200,392) 65 years and over: 3.57% (male 132,304/female 175,074) (2020 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

32.34 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

15.2% (2017)

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

23.9% (2017)

Current health expenditure (Current Health Expenditure) [time series]

6.2% (2017)

Death rate [time series]

5.39 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Demographic profile [time series]

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 September 2017 was home to more than 9,600 refugees from Ghana.

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 77.1 youth dependency ratio: 72 elderly dependency ratio: 5.1 potential support ratio: 19.4 (2020 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 92.3% of population rural: 56% of population total: 70.9% of population unimproved: urban: 7.7% of population rural: 44% of population total: 29.1% of population (2017 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

5% of GDP (2019)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Adja-Ewe/Mina 42.4%, Kabye/Tem 25.9%, Para-Gourma/Akan 17.1%, Akposso/Akebu 4.1%, Ana-Ife 3.2%, other Togolese 1.7%, foreigners 5.2%, no response 0.4% (2013-14 est.) note: Togo has an estimated 37 ethnic groups

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

2% (2020 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

3,000 (2020 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

110,000 (2020 est.)

Hospital bed density [time series]

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 42.64 deaths/1,000 live births male: 47.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 37.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

Languages [time series]

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)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 70.99 years male: 68.37 years female: 73.69 years (2021 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 66.5% male: 80% female: 55.1% (2019)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

Major urban areas - population [time series]

1.874 million LOME (capital) (2021)

Maternal mortality ratio [time series]

396 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 20 years male: 19.7 years female: 20.3 years (2020 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]

20.9 years (2013/14 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Nationality [time series]

noun: Togolese (singular and plural) adjective: Togolese

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

8.4% (2016)

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

Population [time series]

8,283,189 (July 2021 est.) 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

Population distribution [time series]

Population growth rate [time series]

2.51% (2021 est.)

Religions [time series]

Christian 42.3%, folk religion 36.9%, Muslim 14%, Hindu 1%, Buddhist 1%, Jewish 1%, other 1%, none 6.2% (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 80.4% of population rural: 16.2% of population total: 41.6% of population unimproved: urban: 19.6% of population rural: 83.8% of population total: 57.4% of population (2017 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 13 years male: 14 years female: 12 years (2017)

Sex ratio [time series]

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: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.28 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 9.5% male: 12.3% female: 7.4% (2017 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 43.4% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 3.6% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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

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): 8,391 (Ghana) (2021)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 8 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2019)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 411 by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 9, general cargo 265, oil tanker 56, other 80 (2021)

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 566,295 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 10.89 million mt-km (2018)

Pipelines [time series]

62 km gas

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Kpeme, Lome

Railways [time series]

total: 568 km (2014) narrow gauge: 568 km 1.000-m gauge (2014)

Roadways [time series]

total: 11,734 km (2081) paved: 1,794 km (2018) unpaved: 8,157 km (2018) urban: 1,783 km (2018)

Waterways [time series]

50 km (seasonally navigable by small craft on the Mono River depending on rainfall) (2011)