A2T

Facts About : Togo

  • 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 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. 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 :: TOGO

  • Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
    8 00 N, 1 10 E
    Africa
    total: 56,785 sq km
    land: 54,385 sq km
    water: 2,400 sq km
    country comparison to the world: 126
    slightly smaller than West Virginia
    total: 1,880 km
    border countries (3): Benin 651 km, Burkina Faso 131 km, Ghana 1,098 km
    56 km
    territorial sea: 30 nm
    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
    tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
    gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes
    lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
    highest point: Mont Agou 986 m
    phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land
    agricultural land: 67.4%
    arable land 45.2%; permanent crops 3.8%; permanent pasture 18.4%
    forest: 4.9%
    other: 27.7% (2011 est.)
    73 sq km (2003)
    14.7 cu km (2011)
    total: 0.17 cu km/yr (63%/3%/34%)
    per capita: 33.46 cu m/yr (2005)
    hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts
    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
    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
    the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna

  • People and Society :: TOGO

  • noun: Togolese (singular and plural)
    adjective: Togolese
    African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
    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)
    Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%
    7,552,318
    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 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 100
    0-14 years: 40.56% (male 1,536,301/female 1,527,018)
    15-24 years: 19.51% (male 735,409/female 738,276)
    25-54 years: 32.37% (male 1,214,388/female 1,230,218)
    55-64 years: 4.24% (male 150,890/female 169,158)
    65 years and over: 3.32% (male 108,474/female 142,186) (2015 est.)
    population pyramid: 
    total dependency ratio: 81.8%
    youth dependency ratio: 76.8%
    elderly dependency ratio: 5%
    potential support ratio: 19.9% (2015 est.)
    total: 19.6 years
    male: 19.4 years
    female: 19.9 years (2015 est.)
    2.69% (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 17
    34.13 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 29
    7.26 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 120
    0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 80
    urban population: 40% of total population (2015)
    rate of urbanization: 3.83% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
    LOME (capital) 956,000 (2015)
    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: 0.89 male(s)/female
    65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
    total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
    total: 45.22 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 51.76 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 38.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 45
    total population: 64.51 years
    male: 61.91 years
    female: 67.17 years (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 179
    4.48 children born/woman (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 28
    15.2% (2010)
    8.6% of GDP (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 45
    0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
    0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)
    improved:
    urban: 91.4% of population
    rural: 44.2% of population
    total: 63.1% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 8.6% of population
    rural: 55.8% of population
    total: 36.9% of population (2015 est.)
    improved:
    urban: 24.7% of population
    rural: 2.9% of population
    total: 11.6% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 75.3% of population
    rural: 97.1% of population
    total: 88.4% of population (2015 est.)
    2.4% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 26
    113,700 (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 41
    4,300 (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 35
    degree of risk: very high
    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
    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 (2013)
    6.4% (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 169
    16.5% (2010)
    country comparison to the world: 41
    4% of GDP (2012)
    country comparison to the world: 91
    definition: age 15 and over can read and write
    total population: 66.5%
    male: 78.3%
    female: 55.3% (2015 est.)
    total: 12 years
    male: NA
    female: NA (2011)
    total number: 774,801
    percentage: 47% (2010 est.)

  • Government :: TOGO

  • conventional long form: Togolese Republic
    conventional short form: Togo
    local long form: Republique Togolaise
    local short form: none
    former: French Togoland
    republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
    name: Lome
    geographic coordinates: 6 07 N, 1 13 E
    time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
    5 regions (regions, singular - region); Centrale, Kara, Maritime, Plateaux, Savanes
    27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
    Independence Day, 27 April (1960)
    several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1992, effective 14 October 1992; amended 2002, last in 2005 (2005)
    customary law system
    accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
    18 years of age; universal
    chief of state: President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 4 May 2005)
    head of government: Prime Minister Komi KLASSOU (since 5 June 2015)
    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 25 April 2015 (next to be held in 2020); prime minister appointed by the president
    election results: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE (UNIR) 58.8%, Jean-Pierre FABRE (ANC) 35.2%, Tchaboure GOGUE 3.1%, other 3.8%
    description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (91 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)
    elections: last held on 25 July 2013 (next to be held in 2018)
    election results: percent of vote by party - UNIR 46.7%, CST 28.9%, Rainbow Alliance 10.8%, UFC 7.7%, independent 0.8%, other 5.1%; seats by party - UNIR 62, CST 19, Rainbow Alliance 6, UFC 3, independent 1
    highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into the Criminal Chamber and the Administrative Chamber, 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 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
    Action Committee for Renewal or CAR [Dodji APEVON]
    Democratic Convention of African Peoples or CDPA [Leopold GNININVI, Secretary-General]
    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 [Edem KODJO]
    Rainbow Alliance (a coalition including: CAR and CDPA) [Brigitte Adjamagbo JOHNSON]
    Rally for the Support for Development and Democracy or RSDD [Harry OLYMPIO]
    Save Togo Collective or CST (a coalition including: ANC and PSR) [Ata Messan Zeus AJAVON
    Socialist Pact for Renewal or PSR [Abi TCHESSA]
    Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Gagou KOKOU]
    Union for the Republic or UNIR [Faure GNASSINGBE] (formerly the Rally of the Togolese People party)
    Union of Forces for Change or UFC [Gilchrist OLYMPIO]
    NA
    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
    chief of mission: Ambassador Limbiye Edawa Kadangha BARIKI (since 14 July 2009)
    chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
    telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212
    FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190
    chief of mission: Ambassador Robert E. WHITEHEAD (since 7 May 2012)
    embassy: 4332 Blvd. Gnassingbe Eyadema, Cite OUA, Lome
    mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome; 2300 Lome Place, Washington, DC 20521-2300
    telephone: [228] 2261-5470
    FAX: [228] 2261-5501
    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
    lion; national colors: green, yellow, red, white
    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 :: TOGO

  • 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 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 Heavily Indebted Poor Country (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.
    $10.14 billion (2014 est.)
    $9.643 billion (2013 est.)
    $9.149 billion (2012 est.)
    note: data are in 2014 US dollars
    country comparison to the world: 157
    $4.604 billion (2014 est.)
    5.2% (2014 est.)
    5.4% (2013 est.)
    5.9% (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 42
    $1,400 (2014 est.)
    $1,400 (2013 est.)
    $1,300 (2012 est.)
    note: data are in 2014 US dollars
    country comparison to the world: 216
    14.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
    11.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
    10.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 137
    household consumption: 87.3%
    government consumption: 10.3%
    investment in fixed capital: 18.7%
    investment in inventories: 1.8%
    exports of goods and services: 37.3%
    imports of goods and services: -55.4%
    (2014 est.)
    agriculture: 27.6%
    industry: 33.9%
    services: 38.5% (2014 est.)
    coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (manioc, tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish
    phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, beverages
    6.5% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 31
    2.595 million (2007 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 113
    agriculture: 65%
    industry: 5%
    services: 30% (1998 est.)
    NA%
    32% (1989 est.)
    lowest 10%: 3.3%
    highest 10%: 27.1% (2006)
    revenues: $1.086 billion
    expenditures: $1.322 billion (2014 est.)
    22.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 143
    -4.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 163
    calendar year
    0.1% (2014 est.)
    1.8% (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 31
    2.5% (31 December 2010)
    4.25% (31 December 2009)
    country comparison to the world: 114
    NA%
    $1.105 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $1.084 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 150
    $2.061 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $2.035 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 152
    $1.642 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $1.621 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 146
    $NA
    -$290 million (2014 est.)
    -$588.3 million (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 107
    $1.381 billion (2014 est.)
    $1.313 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 153
    reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa
    Burkina Faso 15.9%, Ghana 12.6%, India 10.5%, Nigeria 9%, Benin 8.5%, Niger 8.3%, Lebanon 4.8%, China 4.3% (2014)
    $2.284 billion (2014 est.)
    $2.201 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 158
    machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products
    China 24.8%, Belgium 19.2%, France 7.7%, India 6%, US 5.5%, Netherlands 4.1% (2014)
    $546 million (31 December 2014 est.)
    $507.1 million (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 147
    $926.3 million (31 December 2014 est.)
    $840.8 million (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 164
    Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
    491.2 (2014 est.)
    494.04 (2013 est.)
    510.53 (2012 est.)
    471.87 (2011 est.)
    495.28 (2010 est.)

  • Energy :: TOGO

  • 109 million kWh (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 195
    976 million kWh (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 163
    0 kWh (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 204
    959 million kWh (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 70
    83,000 kW (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 177
    21.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 190
    0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 189
    78.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 16
    0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 130
    0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 135
    0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 191
    0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 129
    0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 197
    0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 199
    13,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 149
    0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 135
    11,950 bbl/day (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 130
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 198
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 199
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 191
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 137
    0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 200
    1.63 million Mt (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 157

  • Communications :: TOGO

  • total subscriptions: 63,200
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 155
    total: 4.8 million
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 66 (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 121
    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 50 telephones per 100 persons with mobile-cellular use predominating
    international: country code - 228; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Symphonie (2010)
    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)
    AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998)
    3 (plus 2 repeaters) (1997)
    .tg
    total: 336,000
    percent of population: 4.6% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 138

  • Transportation :: TOGO

  • 8 (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 163
    total: 2
    2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2013)
    total: 6
    914 to 1,523 m: 4
    under 914 m:
    2 (2013)
    total: 568 km
    narrow gauge: 568 km 1.000-m gauge (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 111
    total: 11,652 km
    paved: 2,447 km
    unpaved: 9,205 km (2007)
    country comparison to the world: 129
    50 km (seasonally navigable by small craft on the Mono River depending on rainfall) (2011)
    country comparison to the world: 102
    total: 61
    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)
    country comparison to the world: 66
    major seaport(s): Kpeme, Lome

  • Military :: TOGO

  • Togolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Togolaise, FAT): Togolese Army (l'Armee de Terre), Togolese Navy (Forces Naval Togolaises), Togolese Air Force (Force Aerienne Togolaise, TAF), National Gendarmerie (2013)
    18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 2-year service obligation (2012)
    males age 16-49: 1,577,572
    females age 16-49: 1,589,715 (2010 est.)
    males age 16-49: 1,104,536
    females age 16-49: 1,158,061 (2010 est.)
    male: 74,036
    female: 73,515 (2010 est.)
    NA% (2012)
    1.6% of GDP (2011)
    NA% (2010)

  • Transnational Issues :: TOGO

  • 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 (country of origin): 18,444 (Ghana) (2014)
    IDPs: undetermined (2015)
    transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money laundering not a significant problem