2010 Edition

Background

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.

Area

land

54,385 sq km

total

56,785 sq km

water

2,400 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Climate

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Coastline

56 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mont Agou 986 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

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

Environment - international agreements

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

28 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.17 cu km/yr (53%/2%/45%)

Geographic coordinates

8 00 N, 1 10 E

Geography - note

the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna

Irrigated land

70 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km

total

1,647 km

Land use

arable land

44.2%

other

53.69% (2005)

permanent crops

2.11%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

30 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

14.7 cu km (2001)

Age structure

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

35.88 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

8.15 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

3.7% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

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

3.3% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

9,100 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

130,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

45.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

60.29 deaths/1,000 live births

total

53.23 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

female

64.83 years (2010 est.)

male

59.74 years

total population

62.25 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

46.9% (2003 est.)

male

75.4%

total population

60.9%

Major infectious diseases

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)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis

vectorborne diseases

malaria and yellow fever

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Median age

female

19.4 years (2010 est.)

male

18.9 years

total

19.2 years

Nationality

adjective

Togolese

noun

Togolese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

6,587,239 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

2.773% (2010 est.)

Religions

Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

7 years (2007)

male

11 years

total

10 years

Sex ratio

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

4.74 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

4.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

42% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

6 08 N, 1 13 E

name

Lome

time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992

Country name

conventional long form

Togolese Republic

conventional short form

Togo

former

French Togoland

local long form

Republique togolaise

local short form

none

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Patricia McMahon HAWKINS

embassy

4332 Blvd. Gnassingbe Eyadema, Cite OUA, Lome

FAX

[228] 261-5501

mailing address

B. P. 852, Lome; 2300 Lome Place, Washington, DC 20512-2300

telephone

[228] 261-5470

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Kadangha Limbiya BARIKI

FAX

[1] (202) 232-3190

telephone

[1] (202) 234-4212

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 4 May 2005);

election results

Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE 60.9%, Jean-Pierre FABRE 33.9%, Yawovi AGBOYIBO 3%, other 2.2%

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

head of government

Prime Minister Gilbert HOUNGBO (since 7 September 2008)

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 note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Government type

republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule

Independence

27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

International organization participation

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

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Legal system

French-based court system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

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

elections

last held on 14 October 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Alex CASIMIR-DOSSEH note: adopted 1960, restored 1992; this anthem was replaced by another during one-party rule between 1979 and 1992

name

"Salut a toi, pays de nos aieux" (Hail to Thee, Land of Our Forefathers)

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 April (1960)

Political parties and leaders

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 pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal (adult)

Agriculture - products

coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2009) 4.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA% (31 December 2009 est.) NA% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$339 million (2010 est.) -$236 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$NA (31 December 2010) $1.573 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Economy - overview

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

640 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

514 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by Ghana (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

230 million kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 507.71 (2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 482.71 (2007), 522.59 (2006)

Exports

$859 million (2010 est.) $818 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa

Exports - partners

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

47.4%

industry

25.4%

services

27.2% (2009 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$900 (2010 est.) $900 (2009 est.) $900 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.3% (2010 est.) 3.1% (2009 est.) 1.8% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.074 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.927 billion (2010 est.) $5.738 billion (2009 est.) $5.565 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$1.337 billion (2010 est.) $1.261 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products

Imports - partners

China 36.58%, France 8.64%, Netherlands 6.76%, India 5.06%, US 4.4% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

2.5% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.6% (2010 est.) 2% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

18.2% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

2.595 million (2007)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

65%

industry

5%

services

30% (1998 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

21,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

1,547 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

15,270 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

32% (1989 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$686 million (31 December 2010 est.) $703.2 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.238 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.306 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$817.7 million (31 December 2010 est.) $862.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$754.5 million (31 December 2010 est) $789.7 million (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

NA%

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 are obtainable (2007)

Internet country code

.tg

Internet hosts

860 (2010)

Internet users

356,300 (2009)

Telephone 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

general assessment

fair system based on a network of microwave radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and a mobile-cellular system

international

country code - 228; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Symphonie

Telephones - main lines in use

178,700 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.187 million (2009)

Airports

8 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2010)

Merchant marine

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)

total

53

Ports and terminals

Kpeme, Lome

Railways

narrow gauge

532 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

total

532 km

Roadways

paved

2,376 km

total

7,520 km

unpaved

5,144 km (2000)

Waterways

50 km (seasonally on Mono River depending on rainfall) (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,462,206 females age 16-49: 1,463,189 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 983,283 females age 16-49: 1,004,887 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

69,969 (2010 est.)

male

71,081

Military branches

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

1.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; 2-year service obligation (2006)

Disputes - international

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

transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money laundering not a significant problem page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

1,500 (2007)

refugees (country of origin)

5,000 (Ghana)