2011 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

56,785 sq km 54,385 sq km 2,400 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

Atlantic Ocean 0 m Mont Agou 986 m

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

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 none of the selected 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)

0.17 cu km/yr (53%/2%/45%) 28 cu m/yr (2000)

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 (2008)

Land boundaries

1,647 km Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km

border countries

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

total

1,647 km

Land use

44.2% 2.11% 53.69% (2005)

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

30 nm 200 nm

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

40.9% (male 1,387,537/female 1,381,040) 56% (male 1,878,114/female 1,912,132) 3.1% (male 92,689/female 120,481) (2011 est.)

0-14 years

40.9% (male 1,387,537/female 1,381,040)

15-64 years

56% (male 1,878,114/female 1,912,132)

65 years and over

3.1% (male 92,689/female 120,481) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

35.58 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

20.5% (2008)

Death rate

7.96 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 87% of population rural: 41% of population total: 60% of population urban: 13% of population rural: 59% of population total: 40% of population (2008)

rural

59% of population

total

40% of population (2008)

urban

13% of population

Education expenditures

4.6% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic groups

African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%

Health expenditures

5.9% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

3.2% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

7,700 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

120,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.85 beds/1,000 population (2005)

Infant mortality rate

51.48 deaths/1,000 live births 58.43 deaths/1,000 live births 44.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

44.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

51.48 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

62.71 years 60.19 years 65.3 years (2011 est.)

female

65.3 years (2011 est.)

total population

62.71 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 60.9% 75.4% 46.9% (2003 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

46.9% (2003 est.)

male

75.4%

total population

60.9%

Major cities - population

LOME (capital) 1.593 million (2009)

Major infectious diseases

very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria and yellow fever schistosomiasis meningococcal meningitis rabies 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)

animal contact disease

rabies

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

Maternal mortality rate

350 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)

Median age

19.3 years 19 years 19.5 years (2011 est.)

female

19.5 years (2011 est.)

male

19 years

total

19.3 years

Nationality

Togolese (singular and plural) Togolese

adjective

Togolese

noun

Togolese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Physicians density

0.053 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

6,771,993 (July 2011 est.) 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 growth rate

2.762% (2011 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 24% of population rural: 3% of population total: 12% of population urban: 76% of population rural: 97% of population total: 88% of population (2008)

rural

97% of population

total

88% of population (2008)

urban

76% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

10 years 11 years 8 years (2007)

female

8 years (2007)

male

11 years

total

10 years

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 0.63 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.63 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

4.69 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Urbanization

43% of total population (2010) 3.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

3.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

43% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Lome 6 08 N, 1 13 E UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Togolese Republic Togo Republique togolaise none French Togoland

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

Ambassador Patricia McMahon HAWKINS 4332 Blvd. Gnassingbe Eyadema, Cite OUA, Lome B. P. 852, Lome; 2300 Lome Place, Washington, DC 20512-2300 [228] 261-5470 [228] 261-5501

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

Ambassador Kadangha Limbiya BARIKI 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 234-4212 [1] (202) 232-3190

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

President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 4 May 2005); Prime Minister Gilbert HOUNGBO (since 7 September 2008) Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the prime minister 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 Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE 60.9%, Jean-Pierre FABRE 33.9%, Yawovi AGBOYIBO 3%, other 2.2%

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the prime minister

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 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 law organization participation

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

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, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, 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

customary law system

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held on 14 October 2007 (next to be held in 2012) 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

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

"Salut a toi, pays de nos aieux" (Hail to Thee, Land of Our Forefathers) Alex CASIMIR-DOSSEH adopted 1960, restored 1992; this anthem was replaced by another during one-party rule between 1979 and 1992

lyrics/music

Alex CASIMIR-DOSSEH

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; National Alliance for Change or ANC [Jean-Pierre FABRE]; 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

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$653 million $703.8 million (2010 est.)

expenditures

$703.8 million (2010 est.)

revenues

$653 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.6% of GDP (2010 est.)

Central bank discount rate

2.5% (31 December 2010 est.) 4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA%

Current account balance

-$244 million (2010 est.) -$223 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$NA (31 December 2010) $1.64 billion (31 December 2009 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

671.9 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

666 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by Ghana (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

156.9 million kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 495.28 (2010) 472.19 (2009) 447.81 (2008) 482.71 (2007) 522.59 (2006)

Exports

$840 million (2010 est.) $826 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa

Exports - partners

India 12.7%, Germany 12.2%, Benin 9.8%, Ghana 9.7%, Burkina Faso 9.1%, China 5.1%, Belgium 4.9%, Niger 4.6%, Nigeria 4.3% (2010)

GDP - composition by sector

46.1% 23.6% 34.1% (2010 est.)

agriculture

46.1%

industry

23.6%

services

34.1% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

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

GDP - real growth rate

3.4% (2010 est.) 3.2% (2009 est.) 2.4% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.194 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.974 billion (2010 est.) $5.778 billion (2009 est.) $5.596 billion (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

3.3% 27.1% (2006)

highest 10%

27.1% (2006)

lowest 10%

3.3%

Imports

$1.292 billion (2010 est.) $1.205 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products

Imports - partners

China 48%, France 8.3%, US 6.1% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate

2.5% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.4% (2010 est.) 2% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

18% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

2.595 million (2007)

Labor force - by occupation

65% 5% 30% (1998 est.)

agriculture

65%

industry

5%

services

30% (1998 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

23,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

15,900 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

32% (1989 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$669.4 million (31 December 2010 est.) $703.2 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.267 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.354 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$836.4 million (31 December 2010 est.) $894.3 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$777.9 million (31 December 2010 est.) $818.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

20.4% of GDP (2010 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

fair system based on a network of microwave radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and a mobile-cellular system 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 country code - 228; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Symphonie

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

213,800 (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.452 million (2010)

Airports

8 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

2 (2010)

2,438 to 3,047 m

2 (2010)

total

2

Airports - with unpaved runways

2 (2010)

914 to 1,523 m

4

total

6

under 914 m

2 (2010)

Merchant marine

bulk carrier 5, cargo 40, chemical tanker 2, container 2, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1 23 (China 2, Greece 1, Lebanon 6, Romania 1, Syria 5, Turkey 4, UAE 1, UK 3) (2010)

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

568 km 568 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)

total

568 km

Roadways

7,520 km 2,376 km 5,144 km (2007)

total

7,520 km

unpaved

5,144 km (2007)

Waterways

50 km (seasonally navigable by small craft on the Mono River depending on rainfall) (2009)

Manpower available for military service

1,577,572 1,589,715 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

1,589,715 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,577,572

Manpower fit for military service

1,104,536 1,158,061 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

1,158,061 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,104,536

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

74,036 73,515 (2010 est.)

female

73,515 (2010 est.)

male

74,036

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 (2011)

Togolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Togolaise, FAT)

Ground Forces, Togolese Navy (Marine du Togo), Togolese Air Force (Force Aerienne Togolaise, TAF), National Gendarmerie (2011)

Military expenditures

1.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 2-year service obligation (2011)

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; talks continue between Benin and Togo on funding the Adjrala hydroelectric dam on the Mona River

Illicit drugs

transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money laundering not a significant problem

Refugees and internally displaced persons

5,000 (Ghana) 1,500 (2007)

IDPs

1,500 (2007)

refugees (country of origin)

5,000 (Ghana)