2012 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. In January 2012, Togo assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2012-13 term.

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 (2003)

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

40.8% (male 1,424,148/ female 1,417,072) 56% (male 1,931,586/ female 1,966,298) 3.2% (male 96,386/ female 125,559) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

40.8% (male 1,424,148/ female 1,417,072)

15-64 years

56% (male 1,931,586/ female 1,966,298)

65 years and over

3.2% (male 96,386/ female 125,559) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

35.26 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

20.5% (2008)

Death rate

7.78 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

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

49.87 deaths/1,000 live births 56.72 deaths/1,000 live births 42.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

42.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

49.87 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

63.17 years 60.64 years 65.77 years (2012 est.)

female

65.77 years (2012 est.)

total population

63.17 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

300 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

19.4 years 19.1 years 19.6 years (2012 est.)

female

19.6 years (2012 est.)

male

19.1 years

total

19.4 years

Nationality

Togolese (singular and plural) Togolese

adjective

Togolese

noun

Togolese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Physicians density

0.053 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

6,961,049 (July 2012 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

2.748% (2012 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

rural

97% of population

total

88% of population

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 0.98 male(s)/female 0.77 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.77 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

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

under 15 years

1 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

4.64 children born/woman (2012 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 07 N, 1 13 E UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

6 07 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 Robert E. WHITEHEAD 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 Robert E. WHITEHEAD

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 Kwesi AHOOMEY-ZUNU (since 23 July 2012) Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of 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 on the advice of 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 Kwesi AHOOMEY-ZUNU (since 23 July 2012)

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, EITI (candidate country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNSC (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court; High Court of Justice; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel; Court of Audits

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 October 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 October 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 (manioc), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish

Budget

$729.6 million $872.2 million (2012 est.)

expenditures

$872.2 million (2012 est.)

revenues

$729.6 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.9% of GDP (2012 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

-$418.4 million (2012 est.) -$302.7 million (2011 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 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 Togo 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 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.

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 514.1 (2012 est.) 471.87 (2011 est.) 495.28 (2010 est.) 472.19 (2009) 447.81 (2008)

Exports

$893.8 million (2012 est.) $928.7 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa

Exports - partners

China 10.7%, Burkina Faso 8.3%, India 8.3%, Benin 8.2%, Niger 6.3%, Germany 5.7%, Ghana 4.8%, Indonesia 4.7% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

45.7% 21.4% 33% (2012 est.)

agriculture

45.7%

industry

21.4%

services

33% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,100 (2012 est.) $1,100 (2011 est.) $1,000 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5% (2012 est.) 4.9% (2011 est.) 4% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.624 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$6.899 billion (2012 est.) $6.569 billion (2011 est.) $6.264 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

3.3% 27.1% (2006)

highest 10%

27.1% (2006)

lowest 10%

3.3%

Imports

$1.492 billion (2012 est.) $1.455 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products

Imports - partners

China 32.5%, France 8.7%, Belgium 7.9%, India 6.2%, US 5.1%, UK 4.6% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

2.5% (2010 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (2012 est.) 3.6% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

25.4% of GDP (2012 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

Population below poverty line

32% (1989 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$678 million (31 December 2012 est.) $774.3 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.534 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.635 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.119 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.193 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$954.5 million (31 December 2012 est.) $981.9 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

20.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

3.166 million Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Electricity - consumption

651 million kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

21.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

78.8% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

683 million kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

85,000 kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

123 million kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

28,670 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

6,829 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

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 available (2007)

Internet country code

.tg

Internet hosts

1,168 (2012)

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 50 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 50 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

240,000 (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

3.105 million (2011)

Airports

8 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

2 (2012)

2,438 to 3,047 m

2 (2012)

total

2

Airports - with unpaved runways

2 (2012)

914 to 1,523 m

4

total

6

under 914 m

2 (2012)

Merchant marine

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 21 (China 1, Lebanon 6, Romania 1, Syria 6, Turkey 4, UAE 1, US 1, Yemen 1) (2010)

foreign-owned

21 (China 1, Lebanon 6, Romania 1, Syria 6, Turkey 4, UAE 1, US 1, Yemen 1) (2010)

total

61

Ports and terminals

Kpeme, Lome

Railways

568 km 568 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

total

568 km

Roadways

7,520 km 2,376 km 5,144 km (2000)

total

7,520 km

unpaved

5,144 km (2000)

Waterways

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

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 (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; 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

13,676 (Ghana); 5,151 (Cote d'Ivoire) (2011) undetermined (2012)

IDPs

undetermined (2012)

refugees (country of origin)

13,676 (Ghana); 5,151 (Cote d'Ivoire) (2011)