French Togoland became Togo in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA, installed as military ruler in 1967, continued to rule into the 21st century. Despite the facade of multiparty elections instituted in the early 1990s, the government continued to be dominated by President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has maintained power almost continually since 1967. Togo has come under fire from international organizations for human rights abuses and is plagued by political unrest. While most bilateral and multilateral aid to Togo remains frozen, the EU initiated a partial resumption of cooperation and development aid to Togo in late 2004 based upon commitments by Togo to expand opportunities for political opposition and liberalize portions of the economy. Upon his death in February 2005, President EYADEMA was succeeded by his son Faure GNASSINGBE. The succession, supported by the military and in contravention of the nation's constitution, was challenged by popular protest and a threat of sanctions from regional leaders. GNASSINGBE succumbed to pressure and in April 2005 held elections that legitimized his succession. Legislative elections are scheduled for June 2007.
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
Geographic coordinates
8 00 N, 1 10 E
Map references
Africa
Area
total
56,785 sq km
land
54,385 sq km
water
2,400 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries
total
1,647 km
border countries
Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km
Coastline
56 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
30 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Climate
tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain
gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes
Elevation extremes
lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point
Mont Agou 986 m
Natural resources
phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land
Land use
arable land
44.2%
permanent crops
2.11%
other
53.69% (2005)
Irrigated land
70 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards
hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues
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
Geography - note
the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna
Population
5,701,579
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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
42% (male 1,201,840/female 1,193,416)
15-64 years
55.3% (male 1,535,855/female 1,617,631)
65 years and over
2.7% (male 61,658/female 91,179) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
18.4 years
male
18 years
female
18.9 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
2.718% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
36.83 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
9.65 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.007 male(s)/female
15-64 years
0.949 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.676 male(s)/female
total population
0.965 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
59.12 deaths/1,000 live births
male
66.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female
51.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
57.86 years
male
55.81 years
female
59.96 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
4.9 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
4.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
110,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
10,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk
very high
food or waterborne diseases
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases
malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations
water contact disease
schistosomiasis
respiratory disease
meningococcal meningitis (2007)
Nationality
noun
Togolese (singular and plural)
adjective
Togolese
Ethnic groups
African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
Religions
Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%
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)
Literacy
definition
age 15 and over can read and write
total population
60.9%
male
75.4%
female
46.9% (2003 est.)
Country name
conventional long form
Togolese Republic
conventional short form
Togo
local long form
Republique togolaise
local short form
none
former
French Togoland
Government type
republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
Capital
name
Lome
geographic coordinates
6 08 N, 1 13 E
time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
5 regions (regions, singular - region); Centrale, Kara, Maritime, Plateaux, Savanes
Independence
27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday
Independence Day, 27 April (1960)
Constitution
multiparty draft constitution approved by High Council of the Republic 1 July 1992, adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992
Legal system
French-based court system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage
NA years of age; universal (adult)
Executive branch
chief of state
President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 6 February 2005); note - Gnassingbe EYADEMA died on 5 February 2005 and was succeeded by his son, Faure GNASSINGBE; popular elections in April 2005 validated the succession
head of government
Prime Minister Yawovi AGBOYIBO (since 16 September 2006)
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the prime minister
elections
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 24 April 2005 (next to be held by 2010); prime minister appointed by the president
election results
Faure GNASSINGBE elected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE 60.2%, Emmanuel Akitani BOB 38.3%, Nicolas LAWSON 1%, Harry OLYMPIO 0.5%
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 27 October 2002 (next to be held on 5 August 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPT 72, RSDD 3, UDPS 2, Juvento 2, MOCEP 1, independents 1
Judicial branch
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
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 a Change or UFC [Gilchrist OLYMPIO]
2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 234-4212
FAX
[1] (202) 232-3190
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
Ambassador David B. DUNN
embassy
Angle Rue Kouenou and Rue 15 Beniglato, Lome
mailing address
B. P. 852, Lome
telephone
[228] 221 29 91 through 221 29 94
FAX
[228] 221 79 52
Flag description
five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; there is a white five-pointed star on a red square in the upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy - overview
This small, sub-Saharan economy is heavily dependent 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 working with donors to write a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) that could eventually lead to a debt reduction plan.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$9.271 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.089 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$1,700 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
39.5%
industry
20.4%
services
40.1% (2003 est.)
Labor force
1.302 million (1998)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
65%
industry
5%
services
30% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate
NA%
Population below poverty line
32% (1989 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
NA%
highest 10%
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.8% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
22.4% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$260.2 million
expenditures
$311 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)
50 km (seasonally on Mono River depending on rainfall) (2005)
Merchant marine
total
2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,918 GRT/3,852 DWT
by type
cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1 (2006)
Ports and terminals
Kpeme, Lome
Military branches
Togolese Armed Forces (FAT): Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie (2005)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service
males age 18-49
1,102,661
females age 18-49
1,124,463 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 18-49
696,933
females age 18-49
707,821 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
1.6% (2005 est.)
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
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin)
8,000 (Ghana)
IDPs
1,500 (2006)
Illicit drugs
transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money laundering not a significant problem
