Factbook dossier
Background
From the 11th to the 16th centuries, various ethnic groups settled the Togo region. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, the coastal region became a major trading center for enslaved people, and the surrounding region took on the name of "The Slave Coast." In 1884, Germany declared the area a protectorate called Togoland, which included present-day Togo. After World War I, colonial rule over Togo was transferred to France. French Togoland became Togo upon independence 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, EYADEMA largely dominated the government. His Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has been in power almost continually since 1967, with its successor, the Union for the Republic, maintaining a majority of seats in today's legislature. Upon EYADEMA's death in 2005, the military installed his son, Faure GNASSINGBE, as president and then engineered his formal election two months later. Togo held its first relatively free and fair legislative elections in 2007. Since then, GNASSINGBE has started the country along a gradual path to democratic reform. Togo has held multiple presidential and legislative elections, and in 2019, the country held its first local elections in 32 years. Despite those positive moves, political reconciliation has moved slowly, and the country experiences periodic outbursts of protests from frustrated citizens, leading to violence between security forces and protesters. Constitutional chang…
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
Area
total : 56,785 sq km land: 54,385 sq km water: 2,400 sq km
Natural resources
phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land
Natural hazards
hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts
Population
total: 9,143,439 (2025 est.) male: 4,488,825 female: 4,654,614
Ethnic groups
Adja-Ewe/Mina 42.4%, Kabye/Tem 25.9%, Para-Gourma/Akan 17.1%, Akposso/Akebu 4.1%, Ana-Ife 3.2%, other Togolese 1.7%, foreigners 5.2%, no response 0.4% (2013-14 est.) note: Togo has an estimated 37 ethnic groups
Languages
French (official, language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (in the north)
Religions
Christian 42.3%, folk religion 36.9%, Muslim 14%, Hindu 1%, Buddhist 1%, Jewish 1%, other 1%, none 6.2% (2020 est.)
Environmental issues
deforestation from slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; very little rainforest still present and what remains is highly degraded; desertification; water pollution; air pollution in urban areas
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Lome geographic coordinates: 6 07 N, 1 13 E time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name comes from a local word meaning "little market"
Executive branch
chief of state: President Jean-Lucien Kwassi Savi de TOVE (since 3 May 2025) head of government: President of Council of Ministers Faure GNASSINGBE (since 3 May 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the president of the council of ministers election/appointment process: president is appointed by the national assembly for one six-year term; the president of the council of ministers is the leader of the majority party in the national assembly and is confirmed by the Constitutional Court with no term limits election results: 2020: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE (UNIR) 70.8%, Agbeyome KODJO (MPDD) 19.5%, Jean-Pierre FABRE (ANC) 4.7%, other 5% 2015: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE (UNIR) 58.8%, Jean-Pierre FABRE (ANC) 35.2%, Tchaboure GOGUE (ADDI) 4%, other 2% note: in May 2024, the President signed into law changes to the constitution that converted the presidential system to a parliamentary republic and created the President of Council of Ministers position
Legislative branch
legislature name: Parliament legislative structure: bicameral note: party lists are required to contain equal numbers of men and women
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$27.115 billion (2024 est.) $25.75 billion (2023 est.) $24.199 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita
$2,800 (2024 est.) $2,800 (2023 est.) $2,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.9% (2024 est.) 5.3% (2023 est.) 7.6% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Exports - partners
UAE 40%, India 13%, Angola 13%, Burkina Faso 4%, Cote d'Ivoire 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners
China 26%, India 26%, Belgium 6%, Netherlands 6%, USA 3% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Military and security forces
Togolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Togolaise, FAT): Togolese Army, Togolese Navy, Togolese Air Force, National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale Togolaise or GNT) Ministry of Security and Civil Protection: Togolese Police (2025) note: the Police and GNT are responsible for law enforcement and maintenance of order within the country; the GNT is also responsible for migration and border enforcement; the GNT falls under the Ministry of the Armed Forces but also reports to the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection on many matters involving law enforcement and internal security; in 2022, the Ministry of the Armed Forces was made part of the Office of the Presidency
Military expenditures
2.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 3% of GDP (2023 est.) 4% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.8% of GDP (2020 est.)