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Togo Information   OVERVIEW GEOGRAPHY POPULATION GOVERNMENT ECONOMY
OVERVIEW
The Voltaic peoples and the Kwa were the earliest known inhabitants. The Ewe followed in the 14th century and the Ane in the 18th century. The Danish claimed the land in the 18th century, but by 1884 it was established as a German colony (Togoland). The area was split between the British and the French under League of Nations mandates after World War I and subsequently administered as UN trusteeships. The British portion voted for incorporation with Ghana. The French portion became Togo, which declared its independence on April 27, 1960. 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 agreed to hold elections in late April 2005 which legitimized his succession. Back to top
GEOGRAPHY
Togo, twice the size of Maryland, is on the south coast of West Africa bordering on Ghana to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, and Benin to the east. The Gulf of Guinea coastline, only 32 mi long (51 km), is low and sandy. The only port is at Lomé. The Togo hills traverse the central section. Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana Coordinates: 8 00 N, 1 10 E Area: total: 56,785 sq km water: 2,400 sq km land: 54,385 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: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 30 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 Natural hazards: hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts 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 Geography - note: the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna Back to top
POPULATION
Population: 5,548,702 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 2006 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 42.3% (male 1,177,141/female 1,169,321) 15-64 years: 55.1% (male 1,485,621/female 1,570,117) 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 59,870/female 86,632) Median age: 18.3 years Growth rate: 2.72% Infant mortality: 60.63 deaths/1,000 live births Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57.42 years male: 55.41 years female: 59.49 years Fertility rate: 4.96 children born/woman Nationality: noun: Togolese (singular and plural) adjective: Togolese Ethnic groups: native African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1% Religions: indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 29%, Muslim 20% 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% Back to top
GOVERNMENT
Country name: conventional long form: Togolese Republic conventional short form: Togo former: French Togoland local long form: Republique Togolaise Government type: republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule Capital: Lome Administrative divisions: 5 regions (regions, singular - region); Kara, Plateaux, Savanes, Centrale, Maritime 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 Suffrage: universal adult Executive branch: chief of state: President Faure GNASSINGBE head of government: Prime Minister Edem KODJO 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); prime minister appointed by the president Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme Back to top
ECONOMY
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. GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $8.948 billion; per capita $1,700. Real growth rate: 2.5%. Inflation: 5.5%. Unemployment: n.a. Arable land: 44%. Agriculture: coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish. Labor force: 1.74 million (1996); agriculture 65%, industry 5%, services 30% (1998 est.). Industries: phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, beverages. Natural resources: phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land. Exports: $768 million f.o.b. (2005 est.): reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa. Imports: $1.047 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products. Major trading partners: Burkina Faso, Ghana, Benin, Mali, China, India, France, Côte d'Ivoire (2004). Back to top

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