Togo

Togo

Introduction

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.

Geography

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
country comparison to the world: 126 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 (2008)

Total renewable water resources

14.7 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.17cu km/yr (53%/2%/45%)
per capita:28cu m/yr (2000)

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

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

People and Society

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%

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)

Religions

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

Population

6,771,993 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Age structure

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.)

Median age

total: 19.3 years
male:19 years
female:19.5 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.762% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18

Birth rate

35.58 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26

Death rate

7.96 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108

Urbanization

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

Major cities – population

LOME (capital) 1.593 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.63 male(s)/female
total population:0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

350 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 41

Infant mortality rate

total: 51.48 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 45 male:58.43 deaths/1,000 live births
female:44.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 62.71 years
country comparison to the world: 176 male:60.19 years
female:65.3 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.69 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29

Health expenditures

5.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 111

Physicians density

0.053 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 175

Hospital bed density

0.85 beds/1,000 population (2005)
country comparison to the world: 154

Drinking water source

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

Sanitation facility access

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

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

3.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

120,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38

HIV/AIDS – deaths

7,700 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28

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
water contact disease:schistosomiasis
respiratory disease:meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease:rabies
note: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)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

20.5% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 34

Education expenditures

4.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 78

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:60.9%
male:75.4%
female:46.9% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 10 years
male:11 years
female:8 years (2007)

Government

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

adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992

Legal system

customary law system

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 4 May 2005);
head of government:Prime Minister Gilbert HOUNGBO (since 7 September 2008)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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
election results:Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president

percent of vote – Faure GNASSINGBE 60.9%, Jean-Pierre FABRE 33.9%, Yawovi AGBOYIBO 3%, other 2.2%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (81 seats

members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 14 October 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
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

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

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

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Kadangha Limbiya BARIKI
chancery: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 Patricia McMahon HAWKINS
embassy:4332 Blvd. Gnassingbe Eyadema, Cite OUA, Lome
mailing address:B. P. 852, Lome

2300 Lome Place, Washington, DC 20512-2300
telephone:[228] 261-5470
FAX:[228] 261-5501

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
note:uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

National anthem

name: “Salut a toi, pays de nos aieux” (Hail to Thee, Land of Our Forefathers)
lyrics/music:Alex CASIMIR-DOSSEH
note:adopted 1960, restored 1992

this anthem was replaced by another during one-party rule between 1979 and 1992

Economy

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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.974 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157 $5.778 billion (2009 est.)
$5.596 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.194 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

3.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112 3.2% (2009 est.)
2.4% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216 $900 (2009 est.)
$900 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 46.1%
industry:23.6%
services:34.1% (2010 est.)

Labor force

2.595 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 109

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%: 3.3%
highest 10%:27.1% (2006)

Investment (gross fixed)

18% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144

Budget

revenues: $653 million
expenditures:$703.8 million (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

20.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40 2% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

2.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87 4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA%

Stock of narrow money

$777.9 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149 $818.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.267 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157 $1.354 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$836.4 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157 $894.3 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Agriculture – products

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

livestock

fish

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

2.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

Electricity – production

156.9 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186

Electricity – consumption

671.9 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

666 million kWh

note – electricity supplied by Ghana (2008 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135

Oil – consumption

23,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134

Oil – imports

15,900 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197

Current account balance

-$244 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90 -$223 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$840 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159 $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)

Imports

$1.292 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169 $1.205 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products

Imports – partners

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$669.4 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145 $703.2 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

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

Transportation

Airports

8 (2010)
country comparison to the world:165

Airports – with paved runways

total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m:2 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 6
914 to 1,523 m:4
under 914 m:2 (2010)

Railways

total: 568 km
country comparison to the world: 110 narrow gauge:568 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)

Roadways

total: 7,520 km
country comparison to the world: 146 paved:2,376 km
unpaved:5,144 km (2007)

Waterways

50 km (seasonally navigable by small craft on the Mono River depending on rainfall) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 103

Merchant marine

total: 53
country comparison to the world: 69 by type:bulk carrier 5, cargo 40, chemical tanker 2, container 2, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned:23 (China 2, Greece 1, Lebanon 6, Romania 1, Syria 5, Turkey 4, UAE 1, UK 3) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Kpeme, Lome

Military

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)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service

2-year service obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,577,572
females age 16-49:1,589,715 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,104,536
females age 16-49:1,158,061 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 74,036
female:73,515 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

1.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93

Transnational Issues

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 5,000 (Ghana)
IDPs:1,500 (2007)

Illicit drugs

transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers

money laundering not a significant problem