Togo

World Book Index

Introduction

Background
From the 11th to the 16th centuries, various ethnic groups settled the Togo region. After World War I, colonial rule over Togo was transferred from Germany to France. French Togoland became Togo upon independence in 1960.

Geography

Area
total : 56,785 sq km
land: 54,385 sq km
water: 2,400 sq km

Climate
tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Natural resources
phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land

People and Society

Population
total: 8,917,994 (2024 est.)

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.)

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.)

Population growth rate
2.41% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Lome

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)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Frédéric Edem HEGBE (since 24 April 2017)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Richard C. MICHAELS (since June 2025)

Economy

Economic overview
low-income West African economy; primarily agrarian economy; has a deep-water port; growing international shipping locale; improving privatization and public budgeting transparency; key phosphate mining industry; extremely high rural poverty

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$27.115 billion (2024 est.)
$25.75 billion (2023 est.)
$24.199 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$2,800 (2024 est.)
$2,800 (2023 est.)
$2,700 (2022 est.)

Exports
$1.722 billion (2020 est.)
$1.665 billion (2019 est.)
$1.703 billion (2018 est.)

Exports - partners
UAE 40%, India 13%, Angola 13%, Burkina Faso 4%, Cote d'Ivoire 3% (2023)

Exports - commodities
gold, refined petroleum, soybeans, phosphates, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews (2023)

Imports
$2.389 billion (2020 est.)
$2.261 billion (2019 est.)
$2.329 billion (2018 est.)

Imports - partners
China 26%, India 26%, Belgium 6%, Netherlands 6%, USA 3% (2023)

Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, garments, rice, palm oil, motorcycles and cycles (2023)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.571, ranking it 161th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 136th out of 158 countries tested with a score of 3.977. (more information)