Togo

Code: TO | Region: Africa

Introduction

Background

text

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 changes in 2019 to institute a runoff system in presidential elections and to establish term limits have done little to reduce the resentment many Togolese feel after more than 50 years of one-family rule. GNASSINGBE became eligible for his current fourth term and one additional fifth term under the new rules. The next presidential election is set for 2025.

Geography

Location

text

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana

Geographic coordinates

text

8 00 N, 1 10 E

Map references

text

Africa

Area

total

text

56,785 sq km

land

text

54,385 sq km

water

text

2,400 sq km

Area - comparative

text

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries

total

text

1,880 km

border countries

text

Benin 651 km; Burkina Faso 131 km; Ghana 1,098 km

Coastline

text

56 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea

text

30 nm

exclusive economic zone

text

200 nm

note

note: the US does not recognize the territorial sea claim

Climate

text

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain

text

gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes

Elevation

highest point

text

Mont Agou 986 m

lowest point

text

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

text

236 m

Natural resources

text

phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land

Land use

agricultural land

text

70.2% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

text

arable land: 48.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

text

permanent crops: 3.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

text

permanent pasture: 18.4% (2023 est.)

forest

text

22.4% (2023 est.)

other

text

7.4% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

text

70 sq km (2012)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage

text

Volta (410,991 sq km)

Population distribution

text

one of the more densely populated African nations, with most of the population residing in rural communities; density is highest in the south on or near the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map

Natural hazards

text

hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts

Geography - note

text

stretches through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna

People and Society

Population

total

text

9,143,439 (2025 est.)

male

text

4,488,825

female

text

4,654,614

Nationality

noun

text

Togolese (singular and plural)

adjective

text

Togolese

Ethnic groups

text

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

note: Togo has an estimated 37 ethnic groups

Languages

text

French (official, language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (in the north)

Religions

text

Christian 42.3%, folk religion 36.9%, Muslim 14%, Hindu <1%, Buddhist <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, none 6.2% (2020 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years

text

38.7% (male 1,749,533/female 1,699,084)

15-64 years

text

57% (male 2,486,142/female 2,597,914)

65 years and over

text

4.3% (2024 est.) (male 159,596/female 225,725)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio

text

74.7 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

text

66.7 (2025 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

text

8 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

text

12.6 (2025 est.)

Median age

total

text

20.9 years (2025 est.)

male

text

19.9 years

female

text

21.4 years

Population growth rate

text

2.37% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

text

30.17 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

text

4.64 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

text

-1.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

text

Urbanization

urban population

text

44.5% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

text

3.6% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

text

1.982 million LOME (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio

at birth

text

1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years

text

1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years

text

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

text

0.71 male(s)/female

total population

text

0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

text

25 years (2017 est.)

note

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29

Maternal mortality ratio

text

349 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total

text

34.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male

text

43 deaths/1,000 live births

female

text

33.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population

text

72.1 years (2024 est.)

male

text

69.5 years

female

text

74.7 years

Total fertility rate

text

4.03 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

text

1.99 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

text

urban: 87% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

text

rural: 58.5% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

text

total: 71% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

text

urban: 13% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

text

rural: 41.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

text

total: 29% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

text

5.6% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

text

2.6% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

text

0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

text

0.6 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

text

urban: 82% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

text

rural: 19.2% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

text

total: 46.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

text

urban: 18% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

text

rural: 80.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

text

total: 53.3% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

text

8.4% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total

text

1.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer

text

0.78 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

text

0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

text

0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

text

0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

total

text

5% (2025 est.)

male

text

9.3% (2025 est.)

female

text

0.7% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

text

15.2% (2017 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

text

63.7% (2017 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15

text

6.4% (2017)

women married by age 18

text

24.8% (2017)

men married by age 18

text

2.6% (2017)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

text

4.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

text

11.6% national budget (2024 est.)

Literacy

total population

text

72.6% (2022 est.)

male

text

82.8% (2022 est.)

female

text

63.7% (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total

text

12 years (2017 est.)

male

text

13 years (2017 est.)

female

text

11 years (2017 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

text

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

International environmental agreements

party to

text

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

text

none of the selected agreements

Climate

text

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Land use

agricultural land

text

70.2% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

text

arable land: 48.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

text

permanent crops: 3.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

text

permanent pasture: 18.4% (2023 est.)

forest

text

22.4% (2023 est.)

other

text

7.4% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

urban population

text

44.5% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

text

3.6% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions

text

2.656 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

text

372,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

text

1.941 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

text

343,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

text

33.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Methane emissions

energy

text

43.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)

agriculture

text

51.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

text

31.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

other

text

10.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

text

1.109 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

text

3.5% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal

text

140.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

text

6.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural

text

76 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

text

14.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form

text

Togolese Republic

conventional short form

text

Togo

local long form

text

République Togolaise

local short form

text

none

former

text

French Togoland

etymology

text

the name derives from the town of Togodo (now Togoville) on the northern shore of Lake Togo; the town's name probably comes from the lake's name, which is composed of the Ewe words to ("water") and go ("shore")

Government type

text

presidential republic

Capital

name

text

Lome

geographic coordinates

text

6 07 N, 1 13 E

time difference

text

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology

text

the name comes from a local word meaning "little market"

Administrative divisions

text

5 regions (régions, singular - région); Centrale, Kara, Maritime, Plateaux, Savanes

Legal system

text

customary law system

Constitution

history

text

several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1992, effective 14 October 1992; revised 6 May 2024

amendment process

text

proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one fifth of the National Assembly membership; passage requires four-fifths majority vote by the Assembly; a referendum is required if approved by only two-thirds majority of the Assembly or if requested by the president; constitutional articles on the republican and secular form of government cannot be amended

International law organization participation

text

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

text

citizenship by descent only

text

at least one parent must be a citizen of Togo

dual citizenship recognized

text

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

text

5 years

Suffrage

text

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state

text

President Jean-Lucien Kwassi Savi de TOVE (since 3 May 2025)

head of government

text

President of Council of Ministers Faure GNASSINGBE (since 3 May 2025)

cabinet

text

Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the president of the council of ministers

election/appointment process

text

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

text

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

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

text

Parliament

legislative structure

text

bicameral

note

note: party lists are required to contain equal numbers of men and women

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

text

National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)

number of seats

text

113 (all directly elected)

electoral system

text

proportional representation

scope of elections

text

full renewal

term in office

text

6 years

most recent election date

text

4/29/2024

parties elected and seats per party

text

Union for the Republic (UNIR) (108); Other (5)

percentage of women in chamber

text

15%

expected date of next election

text

April 2030

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

text

Senate (Sénat)

number of seats

text

61 (41 directly elected; 20 appointed)

scope of elections

text

full renewal

term in office

text

6 years

most recent election date

text

2/15/2025

parties elected and seats per party

text

Union for the Republic (UNIR) (34); Independents (3); Other (4)

percentage of women in chamber

text

24.6%

expected date of next election

text

February 2031

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

text

Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (organized into criminal and administrative chambers, each with a chamber president and advisors); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, including the court president)

judge selection and term of office

text

Supreme Court president appointed by decree of the president of the republic on the proposal of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy, a 9-member judicial, advisory, and disciplinary body; other judicial appointments and judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Assembly; judge tenure NA

subordinate courts

text

Court of Assizes (sessions court); Appeal Court; tribunals of first instance (divided into civil, commercial, and correctional chambers; Court of State Security; military tribunal

Political parties

text

Action Committee for Renewal or CAR Alliance of Democrats for Integral Development or ADDI Democratic Convention of African Peoples or CDPA Democratic Forces for the Republic or FDR National Alliance for Change or ANC New Togolese Commitment Pan-African National Party or PNP Pan-African Patriotic Convergence or CPP Patriotic Movement for Democracy and Development or MPDD Socialist Pact for Renewal or PSR The Togolese Party Union of Forces for Change or UFC Union for the Republic or UNIR

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

text

Ambassador Frédéric Edem HEGBE (since 24 April 2017)

chancery

text

2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

text

[1] (202) 234-4212

FAX

text

[1] (202) 232-3190

email address and website

text

embassyoftogo@hotmail.com https://embassyoftogousa.com/

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

text

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Richard C. MICHAELS (since June 2025)

embassy

text

Boulevard Eyadema B.P. 852, Lomé

mailing address

text

2300 Lome Place, Washington, DC 20521-2300

telephone

text

[228] 2261-5470

FAX

text

[228] 2261-5501

email address and website

text

consularLome@state.gov https://tg.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

text

ACP, AfDB, AIIB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence

text

27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday

text

Independence Day, 27 April (1960)

Flag

text

description: five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; a five-pointed white star on a red square is in the upper-left corner meaning: the five horizontal stripes stand for the country's regions; red stands for the people's loyalty and patriotism; green for hope, fertility, and agriculture; yellow for mineral wealth and faith that hard work and strength will bring prosperity; the star symbolizes life, purity, peace, dignity, and national independence history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement

National symbol(s)

text

lion

National color(s)

text

green, yellow, red, white

National anthem(s)

title

text

"Salut à toi, pays de nos aieux" (Hail to Thee, Land of Our Forefathers)

lyrics/music

text

Alex CASIMIR-DOSSEH

history

text

adopted 1960, restored 1992; anthem was replaced during one-party rule between 1979 and 1992

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites

text

1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales

text

Koutammakou; the Land of the Batammariba

Economy

Economic overview

text

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)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

text

$27.115 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

text

$25.75 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

text

$24.199 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024

text

5.3% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

text

6.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

text

5.8% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

text

$2,800 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

text

$2,800 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

text

$2,700 (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

text

$9.926 billion (2024 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

text

2.9% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

text

5.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

text

7.6% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

text

18% (2024 est.)

industry

text

20% (2024 est.)

services

text

52% (2024 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

text

78.3% (2024 est.)

government consumption

text

13.1% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

text

22.3% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

text

0% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services

text

24.4% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

text

-38.1% (2024 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

text

cassava, maize, yams, sorghum, soybeans, beans, rice, vegetables, oil palm fruit, cotton (2023)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

text

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

Industrial production growth rate

text

4.2% (2024 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force

text

3.345 million (2024 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024

text

2% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

text

2% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

text

2% (2022 est.)

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total

text

3.4% (2024 est.)

male

text

3.3% (2024 est.)

female

text

3.5% (2024 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line

text

45.5% (2018 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

text

37.9 (2021 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%

text

2.8% (2021 est.)

highest 10%

text

29.6% (2021 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

Remittances 2023

text

7.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2022

text

8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2021

text

7.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues

text

$1.801 billion (2023 est.)

expenditures

text

$2.407 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Public debt

Public debt 2016

text

81.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

text

14.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Current account balance

Current account balance 2020

text

-$20.738 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2019

text

-$55.444 million (2019 est.)

Current account balance 2018

text

-$184.852 million (2018 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports

Exports 2020

text

$1.722 billion (2020 est.)

Exports 2019

text

$1.665 billion (2019 est.)

Exports 2018

text

$1.703 billion (2018 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - partners

text

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

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports - commodities

text

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

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

Imports 2020

text

$2.389 billion (2020 est.)

Imports 2019

text

$2.261 billion (2019 est.)

Imports 2018

text

$2.329 billion (2018 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - partners

text

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

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports - commodities

text

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

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

text

$1.923 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Exchange rates

Currency

text

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

text

606.345 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

text

606.57 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

text

623.76 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

text

554.531 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

text

575.586 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population

text

57.2% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

text

96.5%

electrification - rural areas

text

25%

Electricity

installed generating capacity

text

326,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption

text

1.815 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports

text

1.1 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

text

206.938 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

text

79.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

text

11.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

text

8.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste

text

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

consumption

text

163,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

text

10 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

text

163,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

text

14,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

text

176.16 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

text

176.16 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

text

4.538 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions

text

67,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

1 (2023 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions

text

7.69 million (2024 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

81 (2024 est.)

Broadcast media

text

1 state-owned TV station with multiple transmission sites; five private local TV stations; cable TV available; state-owned radio network with two stations; several dozen private radio stations and a few community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available (2019)

Internet country code

text

.tg

Internet users

percent of population

text

37% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total

text

114,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

1 (2023 est.)

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

text

Airports

text

7 (2025)

Railways

total

text

568 km (2014)

narrow gauge

text

568 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

Merchant marine

total

text

397 (2023)

by type

text

bulk carrier 1, container ship 10, general cargo 250, oil tanker 56, other 80

Ports

total ports

text

2 (2024)

large

text

medium

text

small

text

very small

text

ports with oil terminals

text

key ports

text

Kpeme, Lome

Military and Security

Military and security forces

text

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

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

Military Expenditures 2024

text

2.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

text

3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

text

4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

text

2.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

text

2.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

text

estimated 20,000 active Armed Forces, including Gendarmerie (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

text

the FAT has a small inventory of mostly obsolescent or older armaments originating from several countries, including Brazil, France, Russia/former Soviet Union, Türkiye, the UK, and the US (2025)

Military service age and obligation

text

18-24 years of age for military service for men and women; initial 24-month service obligation; no conscription (2025)

Military - note

text

the Togolese Armed Forces (FAT) are responsible for both external defense and internal security; the FAT’s primary concerns are border security, terrorism, and maritime security; in recent years, it has boosted operations in the northern border region of the country to secure the frontier and prevent banditry, illicit smuggling, and infiltrations from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), a coalition of al-Qa'ida-affiliated militant groups based in Mali that also operates in neighboring Burkina Faso; in 2022, the Togolese Government declared a state of emergency in the north following an attack by JNIM fighters on a Togolese military post that killed several soldiers; the Navy and Air Force have increased focus on combating piracy and smuggling in the Gulf of Guinea since its creation in 1963, the Togolese military has had a history of involvement in the country’s politics, including assassinations, coups, and a crackdown in 2005 that killed hundreds of civilians; over the past decade, it has made efforts to reform and professionalize, which have included increasing its role in UN peacekeeping activities, participating in multinational exercises, and receiving training from foreign partners, particularly France and the US; in addition, Togo has established a regional peacekeeping training center for military and police in Lome (2025)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

text

Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM)

note

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

text

48,756 (2024 est.)

IDPs

text

18,429 (2024 est.)