Togo

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.

Table of Contents

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

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

land: 54,385 sq km

water: 2,400 sq km

comparison ranking: total 126

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries

total: 1,880 km

border countries (3): Benin 651 km; Burkina Faso 131 km; Ghana 1,098 km

Coastline

56 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 30 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim

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

highest point: Mont Agou 986 m

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 236 m

Natural resources

phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land

Land use

agricultural land: 70.2% (2022 est.)

arable land: 48.7% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 3.1% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 18.4% (2022 est.)

forest: 22.1% (2022 est.)

other: 7.6% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

70 sq km (2012)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 sq km)

Population distribution

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

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

Geography – note

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

People and Society

Population

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

male: 4,395,271

female: 4,522,723

comparison rankings: total 101; female 100; male 101

Nationality

noun: Togolese (singular and plural)

adjective: Togolese

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.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 38.7% (male 1,749,533/female 1,699,084)

15-64 years: 57% (male 2,486,142/female 2,597,914)

65 years and over: 4.3% (2024 est.) (male 159,596/female 225,725)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 75.4 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 67.8 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 7.6 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 13.2 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 20.7 years (2024 est.)

male: 19.9 years

female: 21.4 years

comparison ranking: total 199

Population growth rate

2.41% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 21

Birth rate

30.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 23

Death rate

5.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 192

Net migration rate

-1.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 164

Population distribution

Urbanization

urban population: 44.5% of total population (2023)

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

Major urban areas – population

1.982 million LOME (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother’s mean age at first birth

25 years (2017 est.)

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

Maternal mortality ratio

399 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

comparison ranking: 23

Infant mortality rate

total: 38.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 43 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 33.7 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 30

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.1 years (2024 est.)

male: 69.5 years

female: 74.7 years

comparison ranking: total population 165

Total fertility rate

4.13 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 20

Gross reproduction rate

2.03 (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

23.9% (2017)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 93.8% of population

rural: 60.3% of population

total: 74.6% of population

unimproved:

urban: 6.2% of population

rural: 39.7% of population

total: 25.4% of population (2020 est.)

Health expenditure

5.6% of GDP (2021)

2.6% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

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

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 81.9% of population

rural: 18.3% of population

total: 45.5% of population

unimproved:

urban: 18.1% of population

rural: 81.7% of population

total: 54.5% of population (2020 est.)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

8.4% (2016)

comparison ranking: 151

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 1.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 0.78 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

comparison ranking: total 141

Tobacco use

total: 5% (2025 est.)

male: 9.3% (2025 est.)

female: 0.7% (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: total 161

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

15.2% (2017)

comparison ranking: 31

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

62% (2023 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 6.4% (2017)

women married by age 18: 24.8% (2017)

men married by age 18: 2.6% (2017)

Education expenditure

4.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

11.6% national budget (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 102

Literacy

total population: 72.6% (2022 est.)

male: 82.8% (2022 est.)

female: 63.7% (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years

male: 14 years

female: 12 years (2017)

Environment

Environment – current 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

Environment – international agreements

party to: 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: none of the selected agreements

Climate

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Land use

Urbanization

urban population: 44.5% of total population (2023)

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

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 35.66 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 3 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 3.06 megatons (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,109,030 tons (2014 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 22,181 tons (2012 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 2% (2012 est.)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 sq km)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 140 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 80 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources

14.7 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Togolese Republic

conventional short form: Togo

local long form: République Togolaise

local short form: none

former: French Togoland

etymology: 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

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”

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

customary law system

Constitution

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

amendment process: 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

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Togo

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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

elections/appointments: 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

Legislative branch – lower chamber

chamber name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)

number of seats: 113 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 6 years

most recent election date: 4/29/2024

parties elected and seats per party: Union for the Republic (UNIR) (108); Other (5)

percentage of women in chamber: 15%

expected date of next election: April 2030

Legislative branch – upper chamber

chamber name: Senate (Sénat)

number of seats: 61 (41 directly elected; 20 appointed)

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 6 years

most recent election date: 2/15/2025

parties elected and seats per party: Union for the Republic (UNIR) (34); Independents (3); Other (4)

percentage of women in chamber: 24.6%

expected date of next election: February 2031

Judicial branch

highest court(s): 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: 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: 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

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: Ambassador Frédéric Edem HEGBE (since 24 April 2017)

chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212

FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://embassyoftogousa.com/

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Ronald E. HAWKINS Jr. (since 31 May 2024)

embassy: DoS PDF Ambassador Assignments Overseas Report, 23 December 2024 and 28 June 2024, accessed 14 January 2025; and
U.S. Embassy Togo website homepage, U.S. Mission Leaders, https://tg.usembassy.gov/, Homepage – U.S. Embassy in Togo, current as of 14 January 2025, accessed 14 January 2025; and
U.S. Embassy Togo website, U.S. Mission Leaders, (undated), https://tg.usembassy.gov/category/u-s-mission-leaders/, U.S. Mission Leaders Archives – U.S. Embassy in Togo, accessed 14 January 2025
X@USEmbassyLome post on departure of Ambassador, 30 May 2024, accessed 14 January 2025

mailing address: 2300 Lome Place, Washington, DC 20521-2300

telephone: [228] 2261-5470

FAX: [228] 2261-5501

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://tg.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

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

27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday

Independence Day, 27 April (1960)

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 country’s regions; red stands for the people’s loyalty and patriotism, green for hope, fertility, and agriculture, and yellow for mineral wealth and faith that hard work and strength will bring prosperity; the star symbolizes life, purity, peace, dignity, and national independence

note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

National symbol(s)

lion

National colors

green, yellow, red, white

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

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Koutammakou; the Land of the Batammariba

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)

$25.75 billion (2023 est.)
$24.199 billion (2022 est.)
$22.881 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 154

Real GDP growth rate

6.41% (2023 est.)
5.76% (2022 est.)
5.99% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 24

Real GDP per capita

$2,800 (2023 est.)
$2,700 (2022 est.)
$2,600 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 201

GDP (official exchange rate)

$9.171 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.5% (2023 est.)
8% (2022 est.)
4.2% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 159

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 18.1% (2023 est.)

industry: 20.2% (2023 est.)

services: 51.7% (2023 est.)

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

comparison rankings: services 136; industry 138; agriculture 41

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 78.1% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 12.6% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 23% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 23.9% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -37.5% (2023 est.)

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

Agricultural products

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

6.74% (2023 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 34

Labor force

3.345 million (2024 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 103

Unemployment rate

1.9% (2024 est.)
1.9% (2023 est.)
2% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 18

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 3.4% (2024 est.)

male: 3.3% (2024 est.)

female: 3.5% (2024 est.)

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

comparison ranking: total 185

Population below poverty line

45.5% (2018 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

37.9 (2021 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 54

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.8% (2021 est.)

highest 10%: 29.6% (2021 est.)

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

Remittances

7.09% of GDP (2023 est.)
7.96% of GDP (2022 est.)
7.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

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

Budget

revenues: $1.434 billion (2022 est.)

expenditures: $1.32 billion (2022 est.)

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

75.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

comparison ranking: 44

Taxes and other revenues

14.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 139

Current account balance

-$20.738 million (2020 est.)
-$55.444 million (2019 est.)
-$184.852 million (2018 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 90

Exports

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

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

comparison ranking: 167

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

Exports – commodities

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

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

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

comparison ranking: 170

Imports – partners

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

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

Imports – commodities

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$77.8 million (2017 est.)
$42.6 million (2016 est.)

comparison ranking: 189

Debt – external

$1.923 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

comparison ranking: 95

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
606.345 (2024 est.)
606.57 (2023 est.)
623.76 (2022 est.)
554.531 (2021 est.)
575.586 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification – total population: 57.2% (2022 est.)

electrification – urban areas: 96.5%

electrification – rural areas: 25%

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 326,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 1.815 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 1.1 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 206.938 million kWh (2023 est.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 66; imports 76; consumption 151; installed generating capacity 162

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 79.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 11.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 8.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

consumption: 163,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

exports: 10 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 163,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 14,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption: 176.16 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports: 176.16 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

2.656 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 372,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 1.941 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 343,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 154

Energy consumption per capita

4.538 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 171

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 67,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.) less than 1

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 148

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 7.05 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 74 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 113

Broadcast media

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

.tg

Internet users

percent of population: 37% (2023 est.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 114,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total 130

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

7 (2025)

comparison ranking: 172

Railways

total: 568 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 568 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

Merchant marine

total: 397 (2023)

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

comparison ranking: total 49

Ports

total ports: 2 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 1

small: 0

very small: 1

ports with oil terminals: 2

key ports: Kpeme, Lome

Military and Security

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.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimated 15-20,000 active Armed Forces, including Gendarmerie (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the FAT has a small inventory of mostly older equipment originating from a variety of countries, including Brazil, Russia/former Soviet Union, Turkey, the US, and some European nations, particularly France (2024)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for military service for men and women; 24-month service obligation; no conscription (2023)

note: as of 2022, about 7% of the military’s personnel were women

Military – note

since its creation in 1963, the Togolese military has had a history of involvement in the country’s politics with assassinations, coups, influence, and a crackdown in 2005 that killed hundreds of civilians; over the past decade, however, it has made some efforts to reform and professionalize, including increasing its role in UN peacekeeping activities, participating in multinational exercises, and receiving training from foreign partners, including France and the US; in addition, Togo has established a regional peacekeeping training center for military and police in Lome

the FAT’s primary concerns are terrorism and maritime security; in recent years, it has increased operations in the northern border region of the country to boost border security and prevent terrorist 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 due to the threat from JNIM following an attack on a Togolese military post that killed several soldiers; northern Togo has also had problems with banditry, as well as arms, drugs, fuel, and gold smuggling, which has aggravated local disputes and provided terrorist groups with financial resources; the Navy and Air Force have increased focus on combating piracy and smuggling in the Gulf of Guinea (2024)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

Terrorist group(s): Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM)

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