Togo

Togolese RepublicRepublique Togolaise

republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule

Togo as the 2002 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 112 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalLome

Position8 00 N, 1 10 E

Area56,785 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

5.29 million July 2002 est. · 3.67m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.48% 2002 est. · 3.61% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 17.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

54.02 years 2002 est. · 56.46 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.14 children per woman 2002 est. · 7.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

69.32 deaths per 1,000 live births 2002 est. · 112 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,500 2001 est. · $400 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.2% 2001 est. · 0% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

French Togoland became Togo in 1960. General Gnassingbe EYADEMA, installed as military ruler in 1967, is Africa's longest-serving head of state. Despite the facade of multiparty elections instituted in the early 1990s, the government continues to be dominated by President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has maintained power almost continually since 1967. In addition, Togo has come under fire from international organizations for human rights abuses and is plagued by political unrest. Most bilateral and multilateral aid to Togo remains frozen.

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 56,785 sq km

arable land 41.37%permanent crops 1.84%other 56.79% (1998 est.)irrigated 70 sq km (1998 est.)

Area

56,785sq km

water: 2,400 sq kmland: 54,385 sq kmslightly smaller than West Virginia

Coastline

56km

exclusive economic zone: 200 NMterritorial sea: 30 NM

Highest point

986m

Mont Agoulowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Land boundaries

1,647km

border countries: Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

8 00 N, 1 10 E

Map references

Africa

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

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

Environment - international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
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

18 fields

Population

5,285,501

growth rate: 2.48% (2002 est.)

Note

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 2002 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2002 est.)

Birth

36.11Death

11.3Net migration

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2002 est.)54.02

52.03 · 56.07

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)51.7%

67% · 37%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Religions

indigenous beliefs 51%Christian 29%Muslim 20%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

5.98%

(1999 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 45.1% (male 1,195,052; female 1,187,014)
15-64 years:: 52.4% (male 1,351,345; female 1,420,617)
65 years and over:: 2.5% (male 56,270; female 75,203) (2002 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.97 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate

69.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.14 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

130,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

14,000 (1999 est.)

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%

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)

Government

Republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule; President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA (since 14 April 1967); Prime Minister Koffi SAMA (since 29 June 2002)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

52.13%

Gnassingbe EYADEMA 52.13%Gilchrist OLYMPIO 34.12%other 13.75%election last held 21 June 1998 (next to be held June 2003)

National Assembly, 81 seats, elected 27 October 2002one dot, one seat

RPT 72RSD 3UDPS 2Juvento 2MOCEP 1independents 1

Country name

conventional long form:: Togolese Republic
conventional short form:: Togo
local short form:: none
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); De La Kara, Des Plateaux, Des 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

NA years of age; universal adult

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA (since 14 April 1967)
head of government:: Prime Minister Koffi SAMA (since 29 June 2002)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the prime minister
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 21 June 1998 (next to be held June 2003);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results:: Gnassingbe EYADEMA reelected president; percent of vote - Gnassingbe EYADEMA 52.13%, Gilchrist OLYMPIO 34.12%, other 13.75%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:: last held 27 October 2002 (next NA 2006)

note: two opposition parties boycotted the election, the Union of the Forces for Change, and the Action Committee for Renewal

election results:: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPT 72, RSD 3, UDPS 2, Juvento 2, MOCEP 1, independents 1

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]; Coordination des Forces Nouvelles or CFN [Joseph KOFFIGOH]; Democratic Convention of African Peoples or CDPA [Leopold GNININVI]; Party for Democracy and Renewal or PDR [Zarifou AYEVA]; Patriotic Pan-African Convergence or CPP [Edem KODJO]; Rally of the Togolese People or RPT [President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA]; Union of Forces for Change or UFC [Gilchrist OLYMPIO (in exile), Jean Pierre FABRE, general secretary in Togo]; Union of Independent Liberals or ULI [Jacques AMOUZOU]; note: Rally of the Togolese People or RPT, led by President EYADEMA, was the only party until the formation of multiple parties was legalized 12 April 1991

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Akoussoulelou BODJONA
FAX:: [1] (202) 232-3190
telephone:: [1] (202) 234-4212
chancery:: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Karl HOFMANN
embassy:: Angle Rue Kouenou and Rue 15 Beniglato, Lome
mailing address:: B. P. 852, Lome
telephone:: [228] 221 29 91 through 221 29 94
FAX:: [228] 221 79 52

Flag description

five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow;
there is a white five-pointed star on a red square in the upper hoist-side corner;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy

This small sub-Saharan economy is heavily dependent on both commercial and subsistence agriculture, which provides employment for 65% of the labor force.

32 fields

Real growth rate

2.2%

(2001 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

2.3%

(2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

32%

(1989 est.)

Labor force

1.74million

(1996) (1996)

GDP - composition by sector(2001 est.)

agriculture 42%industry 21%services 37% (2001 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

Ghana

26%

12%

Benin

France

11%

Nigeria

China

Cote d'Ivoire

Belgium

Exports $306 million f.o.b. (2001)Imports $420 million f.o.b. (2001)(2000)

Budget

Revenues

$232 millionExpenditures

$252 million (1997 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 98%hydro 2%other 0% · nuclear 0%

Electricity production

97 million (2000)Electricity consumption

525.21 million (2000)Electricity imports

435 million

Economy - overview

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 significant cash crop despite falling prices on the world market.

Political unrest, including private and public sector strikes throughout 1992 and 1993, jeopardized the reform program, shrunk the tax base, and disrupted vital economic activity. The 12 January 1994 devaluation of the XOF currency by 50% provided an important impetus to renewed structural adjustment.

In the industrial sector, phosphate mining is by far the most important activity. Togo is the world's fourth largest producer, and geological advantages keep production costs low. The recently privatized mining operation, Office Togolais des Phosphates (OTP), is slowly recovering from a steep fall in prices in the early 1990's, but continues to face the challenge of tough foreign competition, exacerbated by weakening demand.

Togo serves as a regional commercial and trade center. It continues to expand its duty-free export-processing zone (EPZ), launched in 1989, which has attracted enterprises from France, Italy, Scandinavia, the US, India, and China and created jobs for Togolese nationals. 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 stalled.

Progress depends on following through on privatization, increased openness in government financial operations, progress towards legislative elections, and possible downsizing of the military, on which the regime has depended to stay in place. Lack of large-scale foreign aid, deterioration of the financial sector, energy shortages, and depressed commodity prices continue to constrain economic growth. The takeover of the national power company by a Franco-Canadian consortium in 2000 should ease the energy crisis.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $7.6 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 65%, industry 5%, services 30% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Industries

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

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

$306 million f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities

cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa

Imports

$420 million f.o.b. (2001)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products

Debt - external

$1.5 billion (1999) (1999)

Economic aid - recipient

$201.1 million (1995) (1995)

Currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States

Currency code

XOF

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 741.79 (January 2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997);
note - from 1 January 1999, the XOF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF per euro

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

10 fields

Mobile cellular

2,995

(1997)

Internet users

(2001)

Fixed lines

25,000

(1997) · country code .tg

Telephone system

general assessment:: fair system based on a network of microwave radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and a mobile cellular system
domestic:: microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for conventional system; cellular system has capacity of 10,000 telephones
international:: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Symphonie