Togo is a country located in West Africa, bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east, and Burkina Faso to the north. Its southern coast borders the Atlantic Ocean. Togo has a population of over 8 million people and covers an area of approximately 57,000 square kilometers.

Togo has a diverse culture that is influenced by its history as a former French colony and its location at the crossroads of West Africa. The official language of Togo is French, but many other African languages are spoken, including Ewe, Mina, and Kabye.

The economy of Togo is largely based on agriculture, with the majority of the population working in the agricultural sector. Togo is known for its production of coffee, cocoa, and cotton, as well as its fishing industry. The country has recently made efforts to diversify its economy by investing in industries such as tourism and information technology.

Togo has a tropical climate with two rainy seasons, from April to July and from September to November. The country is known for its beautiful beaches and wildlife, including elephants, hippos, and monkeys. Togo is also home to a number of national parks and nature reserves, such as Fazao-Malfakassa National Park and Kéran National Park.

The political history of Togo has been marked by a series of coups and political unrest, although recent years have seen some progress towards democracy and stability. Togo is currently a presidential republic, with the President serving as both the head of state and head of government. The current President is Faure Gnassingbé, who has been in power since 2005.

Telephone Code
228

Local Emergency Phone
Police: 101

Vaccinations
An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for all travelers. See WHO recommendations.

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

Currency (Code)
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
220 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C

Major Languages
French, Ewe and Mina, Kabye, Dagomba

Major Religions
Christian 42.3%, folk religion 36.9%, Muslim 14%, Hindu <1%, Buddhist <1%, Jewish <1%

Potable Water
Opt for bottled water

International Driving Permit
Suggested

Road Driving Side
Right

Tourist Destinations
Keran National Park; Fosse aux Lions National Park; Sokode; Kara; Koutammakou

Major Sports
Soccer

Cultural Practices
It is best to use your right hand or both hands to give and receive gifts, as the left hand is sometimes considered unclean.

Tipping Guidelines
Tipping is not the norm in local eateries. In upmarket restaurants, a tip of 10% is adequate. Tipping a guide 5-10% of a tour package is appropriate.

Souvenirs
Tribal goods, including wood-carved ceremonial masks and statues; woven and dyed Kente fabric, custom-tailored items, precious metal and glass handmade jewelry

Traditional Cuisine
Akume — a savory porridge made from ground maize flour and served with a sauce made from eggplant, tomato, spinach, or fish

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
8,703,961 (2023 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, 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 42.3%, folk religion 36.9%, Muslim 14%, Hindu <1%, Buddhist <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, none 6.2% (2020 est.)

Population growth rate
2.45% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Lome

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)
$18.369 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$2,100 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
cassava, maize, yams, sorghum, beans, oil palm fruit, rice, vegetables, cotton, groundnuts

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

Exports
$1.722 billion (2020 est.)

Exports - partners
India 16%, Benin 15%, Burkina Faso 6%, France 6%, Morocco 5% (2019)

Exports - commodities
refined petroleum, crude petroleum, electricity, calcium phosphates, cotton (2019)

Imports
$2.389 billion (2020 est.)

Imports - partners
China 18%, South Korea 13%, India 11%, Belgium 10%, Netherlands 8%, United States 5% (2019)

Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, motorcycles, crude petroleum, rice, broadcasting equipment (2019)