Togo

Broadcast media

2 state-owned TV stations with multiple transmission sites; 5 private TV stations broadcast locally; cable TV service is available; state-owned radio network with multiple stations; several dozen private radio stations and a few community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are obtainable (2007)

Internet country code

.tg

Internet hosts

860 (2010) country comparison to the world: 168

Internet users

356,300 (2009) country comparison to the world: 123

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; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 40 telephones per 100 persons with mobile-cellular use predominating international: country code - 228; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Symphonie

Telephones - main lines in use

178,700 (2009) country comparison to the world: 128

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.187 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 129

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 94 4.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA% (31 December 2009 est.) NA% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$339 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 -$236 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$NA (31 December 2010) $1.573 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Economy - overview

This small, sub-Saharan economy suffers from anemic economic growth and depends heavily 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 important cash crop. Togo is the world's fourth-largest producer of phosphate. 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 moved slowly. Progress depends on follow through on privatization, increased openness in government financial operations, progress toward legislative elections, and continued support from foreign donors. Togo is on track with its IMF Extended Credit Facility and reached a HIPC debt relief completion point in 2010 at which 95% of the country's debt was forgiven. Economic growth prospects remain marginal due to declining cotton production and underinvestment in phosphate mining.

Electricity - consumption

640 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

514 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by Ghana (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

230 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 507.71 (2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 482.71 (2007), 522.59 (2006)

Exports

$859 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 $818 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa

Exports - partners

Germany 17.57%, Ghana 12.74%, Burkina Faso 11.02%, India 10.22%, Belgium 7.1%, Benin 6.92%, Netherlands 5.94%, Mali 4.41% (2009)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.074 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.927 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 $5.738 billion (2009 est.) $5.565 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 47.4% industry: 25.4% services: 27.2% (2009 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$900 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 220 $900 (2009 est.) $900 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 107 3.1% (2009 est.) 1.8% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 27.1% (2006)

Imports

$1.337 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 166 $1.261 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products

Imports - partners

China 36.58%, France 8.64%, Netherlands 6.76%, India 5.06%, US 4.4% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

2.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 2% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

18.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Labor force

2.595 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 109

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Oil - consumption

21,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Oil - exports

1,547 bbl/day (2005) country comparison to the world: 118

Oil - imports

15,270 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Population below poverty line

32% (1989 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$686 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116 $703.2 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.238 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 $1.306 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$817.7 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 $862.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$754.5 million (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 146 $789.7 million (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total: 56,785 sq km country comparison to the world: 125 land: 54,385 sq km water: 2,400 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Climate

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Coastline

56 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Agou 986 m

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.17 cu km/yr (53%/2%/45%) per capita: 28 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

8 00 N, 1 10 E

Geography - note

the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna

Irrigated land

70 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 1,647 km border countries: Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km

Land use

arable land: 44.2% permanent crops: 2.11% other: 53.69% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 30 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

14.7 cu km (2001)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Lome geographic coordinates: 6 08 N, 1 13 E time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992

Country name

conventional long form: Togolese Republic conventional short form: Togo local long form: Republique togolaise local short form: none former: French Togoland

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia McMahon HAWKINS embassy: 4332 Blvd. Gnassingbe Eyadema, Cite OUA, Lome mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome; 2300 Lome Place, Washington, DC 20512-2300 telephone: [228] 261-5470 FAX: [228] 261-5501

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Executive branch

chief of state: President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 4 May 2005); head of government: Prime Minister Gilbert HOUNGBO (since 7 September 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the prime minister (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 4 March 2010 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE 60.9%, Jean-Pierre FABRE 33.9%, Yawovi AGBOYIBO 3%, other 2.2%

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 five different regions of the country; the red square is meant to express the loyalty and patriotism of the people; green symbolizes hope, fertility, and agriculture; yellow represents mineral wealth and faith that hard work and strength will bring prosperity; the star symbolizes life, purity, peace, dignity, and Togo's independence note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Government type

republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule

Independence

27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Legal system

French-based court system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 14 October 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - RPT 39.4%, UFC 37.0%, CAR 8.2%, independents 2.5%, other 12.9%; seats by party - RPT 50, UFC 27, CAR 4

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 holiday

Independence Day, 27 April (1960)

Political parties and leaders

Action Committee for Renewal or CAR [Yawovi AGBOYIBO]; Democratic Convention of African Peoples or CDPA; Democratic Party for Renewal or PDR; Juvento [Monsilia DJATO]; Movement of the Believers of Peace and Equality or MOCEP; Pan-African Patriotic Convergence or CPP; Rally for the Support for Development and Democracy or RSDD [Harry OLYMPIO]; Rally of the Togolese People or RPT [Faure GNASSINGBE]; Socialist Pact for Renewal or PSR; Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Gagou KOKOU]; Union of Forces for Change or UFC [Gilchrist OLYMPIO]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal (adult)

Background

French Togoland became Togo 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 multiparty elections instituted in the early 1990s, the government was largely dominated by President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has maintained power almost continually since 1967 and maintains a majority of seats in today's legislature. Upon EYADEMA's death in February 2005, the military installed the president's son, Faure GNASSINGBE, and then engineered his formal election two months later. Democratic gains since then allowed Togo to hold its first relatively free and fair legislative elections in October 2007. After years of political unrest and condemnation from international organizations for human rights abuses, Togo is finally being re-welcomed into the international community.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,462,206 females age 16-49: 1,463,189 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 983,283 females age 16-49: 1,004,887 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 71,081 female: 69,969 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Togolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Togolaise, FAT): Ground Forces, Togolese Navy (Marine du Togo), Togolese Air Force (Force Aerienne Togolaise, TAF), National Gendarmerie (2010)

Military expenditures

1.6% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; 2-year service obligation (2006)

Age structure

0-14 years: 41.4% (male 1,252,389/female 1,244,914) 15-64 years: 55.8% (male 1,645,885/female 1,719,810) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 66,192/female 102,618) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

35.88 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

Death rate

8.15 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Education expenditures

3.7% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 123

Ethnic groups

African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

3.3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

HIV/AIDS - deaths

9,100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

130,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Infant mortality rate

total: 53.23 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 45 male: 60.29 deaths/1,000 live births female: 45.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

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)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 62.25 years country comparison to the world: 178 male: 59.74 years female: 64.83 years (2010 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 60.9% male: 75.4% female: 46.9% (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis animal contact disease: rabies note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

Median age

total: 19.2 years male: 18.9 years female: 19.4 years (2010 est.)

Nationality

noun: Togolese (singular and plural) adjective: Togolese

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 104

Population

6,587,239 country comparison to the world: 100 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

2.773% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Religions

Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 7 years (2007)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.74 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

Urbanization

urban population: 42% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 4.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

in 2001, Benin claimed Togo moved boundary monuments - joint commission continues to resurvey the boundary; in 2006, 14,000 Togolese refugees remain in Benin and Ghana out of the 40,000 who fled there in 2005

Illicit drugs

transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money laundering not a significant problem

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 5,000 (Ghana) IDPs: 1,500 (2007)

Airports

8 (2010) country comparison to the world: 162

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2010)

Merchant marine

total: 53 country comparison to the world: 69 by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 40, chemical tanker 2, container 2, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 23 (China 2, Greece 1, Lebanon 6, Romania 1, Syria 5, Turkey 4, UAE 1, UK 3) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Kpeme, Lome

Railways

total: 532 km country comparison to the world: 113 narrow gauge: 532 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 7,520 km country comparison to the world: 145 paved: 2,376 km unpaved: 5,144 km (2000)

Waterways

50 km (seasonally on Mono River depending on rainfall) (2008) country comparison to the world: 104