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Togo
  Population: 5,701,579

Background
French Togoland became Togo in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA, installed as military ruler in 1967, continued to rule into the 21st century. Despite the facade of multiparty elections instituted in the early 1990s, the government continued to be dominated by President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has maintained power almost continually since 1967. Togo has come under fire from international organizations for human rights abuses and is plagued by political unrest. While most bilateral and multilateral aid to Togo remains frozen, the EU initiated a partial resumption of cooperation and development aid to Togo in late 2004 based upon commitments by Togo to expand opportunities for political opposition and liberalize portions of the economy. Upon his death in February 2005, President EYADEMA was succeeded by his son Faure GNASSINGBE. The succession, supported by the military and in contravention of the nation's constitution, was challenged by popular protest and a threat of sanctions from regional leaders. GNASSINGBE succumbed to pressure and in April 2005 held elections that legitimized his succession. Legislative elections are scheduled for June 2007.

  • Geography
  • People
  • Government
  • Economy
  • Communications
  • Transportation
  • Military
  • Geography
    The country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna.
    Location:Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
    Geographic coordinates:8 00 N, 1 10 E
    Area:total: 56,785 sq km
    land: 54,385 sq km
    water: 2,400 sq km

    Size comparison: slightly smaller than West Virginia

    Land Boundaries:total: 1,647 km
    border countries: Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km
    Coastline:56 km
    Maritime claims:territorial sea: 30 nm
    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 extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
    highest point: Mont Agou 986 m
    Natural resources:phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land
    Land use:arable land: 44.2%
    permanent crops: 2.11%
    other: 53.69% (2005)
    Irrigated land:70 sq km (2003)
    Natural hazards:hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts
    Current Environment 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
    International Environment 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
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    People
    Population:5,701,579 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 2007 est.)
    Age structure:0-14 years: 42% (male 1,201,840/female 1,193,416)
    15-64 years: 55.3% (male 1,535,855/female 1,617,631)
    65 years and over: 2.7% (male 61,658/female 91,179) (2007 est.)
    Median age:total: 18.4 years
    male: 18 years
    female: 18.9 years (2007 est.)
    Population growth rate:2.718% (2007 est.)
    Birth rate:36.83 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
    Death rate:9.65 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
    Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
    Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
    under 15 years: 1.007 male(s)/female
    15-64 years: 0.949 male(s)/female
    65 years and over: 0.676 male(s)/female
    total population: 0.965 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
    Infant mortality rate:total: 59.12 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 66.56 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 51.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
    Life expectancy at birth:total population: 57.86 years
    male: 55.81 years
    female: 59.96 years (2007 est.)
    Total fertility rate:4.9 children born/woman (2007 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:4.1% (2003 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:110,000 (2003 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - deaths:10,000 (2003 est.)
    Nationality:noun: Togolese (singular and plural)
    adjective: Togolese
    Ethnic groups:African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
    Religions:Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%
    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)
    Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and write
    total population: 60.9%
    male: 75.4%
    female: 46.9% (2003 est.)
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    Government
    Country name:conventional long form: Togolese Republic
    conventional short form: Togo
    local long form: Republique togolaise
    local short form: none
    former: French Togoland
    Government type:republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
    Capital:name: Lome
    geographic coordinates: 6 08 N, 1 13 E
    time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
    Administrative divisions:5 regions (regions, singular - region); Centrale, Kara, Maritime, Plateaux, Savanes
    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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
    Suffrage:NA years of age; universal (adult)
    Executive branch:chief of state: President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 6 February 2005); note - Gnassingbe EYADEMA died on 5 February 2005 and was succeeded by his son, Faure GNASSINGBE; popular elections in April 2005 validated the succession
    head of government: Prime Minister Yawovi AGBOYIBO (since 16 September 2006)
    cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the prime minister
    elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 24 April 2005 (next to be held by 2010); prime minister appointed by the president
    election results: Faure GNASSINGBE elected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE 60.2%, Emmanuel Akitani BOB 38.3%, Nicolas LAWSON 1%, Harry OLYMPIO 0.5%
    Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members are 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
    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]; 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 a Change or UFC [Gilchrist OLYMPIO]
    Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
    International organization participation:ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
    Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
    chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
    telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212
    FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190
    Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador David B. DUNN
    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
    Executive branch:chief of state: President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 6 February 2005); note - Gnassingbe EYADEMA died on 5 February 2005 and was succeeded by his son, Faure GNASSINGBE; popular elections in April 2005 validated the succession head of government: Prime Minister Yawovi AGBOYIBO (since 16 September 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 24 April 2005 (next to be held by 2010); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Faure GNASSINGBE elected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE 60.2%, Emmanuel Akitani BOB 38.3%, Nicolas LAWSON 1%, Harry OLYMPIO 0.5%
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    Economy
    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 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 working with donors to write a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) that could eventually lead to a debt reduction plan.
    GDP (purchasing power parity):$9.29 billion (2006 est.)
    GDP (official exchange rate):$2.089 billion (2006 est.)
    GDP - real growth rate:2% (2006 est.)
    GDP - per capita (PPP):$1,700 (2006 est.)
    GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 40%
    industry: 25%
    services: 35% (2003 est.)
    Labor force:1.302 million (1998)
    Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 65%
    industry: 5%
    services: 30% (1998 est.)
    Unemployment rate:NA%
    Population below poverty line:32% (1989 est.)
    Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%
    highest 10%: NA%
    Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.2% (2006 est.)
    Investment (gross fixed):21.8% of GDP (2006 est.)
    Budget:revenues: $392.3 million
    expenditures: $452.3 million (2006 est.)
    Public debt:
    Agriculture - products:coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish
    Industries:phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, beverages
    Industrial production growth rate:NA%
    Electricity - production:176 million kWh (2005)
    Electricity - consumption:576 million kWh (2005)
    Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2005)
    Electricity - imports:486 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by Ghana (2005)
    Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
    Oil - consumption:14,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
    Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
    Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
    Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (1 January 2006)
    Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2005 est.)
    Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2005 est.)
    Current account balance:$-134 million (2006 est.)
    Exports:$612 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
    Exports - commodities:reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa
    Exports - partners:Ghana 16.7%, Burkina Faso 14.4%, Benin 9.1%, Belgium 6.1%, Mali 5.8%, Germany 5.4%, India 4.6%, Netherlands 4.6% (2006)
    Imports:$1.04 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
    Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products
    Imports - partners:China 29.8%, UK 10.9%, France 8.9%, Netherlands 6%, Belgium 5.8%, US 4.6%, Estonia 4.2% (2006)
    Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$375 million (2006 est.)
    Debt - external:$2 billion (2005)
    Market value of publicly traded shares:$NA
    Currency (code):Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
    Exchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002)
    Fiscal year:calendar year
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    Communications
    Telephones - main lines in use:82,100 (2006)
    Telephones - mobile cellular:708,000 (2006)
    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
    international: country code - 228; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Symphonie
    Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998)
    Television broadcast stations:3 (plus 2 repeaters) (1997)
    Internet country code:.tg
    Internet hosts:702 (2007)
    Internet users:320,000 (2006)
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    Transportation
    Airports:9 (2007)
    Airports - with paved runways:total: 2
    2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2007)
    Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 2
    2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2007)
    Railways:total: 568 km
    narrow gauge: 568 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)
    Roadways:total: 7,520 km
    paved: 2,376 km
    unpaved: 5,144 km (1999)
    Waterways:50 km (seasonally on Mono River depending on rainfall) (2005)
    Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,918 GRT/3,852 DWT
    by type: cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1 (2007)
    Ports and terminals:Kpeme, Lome
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    Military
    Military branches:Togolese Armed Forces (FAT): Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie (2005)
    Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; 2-year service obligation (2006)
    Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,102,661
    females age 18-49: 1,124,463 (2005 est.)
    Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 696,933
    females age 18-49: 707,821 (2005 est.)
    Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.6% (2005 est.)
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    Source: CIA - The World Factbook

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