Profile
Background and figures as recorded in the CIA World Factbook.
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. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA, installed as military ruler in 1967, ruled Togo with a heavy hand for almost four decades.
- Capital
- Lome
- Government
- presidential republic
- Population
- 9,143,439
- Area
- 56,785 sq km
- Location
- Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
- Climate
- tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
- Natural resources
- phosphates; limestone; marble; arable land
- 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%…
- Independence
- 27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
- Administrative divisions
- 5 regions (régions, singular - région); Centrale, Kara, Maritime, Plateaux, Savanes
- Currency
- Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF)
- Export partners
- UAE 40%; India 13%; Angola 13%; Burkina Faso 4%…
- Import partners
- China 26%; India 26%; Belgium 6%; Netherlands 6%…
Source: CIA World Factbook — a work of the US government, in the public domain