Togo - Geography

Here, let us take a look at the Geography of Togo. The country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna. Mother's mean age at first birth is 25 years (2017 est.) (Note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29), whereas, the Maternal mortality ratio is 399 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Geographical data of Togo
Location Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
Geographic coordinates 8 00 N, 1 10 E
Map references Africa
Tarrain 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
Irrigated Land 70 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Major aquifers
Land Boundaries 1,880 km
Border Countries Benin 651 km; Burkina Faso 131 km; Ghana 1,098 km
Coastline 56 km
Climate tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Area
Total Area
Land Area 54,385 sq km
Water Area 2,400 sq km
comparative Area slightly smaller than West Virginia
Maritime Claims
Territorial sea 30 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim
Exclusive economic zone 200 nm
Elevations
Highest point Mont Agou 986 m
Lowest point Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation 236 m
Land Use
Agricultural land 67.4% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land arable land: 45.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops permanent crops: 3.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture permanent pasture: 18.4% (2018 est.)
Forest 4.9% (2018 est.)
Other 27.7% (2018 est.)
Population Distribution

One of the more densely populated African nations with most of the population residing in rural communities, density is highest in the south on or near the Atlantic coast as shown in this population distribution map

People and Society

In Togo, the different Ethnic groups are such that we have: 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.)

Population
Pop growth rate 2.41% (2024 est.)
Birth rate 30.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Death rate 5.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Health expenditure 6% of GDP (2020)
Physicians Density
Hospital bed Density 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Total fertility rate 4.13 children born/woman (2024 est.)
Gross reproduction rate 2.03 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate 23.9% (2017)
Est married women (ages 15-49) 62% (2023 est.)
Literacy age 15 and over can read and write
Education expenditures 4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Net Migration rate -1.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Nationality Togolese | Togolese (singular and plural)
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%, Buddhist <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, none 6.2% (2020 est.)
Age Structure
0-14 years 38.7% (male 1,749,533/female 1,699,084)
15-64 years 57% (male 2,486,142/female 2,597,914)
65 years and over 4.3% (2024 est.) (male 159,596/female 225,725)
Dependency Ratios
Total dependency ratio 76.5
Youth dependency ratio 71
Elderly dependency ratio 5.5
Potential support ratio 18.3 (2021 est.)
Median Age
Total 20.7 years (2024 est.)
Male 19.9 years
Female 21.4 years
Urbanization
Urban population 44.5% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization 3.6% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas (Pop) 1.982 million LOME (capital) (2023).
Sex Ratio
At birth 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over 0.71 male(s)/female
Total population 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant Motality
Total 38.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male 43 deaths/1,000 live births
Female 33.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy at birth
Total population 72.1 years (2024 est.)
Male 69.5 years
Female 74.7 years
Drinking Water Sources
Improved: urban urban: 93.8% of population
Improved: rural rural: 60.3% of population
Improved: total total: 74.6% of population
Unimproved: urban urban: 6.2% of population
Unimproved: rural rural: 39.7% of population
Unimproved: total total: 25.4% of population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility acess
Improved: urban urban: 81.9% of population
Improved: rural rural: 18.3% of population
Improved: total total: 45.5% of population
Unimproved: urban urban: 18.1% of population
Unimproved: rural rural: 81.7% of population
Unimproved: total total: 54.5% of population (2020 est.)
Major Infectious diseases
Degree of risk very high (2023)
Food or waterborne diseases bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases malaria, dengue fever, and sexually transmitted diseases: hepatitis B (2024)
Water contact diseases schistosomiasis
Animal contact diseases rabies
Respiratory diseases meningococcal meningitis
Alcohol consumption per capita
Total 1.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Beer 0.78 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits 0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols 0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use
Total 6.8% (2020 est.)
Male 12.3% (2020 est.)
Female 1.2% (2020 est.)
Child marriage
Women married by age 15 6.4%
Women married by age 18 24.8%
Men married by age 18 2.6% (2017 est.)
Demographic profile

Togo’s population is estimated to have grown to four times its size between 1960 and 2010. With nearly 60% of its populace under the age of 25 and a high annual growth rate attributed largely to high fertility, Togo’s population is likely to continue to expand for the foreseeable future. Reducing fertility, boosting job creation, and improving education will be essential to reducing the country’s high poverty rate. In 2008, Togo eliminated primary school enrollment fees, leading to higher enrollment but increased pressure on limited classroom space, teachers, and materials. Togo has a good chance of achieving universal primary education, but educational quality, the underrepresentation of girls, and the low rate of enrollment in secondary and tertiary schools remain concerns.

Togo is both a country of emigration and asylum. In the early 1990s, southern Togo suffered from the economic decline of the phosphate sector and ethnic and political repression at the hands of dictator Gnassingbe EYADEMA and his northern, Kabye-dominated administration. The turmoil led 300,000 to 350,000 predominantly southern Togolese to flee to Benin and Ghana, with most not returning home until relative stability was restored in 1997. In 2005, another outflow of 40,000 Togolese to Benin and Ghana occurred when violence broke out between the opposition and security forces over the disputed election of EYADEMA’s son Faure GNASSINGBE to the presidency. About half of the refugees reluctantly returned home in 2006, many still fearing for their safety. Despite ethnic tensions and periods of political unrest, Togo in December 2022 was home to almost 8,400 refugees from Ghana.

All Important Facts about Togo

Want to know more about Togo? Check all different factbooks for Togo below.

Togo is found in Western Africa