Country Guide • Togo
Togo is located in West Africa and shares its borders with Burkina Faso to the north, Benin to the east and Ghana to the west, with a short coast on the Atlantic in the south. The country is a narrow strip, rising behind coastal lagoons and swampy plains to an undulating plateau.
Official Name | Republic of Togo |
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Area | 56,785km² (21,925mile²) |
Population | 5,429,000 |
Continent | Africa |
Population per mile² | 247 |
Capital City | Lomé |
Religions | Indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 29%, Muslim 20% |
Language | 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) |
Government | Republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule |
Currency | Cfa Franc (CommunautÉ Financiaire Africaine) |
GDP | $8 billion |
GDP per Head | $1,500 |
Natural Resources | Phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land |
Land Use | Arable Land 41.37% |
Agriculture | Coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum, various livestock and fish |
Industry | Phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement; handicrafts, textiles, beverages |
Tourism | Although one of the smaller African countries Toga attracts its fair share of visitors. Its capital city, Lomé, (with its fetish market, with intriguing voodoo charms, lotions and potions, is an interesting place to wander) and the beaches that surround it are the big draws for most tourists, while those who push farther off the beaten track can see its unique village cultures and the vivacity of their markets and festivals |
Natural Hazards | Hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts |
Health Risks | HIV/AIDS, Yellow fever, cholera, malaria, schistosomiasis and other waterborne diseases |
Climate | Togo has a tropical climate, from December to January, the Harmattan wind blows from the north. The rainy season lasts from April to July. Short rains occur from October to November. The driest and hottest months are February and March. Average annual rainfall is 40 inches in the north and 70 inches in the west, south west and centre. The average annual temperature in Lome is 27°C throughout the year |
Time | GMT/UTC- No UTC/GMT offset |
National Days | April 27 - Independence Day |
Visas | Everyone except nationals of the member countries of ECOWAS must have a visa to visit Togo. Proof of yellow-fever vaccination is required for entry at the airport, though it's not usually checked at land crossings |
British Embassy | Embassy Details |
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