Fun facts general overview and information on Togo

General Information on Togo & Quick Overview

Gaining independence from France in 1960, the former French Togoland became known as Togo.

Eyadema, a military ruler took charge in 1967, and as of 2003 remained as Africa's longest-serving Chief of State.

Multiparty elections began in the 1990s, but the Rally of the Togolese People party that has held power virtually continually from 1967 continues to do so.

International organizations accuse Togo of human rights abuses and most international aid to Togo has been withheld by donors.

Geographical statistics & Information on Togo

Geographical Position: Togo is in West Africa, and sits on the Bight of Benin. It is located between Ghana and Benin. Map Ref Latitude & Longitude 9 degrees 00 North, 1 degrees 10 East Total Land & Sea Area: Total57,000 square kilometres Sea Area 2,500 square kilometres land area 54,500 square kilometres Land boundaries Total1,650 kilometres border countries Benin 650 kilometres, Burkina Faso 125 kilometres, Ghana 880 kilometres Coastal Length 50 kilometres

Climatological Conditions & information on Togo

Togo’s climate is tropical; hot, wet, humid in southern regions and dry and semiarid in northern areas.

Terrain Features

Terrain in Togo is undulating savanna in northern regions; in the centre the terrain is hilly; whiel to th south the land is a plateau; Towards the coast are low, rolling plains with large areas of lagoons and swampy marshland. Highest & Lowest Elevations: Lowest elevationAtlantic Ocean at sea level Highest elevation Mont Agou 985 metres Country’s natural resources Phosphate deposits, limestone deposits, marble deposits, arable land

Land use

Ploughable land area 41 percent permanent crops 2 percent other: 57 percent (1998 estimate) Irrigated land area 75 square kilometres (1998 estimate) Hazardous Natural phenomena Hot, dry and sometimes dusty harmattan wind can reduce visibility in northern regions during winter months; periodic water shortages and droughts.

Geographical Point of Interest

A long, thin country Togo spans 6 distinct geographical regions with the climate varying from tropical in the south to savanna in the north.

People-Information on Togo

Population 5,430,000 Age structure under 15 years: 44 percent 15 to 64 years54 percent Over 652 percent Median age of population Total17 years male: 16 years female: 18 years (2002) Population growth rate 2 percent (2003 estimate) Birth rate 35 births per thousand population (2003 estimate) mortality rate 11 deaths per thousand population (2003 estimate) Net rate of migration 0 migrant(s) per thousand population (2003 estimate) Infant mortality rate Total68 deaths per thousand live births female: 60 deaths per thousand live births (2003 estimate) male: 76 deaths per thousand live births Life expectancy at birth total population: 53 years male: 51 years female: 55 years (2003 estimate) Total fertility rate 5 children born/woman (2003 estimate)

Nationality

Togolese

Ethnic groups

African 99 percent, others 1 percent.

Religious information on Togo

Indigenous religious beliefs 50 percent, Christian 28 percent, Muslim/Islamic faith 22 percent.

Languages & Linguistic Groupings

French, Ewe, Mina, Kabiye, Dagombah

Literacy definition People over the age of 15 years that are literate (can read & write): total population: 61 percent male: 75 percent female: 47 percent (2003 estimate)

Government information on Togo

Country name Togolese Republic Government type Republic Capital city Lome Independence April 27th 1960 National holiday Independence Day 27 April Constitution 1992 Legal system Based on French Civil Law

Electoral & Voting System

Universal vote for adults Executive branch Head of StatePresident
Chief of Government:Prime Minister
Cabinet: President and Prime minister appoint a Council of Ministers.

Legislative branch Unicameral National Assembly

Economy information on Togo

Small scale agriculture much of it subsistence provides labout for sixty-five percent of the Togolese labour force, but basic foodstuffs are still imported.

Cotton is the biggest cash generator and with coffee and cocoa generates forty percent of the country’s export receipts.

Togo is the 4th biggest phosphate producer in the world.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Purchasing power parity - $USD7.500 billion (2002 estimate) Gross Domestic Product - actual growth rate 3 percent (2002 estimate) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - per head of population: $USD1,000 (2002 estimate) Gross Domestic Product - composition by sector agriculture 40 percent industry20 percent services40 percent (2001 estimate) Population below poverty line 30 percent (1989 estimate)

Rate of inflation 5 percent (2002 estimate) Labour force 2 million (1996) Labour force - by occupation agriculture 60 percent, industry 8 percent, services 32 percent (1998 estimate)

Budget information on Togo

Incomes $USD230 million spending $USD250 million Industries Phosphate mining, farm produce processing, cement, textiles, apparel, tea, coffee, cocoa Agriculture - products Coffee, cotton, cocoa, root crops and tubers, maize, corn, grains, legumes, livestock, meats, fish & fish products.

Exports

$USD450 million . (2002) Exports - commodities Cotton, phosphate, cocoa, coffee, Exports - partners Ghana 18 percent, Benin 13 percent, Burkina Faso 8 percent, Philippines 5 percent, Niger 4.1 percent (2002)

Imports

$USD560 million . (2002) Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, processed foodstuffs, fuel products Imports -most important trading partners France 21 percent, China 16 percent, Netherlands 6.percent, Germany 5 percent, United Kingdom 5 percent, Italy 4 percent (2002)

Foreign Indebtedness

$USD1 billion (2000) National Currency Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); Currency Abbreviation XOF

Communications information on Togo

Telephones landlines 30,000 (1997) Radio broadcast stations Amplitude Modulation 3, Frequency Modulation 10, shortwave 5 (1998) Television broadcast stations 5 Internet country code .tg

Transportation in & travel information on Togo

Railroad networks Total500 kilometres Roading System Total7,500 kilometres Airports & airfields 10 (2002)

Military information on Togo

Military spending - $USD24 million (Fiscal Year02) Military spending : percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 2 percent (Fiscal Year02)

International Issues Togo Disputes - international Boundary dispute with Benin.

You know now all the facts & information on Togo – find out a bit about the French speaking countries’ history.

More information on Togo, a French-speaking nation
History of French speaking countries | Flag of Togo | Map of Togo | Learn French in Togo |

Facts on Togo
Source: All info sourced and adapted from CIA Factbook
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