1.
[syn: Togo, Togolese Republic]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Togo
n 1: a republic on the western coast of Africa on the Gulf of
Guinea; formerly under French control [syn: Togo,
Togolese Republic]
CIA World Factbook 2002:
Togo
Introduction Togo
-----------------
Background: French Togoland became Togo in 1960.
General Gnassingbe EYADEMA,
installed as military ruler in 1967,
is Africa's longest-serving head of
state. Despite the facade of
multiparty elections instituted in
the early 1990s, the government
continues to be dominated by
President EYADEMA, whose Rally of
the Togolese People (RPT) party has
maintained power almost continually
since 1967. In addition, Togo has
come under fire from international
organizations for human rights
abuses and is plagued by political
unrest. Most bilateral and
multilateral aid to Togo remains
frozen.
Geography Togo
--------------
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight
of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 1 10 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 56,785 sq km
water: 2,400 sq km
land: 54,385 sq km
Area - comparative: 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: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 30 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: 41.37%
permanent crops: 1.84%
other: 56.79% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 70 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce
visibility in north during winter;
periodic droughts
Environment - current 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
Environment - international party to: Biodiversity, Climate
agreements: Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of
the selected agreements
Geography - note: the country's length allows it to
stretch through six distinct
geographic regions; climate varies
from tropical to savanna
People Togo
-----------
Population: 5,285,501
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 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45.1% (male 1,195,052;
female 1,187,014)
15-64 years: 52.4% (male 1,351,345;
female 1,420,617)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male
56,270; female 75,203) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.48% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 36.11 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 11.3 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/
female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 69.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.02 years
female: 56.07 years (2002 est.)
male: 52.03 years
Total fertility rate: 5.14 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 5.98% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ 130,000 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 14,000 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Togolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Togolese
Ethnic groups: native African (37 tribes; largest
and most important are Ewe, Mina,
and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-
Lebanese less than 1%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian
29%, Muslim 20%
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: 51.7%
male: 67%
female: 37% (1995 est.)
Government Togo
---------------
Country name: conventional long form: Togolese
Republic
conventional short form: Togo
local short form: none
former: French Togoland
local long form: Republique
Togolaise
Government type: republic under transition to
multiparty democratic rule
Capital: Lome
Administrative divisions: 5 regions (regions, singular -
region); De La Kara, Des Plateaux,
Des Savanes, Centrale, Maritime
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
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch: chief of state: President Gen.
Gnassingbe EYADEMA (since 14 April
1967)
head of government: Prime Minister
Agbeyome KODJO (since 29 August
2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
appointed by the president and the
prime minister
elections: president elected by
popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 21 June 1998
(next to be held NA 2003); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Gnassingbe EYADEMA
reelected president; percent of vote
- Gnassingbe EYADEMA 52.13%,
Gilchrist OLYMPIO 34.12%, other
13.75%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (81
seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 21 March 1999
(next was tentatively scheduled for
March 2002, however, it was
postponed with no new date given)
note: Togo's main opposition parties
boycotted the election because of
EYADEMA's alleged manipulation of
1998 presidential polling; in March
of 1999, opposition parties entered
into negotiations with the president
over the establishment of an
independent electoral commission and
a new round of legislative elections
election results: percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - RPT
79, independents 2
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]; Coordination des
Forces Nouvelles or CFN [Joseph
KOFFIGOH]; Democratic Convention of
African Peoples or CDPA [Leopold
GNININVI]; Party for Democracy and
Renewal or PDR [Zarifou AYEVA];
Patriotic Pan-African Convergence or
CPP [Edem KODJO]; Rally of the
Togolese People or RPT [President
Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA]; Union of
Forces for Change or UFC [Gilchrist
OLYMPIO (in exile), Jean Pierre
FABRE, general secretary in Togo];
Union of Independent Liberals or ULI
[Jacques AMOUZOU]
note: Rally of the Togolese People
or RPT, led by President EYADEMA,
was the only party until the
formation of multiple parties was
legalized 12 April 1991
Political pressure groups and NA
leaders:
International organization ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS,
participation: Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, ITU, MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Akoussoulelou BODJONA
FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212
chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador Karl
US: HOFMANN
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
Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of green
(top and bottom) alternating with
yellow; there is a white five-
pointed star on a red square in the
upper hoist-side corner; uses the
popular pan-African colors of
Ethiopia
Economy Togo
------------
Economy - overview: 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 significant cash crop
despite falling prices on the world
market. Political unrest, including
private and public sector strikes
throughout 1992 and 1993,
jeopardized the reform program,
shrunk the tax base, and disrupted
vital economic activity. The 12
January 1994 devaluation of the XOF
currency by 50% provided an
important impetus to renewed
structural adjustment. In the
industrial sector, phosphate mining
is by far the most important
activity. Togo is the world's fourth
largest producer, and geological
advantages keep production costs
low. The recently privatized mining
operation, Office Togolais des
Phosphates (OTP), is slowly
recovering from a steep fall in
prices in the early 1990's, but
continues to face the challenge of
tough foreign competition,
exacerbated by weakening demand.
Togo serves as a regional commercial
and trade center. It continues to
expand its duty-free export-
processing zone (EPZ), launched in
1989, which has attracted
enterprises from France, Italy,
Scandinavia, the US, India, and
China and created jobs for Togolese
nationals. 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 stalled. Progress depends on
following through on privatization,
increased openness in government
financial operations, progress
towards legislative elections, and
possible downsizing of the military,
on which the regime has depended to
stay in place. Lack of large-scale
foreign aid, deterioration of the
financial sector, energy shortages,
and depressed commodity prices
continue to constrain economic
growth. The takeover of the national
power company by a Franco-Canadian
consortium in 2000 should ease the
energy crisis.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.6
billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.2% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,500
(2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 42%
industry: 21%
services: 37% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 32% (1989 est.)
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 1.74 million (1996)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry 5%,
services 30% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $232 million
expenditures: $252 million,
including capital expenditures of
$NA (1997 est.)
Industries: phosphate mining, agricultural
processing, cement; handicrafts,
textiles, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 97 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 97.94%
other: 0% (2000)
hydro: 2.06%
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 525.21 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 435 million kWh
note: electricity supplied by Ghana
(2000)
Agriculture - products: coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava
(tapioca), corn, beans, rice,
millet, sorghum; livestock; fish
Exports: $306 million (f.o.b., 2001)
Exports - commodities: cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa
Exports - partners: Benin 12%, Nigeria 9%, Belgium 5%,
Ghana 4% (2000)
Imports: $420 million (f.o.b., 2001)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs,
petroleum products
Imports - partners: Ghana 26%, France 11%, China 7%,
Cote d'Ivoire 7% (2000)
Debt - external: $1.5 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $201.1 million (1995)
Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine
franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the
West African States
Currency code: XOF
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine
francs (XOF) per US dollar - 741.79
(January 2002), 733.04 (2001),
711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95
(1998), 583.67 (1997); note - from 1
January 1999, the XOF is pegged to
the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF
per euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Togo
-------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 25,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2,995 (1997)
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; cellular system has capacity
of 10,000 telephones
international: satellite earth
stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean) and 1 Symphonie
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios: 940,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (plus two repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 73,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .tg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (2001)
Internet users: 20,000 (2001)
Transportation Togo
-------------------
Railways: total: 525 km
narrow gauge: 525 km 1.000-m gauge
(2001)
Highways: total: 7,520 km
paved: 2,376 km
unpaved: 5,144 km (1996)
Waterways: 50 km (Mono river)
Ports and harbors: Kpeme, Lome
Merchant marine: total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 2,603 GRT/2,800 DWT
ships by type: specialized tanker 1
note: includes a foreign-owned ship
registered here as a flag of
convenience: Greece 1 (2002 est.)
Airports: 9 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 2 (2001)
Military Togo
-------------
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,220,758 (2002
est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 640,280 (2002 est.)
service:
Military expenditures - dollar $21.9 million (FY01)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 1.8% (FY01)
GDP:
Transnational Issues Togo
-------------------------
Disputes - international: Benin accuses Togo of moving
boundary markers and stationing
troops in its territory
Illicit drugs: transit hub for Nigerian heroin and
cocaine traffickers