Economic 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 important cash crop. togo is the world's fourth-largest producer of phosphate. 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 moved slowly. progress depends on follow through on privatization, increased openness in government financial operations, progress toward legislative elections, and continued support from foreign donors. togo is working with donors to write a poverty reduction and growth facility (prgf) that could eventually lead to a debt reduction plan. economic growth remains marginal due to declining cotton production, underinvestment in phosphate mining, and strained relations with donors.
Environmental 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
Government Type
Republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
Population
5,858,673
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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (july 2008 est.)
Location
Western africa, bordering the bight of benin, between benin and ghana
Area
Total: 56,785 sq km
land: 54,385 sq km
water: 2,400 sq km
Slightly smaller than west virginia
Country Aliases
Conventional long form: togolese republic
conventional short form: togo
local long form: republique togolaise
local short form: none
former: french togoland
Capital
Name: lome
geographic coordinates: 6 08 n, 1 13 e
time difference: utc 0 (5 hours ahead of washington, dc during standard time)
Military Service
18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; 2-year service obligation (2006)
International Disputes
In 2001, benin claimed togo moved boundary monuments - joint commission continues to resurvey the boundary; in 2006 14,000 togolese refugees remain in benin and ghana out of the 40,000 who fled there in 2005
Sources: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
