Togo (GPS: 8 00 N, 1 10 E) located in Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana. The country’s area measurements are total: 56,785 sq km; land: 54,385 sq km, water: 2,400 sq km. This sovereign state is slightly smaller than West Virginia. The total irrigated land is 70 sq km (2012).
Togo’s essential features: The country’s length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions. The climate varies from tropical to savanna.
It’s significant, and at the same time, the principal city, Lome’s GPS coordinates are 6 07 N 1 13 E. Lome’s local time is 5 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time. The capital’s time difference: UTC 0.
For more information on Togo, please scroll down below the Google Maps.
Google Maps Togo and Lome, Africa
About Togo in detail
Flag of Togo
Map of Togo
French Togoland became Togo in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA, installed as military ruler in 1967, ruled Togo with a heavy hand for almost four decades. Despite the facade of multi-party elections instituted in the early 1990s, the government was largely dominated by President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has been in power almost continually since 1967 and its successor, the Union for the Republic, maintains a majority of seats in today’s legislature. Upon EYADEMA’s death in February 2005, the military-installed the president’s son, Faure GNASSINGBE, and then engineered his formal election two months later.
Democratic gains since then allowed Togo to hold its first relatively free and fair legislative elections in October 2007. Since 2007, President GNASSINGBE has started the country along a gradual path to democratic reform. Togo has since held multiple presidential and legislative elections generally deemed free and fair by international observers. Despite those positive moves, political reconciliation has moved slowly, and the country experiences periodic outbursts of violent protests by frustrated citizens. Recent constitutional changes to institute a runoff system in presidential elections and establish term limits has not reduced the resentment many Togolese feel after over 50 years of one-family rule.
Togo’s names conventional long form: the Togolese Republic, traditional short way: Togo, local extended state: Republique Togolaise, local short form: none, former: French Togoland, etymology: derived from the Ewe words “to” (water) and “go” (shore) to give the sense of “by the water”; originally, this designation applied to the town of Togo (now Togoville) on the northern shore of Lake Togo, but the name was eventually extended to the entire nation. Derived from the Ewe words “to” (river) and “good” (on the other side) to give the sense of “on the other side of the river”; Originally, this designation applied to the town of Togodo (now Togoville) on the northern shore of Lake Togo, but the name was eventually extended to the entire nation.
Togo’s terrain is typically gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes. The country’s mean elevation: 236 m, elevation extremes; lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m, highest point: Mont Agou 986 m.
The country’s general climate is tropical: hot, humid in the south: semiarid in the north.
The total number of border countries is 3, Benin 651 km, Burkina Faso 131 km, Ghana 1,098 km are the neighboring nations with the indicated border lengths. Togo’s coastline is 56 km, while its marital claims are: territorial sea: 30 nautical miles, exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles. Waterways: 50 km (seasonally navigable by small craft on the Mono River depending on rainfall) (2011). Land use: agricultural land: 67.4%; arable land 45.2%; permanent crops 3.8%; permanent pasture 18.4%; forest: 4.9%; other: 27.7% (2011 estimate).
The population in Togo 8,176,449 (July 2018 estimate), urban population: 40% of total population (2015), major urban area’s population: LOME (capital) 956,000 (2015), while Togo has N/A. Their spoken languages are French (official language, 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). Main religions in Togo are Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%. The nation uses customary law system. It is a(n) presidential republic, National holiday(s) Independence Day, 27 April (1960).
Economic overview for the country: Togo has enjoyed a period of steady economic growth fueled by political stability and a concerted effort by the government to modernize the country’s commercial infrastructure, but discontent with President Faure GNASSINGBE has led to a rapid rise in protests, creating downside risks. The state completed an ambitious large-scale infrastructure improvement program, including new principal roads, a new airport terminal, and a new seaport. The economy depends heavily on commercial and subsistence agriculture, employing around 60% of the labor force.
Some basic foodstuffs must still be imported. Cocoa, coffee, cotton, and other agricultural products generate about 20% of export earnings, with cotton being the most important cash crop. Togo is among the world’s largest phosphate producers and seeks to develop its carbonate phosphate reserves, which provide more than 20% of export earnings. Supported by the World Bank and the IMF, the government’s decade-long effort to implement economic reform measures, encourage foreign investment, and bring revenues in line with expenditures has moved slowly.
Togo completed its IMF Extended Credit Facility in 2011 and reached a Heavily Indebted Poor Country debt relief completion point in 2010, at which 95% of the country’s debt was forgiven. Togo continues to work with the IMF on structural reforms, and in January 2017, the IMF signed an Extended Credit Facility arrangement consisting of a three-year $238 million loan package. Progress depends on privatization, increased transparency in government financial operations, progress toward legislative elections, and continued support from foreign donors. Togo’s 2017 economic growth probably remained steady at 5.0%, primarily driven by infusions of foreign aid, infrastructure investment in its port and mineral industry, and improvements in the business climate. Foreign direct investment inflows have slowed in recent years.
Natural resources of Togo: phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land.
Main export partners for Togo, Africa are India 14.6%, Burkina Faso 11.3%, China 11.3%, Benin 9.6%, Ghana 9%, Lebanon 8.3%, Nigeria 6.1%, Niger 5.9% (2015) for re-exports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa, while the main import partners for the country are: China 22.9%, Belgium 20.3%, Netherlands 11.9%, France 6.6%, India 4.8%, Singapore 4.4% (2015) for machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products.
When you visit this country in Africa, consider the natural hazards in Togo: Hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in the north during winter, periodic droughts, while infectious diseases are a degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis water contact disease: schistosomiasis animal contact disease: rabies (2016). Also, note that Togo faces the following environmental issues: Deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel, Tiny rain forest still present and what remains is highly degraded, Desertification, water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the fishing industry, Air pollution increasing in urban areas.
You may also be interested in the countries next to Togo around its total: 1,880 km border, like Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana.
