Togo

Togo (/ˈtoʊɡoʊ/ (listen)), officially the Togolese Republic (French: République togolaise), is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north.[8] It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, where its capital, Lomé, is located.[9] It covers about 57,000 square kilometres (22,000 square miles) with a population of approximately 8 million,[10] and has a width of less than 115 km (71 mi) between Ghana and its eastern neighbor Benin.[11][12]

Togolese Republic République togolaise (French)
Flag Emblem
Motto: "Travail, Liberté, Patrie"[1] (French) "Work, Liberty, Homeland"
Anthem: "Terre de nos aïeux" (French) (English: "Land of our ancestors")
Location of Togo (dark blue) in the African Union (light blue)
Capital and largest city	Lomé 6°8′N 1°13′E
Official languages	French
Recognised national languages	Ewe Kabiye
Spoken languages	List: Arabic English French German Ewe Gbe Gur Kwa Kabiye Talensi Wasa African French Aguna Aja Ngangam Ntcham Tammari Tem Ifè Yoruba
Ethnic groups	99% 37 African groups containing: Ewe, Kabye, Tem, Gourma, 1% European, Indian and Syro-Lebanese[2]
Religion (2020)	47.8% Christianity 33.0% Traditional faiths 18.4% Islam 0.5% Baha'i faith 0.3% Others / None[3]
Demonym(s)	Togolese
Government	Unitary dominant-party presidential republic
• President	Faure Gnassingbé
• Prime Minister	Victoire Tomegah Dogbé
Legislature	National Assembly
Independence  from France
• Independence granted	27 April 1960
Area
• Total	56,785 km2 (21,925 sq mi) (123rd)
• Water (%)	4.2
Population
• 2022 estimate	8,492,333[4] (102nd)
• Density	125.9/km2 (326.1/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2022 estimate
• Total	$22.7 billion [5] (151st)
• Per capita	$2,612 [5] (175th)
GDP (nominal)	2022 estimate
• Total	$8.5 billion [5] (157th)
• Per capita	$916[5] (170th)
Gini (2015)	43.1[6] medium
HDI (2021)	0.539[7] low · 162th
Currency	West African CFA franc (XOF)
Time zone	UTC (GMT)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+228
ISO 3166 code	TG
Internet TLD	.tg
Such as Ewe, Mina and Aja. Largest are the Ewe, Mina, Kotokoli Tem and Kabyè. Mostly European, Indian & Syrian-Lebanese. 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. Rankings based on 2017 figures (CIA World Factbook – "Togo")

From the 11th to the 16th century, tribes entered the region from various directions. From the 16th century to the 18th century, the coastal region was a trading center for Europeans to purchase slaves, earning Togo and the surrounding region the name "The Slave Coast". In 1884, Germany declared a region including a protectorate called Togoland. After World War I, rule over Togo was transferred to France. Togo gained its independence from France in 1960.[2][13] In 1967, Gnassingbé Eyadéma led a successful military coup d'état, after which he became president of an anti-communist, single-party state. In 1993, Eyadéma faced multiparty elections marred by irregularities, and won the presidency three times. At the time of his death, Eyadéma was the "longest-serving leader in modern African history", having been president for 38 years.[14] In 2005, his son Faure Gnassingbé was elected president.

Togo is a tropical, sub-Saharan nation[8] whose economy depends mostly on agriculture.[13] The official language is French,[13] but other languages are spoken, particularly those of the Gbe family. 47.8% of the population adhere to Christianity, making it the largest religion in the country.[15] Togo is a member of the United Nations, African Union, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, Francophonie, Commonwealth, and Economic Community of West African States.