Map of Togo
Togo is a country in Africa with its capital at Lomé, home to about 8.59 million people across 56,785 km². The interactive map below plots 7 cities and towns, 1 rivers, 1 mountain summits and 2 ports recorded for Togo in YearMaps.
- Population
- 8.59 million
- Area
- 56,785 km²
- Capital
- Lomé
- Continent
- Africa
Interactive Map of Togo
Centred on Lomé at 6.1339° N, 1.2208° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It is one of the least developed countries in the world. It extends north from the Gulf of Guinea (where its capital, Lomé, is located) to the Burkina Faso-Togo border. It is a small, tropical country, spanning 57,000 square kilometres (22,000 square miles) with a population of approximately 8 million. It has a width of less than 115 km (71 mi) between Ghana and its eastern neighbour Benin.
Various people settled the boundaries of present-day Togo between the 11th and 16th centuries. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, the coastal region served primarily as a European slave trading outpost, earning Togo and the surrounding region the name "The Slave Coast". In 1884, during the scramble for Africa, Germany established a protectorate in the region called Togoland. After World War I, Togo was transferred to France with its contemporary borders. Togo gained independence from France in 1960. In 1967, Gnassingbé Eyadéma led a successful military coup d'état and 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. In 2005, his son Faure Gnassingbé was elected president.
Togo is a tropical, sub-Saharan nation whose economy depends mostly on agriculture. The official language is French, while the two national languages are Kabiye and Ewe. Other languages are also spoken, particularly those of the Gbe family. Christians represent roughly half of the population (49.2%), followed by Muslims and adherents of traditional religions. Togo is a member of the United Nations, African Union, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, Francophonie, Commonwealth of Nations, and Economic Community of West African States.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Togo (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Togo
From the 11th to the 16th centuries, various ethnic groups settled the Togo region. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, the coastal region became a major trading center for enslaved people, and the surrounding region took on the name of "The Slave Coast." In 1884, Germany declared the area a protectorate called Togoland, which included present-day Togo. After World War I, colonial rule over Togo was transferred to France. French Togoland became Togo upon independence 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, EYADEMA largely dominated the government. His Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has been in power almost continually since 1967, with its successor, the Union for the Republic, maintaining a majority of seats in today's legislature. Upon EYADEMA's death in 2005, the military installed his son, Faure GNASSINGBE, as president and then engineered his formal election two months later. Togo held its first relatively free and fair legislative elections in 2007. Since then, GNASSINGBE has started the country along a gradual path to democratic reform. Togo has held multiple presidential and legislative elections, and in 2019, the country held its first local elections in 32 years. Despite those positive moves, political reconciliation has moved slowly, and the country experiences periodic outbursts of protests from frustrated citizens, leading to violence between security forces and protesters. Constitutional changes in 2019 to institute a runoff system in presidential elections and to establish term limits have done little to reduce the resentment many Togolese feel after more than 50 years of one-family rule. GNASSINGBE became eligible for his current fourth term and one additional fifth term under the new rules. The next presidential election is set for 2025.
- Location
- Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana.
- 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.
- Highest point
- Mont Agou 986 m.
- Lowest point
- Atlantic Ocean 0 m.
- Coastline
- 56 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 1,880 km; border countries: Benin 651 km; Burkina Faso 131 km; Ghana 1,098 km.
- Natural resources
- Phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 70.2% (2023 est.); arable land: 48.7% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 3.1% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 18.4% (2023 est.); forest: 22.4% (2023 est.); other: 7.4% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts.
- Geographic note
- Stretches through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna.
- Languages
- French (official, language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (in the north)
- Religions
- Christian 42.3%, folk religion 36.9%, Muslim 14%, Hindu <1%, Buddhist <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, none 6.2% (2020 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Adja-Ewe/Mina 42.4%, Kabye/Tem 25.9%, Para-Gourma/Akan 17.1%, Akposso/Akebu 4.1%, Ana-Ife 3.2%, other Togolese 1.7%, foreigners 5.2%, no response 0.4% (2013-14 est.)
- Economy
- Low-income West African economy; primarily agrarian economy; has a deep-water port; growing international shipping locale; improving privatization and public budgeting transparency; key phosphate mining industry; extremely high rural poverty.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Togo in Numbers
- Population
- 8.59 million
- GDP
- US$11.9 billion
- GDP per person
- US$1,384
- Life expectancy
- 62.9 years
- Population growth
- 2.18% a year
- Population density
- 155 per km²
- Urban population
- 44.4%
- Surface area
- 56,785 km²
- Forest cover
- 22.5%
- Arable land
- 48.7%
- Access to electricity
- 61.1%
- Internet users
- 39.5%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Togo in Depth
History
Archaeological finds indicate that societies were able to produce pottery and process iron. The name Togo is translated from the Ewe language as "behind the river". During the period from the 11th century to the 16th century, the Ewé entered the area from the west, and the Mina and Gun from the east. Most of them settled on the coast. The Atlantic slave trade began in the 16th century, and for the next two hundred years the coastal region was a trading centre for Europeans in search of slaves, earning Togo and the surrounding region the name "The Slave Coast".
In 1884, a paper was forcibly signed at Togoville with King Mlapa III, whereby Germany claimed a protectorate over a stretch of territory along the coast and gradually extended its control inland.
Geography
Togo has an area equal to 56,785 km2 (21,925 sq mi). It borders the Bight of Benin in the south; Ghana lies to the west; Benin to the east; and to the north, it is bound by Burkina Faso. North of the equator, it lies mostly between latitudes 6° and 11°N, and longitudes 0° and 2°E.
The coast of Togo in the Gulf of Guinea is 56 km (35 mi) long and consists of lagoons with sandy beaches. In the north, the land is characterised by a rolling savannah in contrast to the centre of the country, which is characterised by hills. The south of Togo is characterised by a savannah and woodland plateau which reaches a coastal plain with lagoons and marshes. The highest mountain of the country is the Mont Agou at 986 metres (3,235 ft) above sea level.
Economy
The country possesses phosphate deposits and an export sector based on agricultural products such as coffee, cocoa bean, and peanuts (groundnuts), which together generate roughly 30% of export earnings. Cotton is a cash crop. The fertile land occupies 11.3% of the country, most of which is developed. Some crops are cassava, jasmine rice, maize and millet. Some other sectors are brewery and the textile industry. Low market prices for Togo's major export commodities coupled with the volatile political situation of the 1990s and 2000s had a negative effect on the economy.
It is listed in the least developed country group. It serves as a regional commercial and trade centre.
Demographics
The November 2010 census gave Togo a population of 6,191,155, more than double the total counted in the last census; in 2022 the Togo population was 8,680,832. That census, taken in 1981, showed the nation had a population of 2,719,567. The capital, Lomé, grew from 375,499 in 1981 to 837,437 in 2010. When the urban population of surrounding Golfe prefecture is added, the Lomé Agglomeration contained 1,477,660 residents in 2010.
Other cities in Togo according to the new census were Sokodé (95,070), Kara (94,878), Kpalimé (75,084), Atakpamé (69,261), Dapaong (58,071) and Tsévié (54,474).
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Togo (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Togo: Key Facts
| Currency | West African CFA franc |
|---|---|
| Official language | French |
| Head of state | Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové |
| Head of government | Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé |
| Calling code | +228 |
| Internet domain | .tg |
| Highest point | Mount Agou |
| Lowest point | Bight of Benin |
| Established | 27 April 1960 |
Facts from Wikidata Q945 (CC0).
History of Togo: Empires and States
The atlas records 7 polities whose mapped territory included part of Togo, from Oyo Empire in 1752 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Oyo Empire | 1752–1835 CE | A large part |
| German Africa | 1885–1914 CE | Nearly all |
| French Third Republic | 1915–1939 CE | Nearly all |
| French Africa | 1915–1957 CE | Nearly all |
| The French Colonial Empire | 1915–1957 CE | Nearly all |
| French Fourth Republic | 1945–1957 CE | Nearly all |
| Togo | 1960–2024 CE | Nearly all |
Historical Maps of Togo
Togo on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Togo
Togo is a narrow country in West Africa, sandwiched between Ghana on the west and Benin on the east. It is a charming country, mostly due to its charming people as there are not many tourist attractions. Wedged in its skinny size, Togo boasts a deep spiritual heritage and striking sun-drenched landscapes.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Togo (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Togo
7 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lomé | 1.45 million | Maritime | National capital |
| 2 | Sokodé | 117,811 | Centre | Admin-1 capital |
| 3 | Kpalimé | 100,479 | Plateaux | Admin-1 capital |
| 4 | Atakpamé | 80,683 | Plateaux | Populated place |
| 5 | Bassar | 61,845 | Kara | Admin-1 capital |
| 6 | Mango | 42,626 | Savanes | Populated place |
| 7 | Sotouboua | 21,054 | Centre | Admin-1 capital |
Highest Mountains in Togo
1 mountain recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mont Agou | 968 m | 3,176 ft | Africa |
Mont Agou
Mountain · 968 m
Mont Agou is a mountain rising to 968 metres (3,176 ft) in Togo, in the Africa region.
Mount Agou (French: Mont Agou, earlier known as Baumannspitze or Baumann Peak) is the highest mountain in Togo at 986 metres (3,235 ft). It is situated to the south east of Kpalimé in the Plateaux Region of Togo. The mountain lies close to the border with Ghana; this country can be seen from the summit.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Mount Agou (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 968 m (3,176 ft)
- Global rank
- #560 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Africa (#81)
- Country
- Togo
- Coordinates
- 6.8783°, 0.7573°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Mont Agou ranks #560 by elevation, below Mount Anglem (980 m) and above Mont Tremblant (968 m).
- Ranges:
- Guinea Highlands (Africa), Loma Mountains (Africa)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Téna Kourou (747 m), Pico de Santa Isabel (3,008 m), Hombori Tondo (1,155 m)
More about Mont Agou
Geology
Mount Agou is part of an extreme western outlier of the Atakora Mountains that cross neighbouring Benin. Within the Togolese borders, this range is sometimes called the Togo Mountains. Together with these mountains, Mount Agou forms part of the Dahomeyide Orogen, an area that was uplifted in an orogenic process when the West African Craton bumped into the Benin-Nigerian Shield. The internal suture zone of this belt contains several isolated massifs that are oriented in North-South direction. Mount Agou is part of one of these massifs which, depending on the scientific classification, is either called the Lato-Agou Massif (together with nearby Lato Hill) or the Ahito-Agou Massif (together with Mount Ahito).
History
Historically, the region has been inhabited by Ewe people. In the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, Adangme refugees settled at Mount Agou, fleeing from slave traders. In 1870, Ashanti troops tried to subdue the area, but were pushed back by the villages on the mountain. For this reason, the mountain is still seen as a symbol of resistance.
In times of the German protectorate Togoland, the mountain was called Baumann Peak (Baumannspitze), named after geographer Oscar Baumann. A mythical narration tells that when the Germans arrived in nearby Naviè village, they made an agreement to buy what can fit into a sheepskin. They then cut the skin into pieces and surrounded the mountain with them. This story is similar to the traditional tale of the foundation of Carthage by Dido.
Tourism
The slopes are lined with several villages and with cocoa and coffee fields that are interspersed with banana plants and other fruit trees. There is a paved road to the top that can be travelled by motorbike or car. Most tourists however prefer to take the unpaved footpaths that are used by the local population to commute between the villages and to the fields. These paths cross several streams, and pass by a waterfall. Depending on where one leaves the paved road, the walk to the summit can take from a few minutes to up to 3 hours. There are several check points in the area, and local authorities charge a fee from tourists wishing to climb the mountain.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Mount Agou (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Mont Agou: Key Facts
| Mountain range | Togo Mountains |
|---|
Facts from Wikidata Q1753509 (CC0).
Rivers in Togo
1 river recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
| Name | Type | Also Flows Through |
|---|---|---|
| Oti | River | Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso |
Ports in Togo
2 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Togo
1 World Heritage Site recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Koutammakou | 2004 | Cultural | (v) (vi) |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Togo
1 landform recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Africa | 29.41M km² | Continent | Africa |
Countries Bordering Togo
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Africa
Togo: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Togo?
- The capital of Togo is Lomé.
- What is the population of Togo?
- Togo has a population of about 8.59 million, the #102 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Togo?
- Togo covers 56,785 km², ranking #128 by area, with about 151 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Togo in?
- Togo is in Africa.
- Which countries border Togo?
- Togo shares a land or maritime border with Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso.
- What is the largest city in Togo?
- Lomé is the largest city in Togo, with a metropolitan population of about 1.45 million.
- What is the highest mountain in Togo?
- The highest summit recorded for Togo in YearMaps is Mont Agou at 968 m (3,176 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.