Region: Western Africa

Capital: Lome

Population: 5,858,673 (July 2008 est.)

Surface area: 56,785 sq km

Currency: CFA franc (XOF)

GDP per capita: Purchasing power parity US $800 (2007 est.)

Background:

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 multiparty elections instituted in the early 1990s, the government was largely dominated by President Eyadema, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has maintained power almost continually since 1967 and 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. After years of political unrest and fire from international organizations for human rights abuses, Togo is finally being re-welcomed into the international community.
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 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.
Major Export Commodities: reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa

Remittances: US $156 million (2006)

Human Development Index 2007/2008 ranking: 152 out of 177

Official Development Assistance and Major Development Partners: Net ODA in 2006 was US $54.75 million. Major development partners include France, Arab Agencies, and the Global Fund (GFATM).

Total External Debt: US $2 billion (2005)

United Nations membership date: 20 September 1960

New York Mission:

Permanent Mission of Togo to the United Nations
112 East 40th Street
New York, N.Y. 10016 USA
Telephone: 212-490-3455 / 3456
Fax: 212-983-6684
Website: http://togo.un.int

Sources:

CIA World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. www.cia.gov 

World Development Indicators. World Bank www.worldbank.org

Development, Recipient Aid Charts. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. www.oecd.org

Human Development Report 2007/2008.United Nations Development Programme. www.undp.org

Updated June 2008