World Country Guide

General Information

Area
56,785 sq km (21,925 sq miles).

Population
4,801,000 (2002).

Population Density
84.5 per sq km.

Capital
Lom. Population: 732,000 (official estimate 2001).

Geography
Togo shares borders with Burkina Faso to the north, Benin to the east and Ghana to the west, with a short coast on the Atlantic in the south. The country is a narrow strip, rising behind coastal lagoons and swampy plains to an undulating plateau. Northwards, the plateau descends to a wide plain irrigated by the River Oti. The central area is covered by deciduous forest, while savannah stretches to the north and south. In the east, the River Mono runs to the sea; long sandy beaches shaded by palms characterise the coastline between Lom and Cotonou in Benin.

Government
Republic since 1967. Gained independence from France in 1960. Head of State: President Faure Gnassingb Eyadma since February 2005 (succeeded his father after seizing power on his death). Head of Government: Prime Minister Koffi Sama since 2002.

Language
French is the official language, while Ewe, Watchi and Kabiy are the most widely spoken African languages. Very little English is spoken.

Religion
50 per cent Traditional or animist, 35 per cent Christian and 15 per cent Muslim.

Time
GMT.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz single phase. Plugs are square or round two-pin.

Communications

Telephone
IDD is available to main cities. Country code: 228. There are no area codes. Outgoing international code: 00.

Mobile telephone
GSM 900 network covers main urban areas. Operators include Telecel Togo (website: www.telecel.tg) and Togo Telecom (website: www.togotel.net.tg).

Fax
Available in Internet cafes.

Internet
ISPs include Togo Telecom (website: www.togotel.net.tg). Public access is available in Internet cafes all over the country.

Telegram
The telegram service is dependable; messages to France and West Africa are less expensive.

Post
Postal facilities are limited to main towns. Post Restante facilities are available and are very reliable. Airmail to Western Europe takes at least two weeks.

Press
The main newspaper is the government-owned Togo-Presse, published in French, Ewe and Kabiy. Les Echos du Matin is an independent daily.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.