Republic of Togo
Togo is a tropical, sub-Saharan country, heavily dependent on agriculture, with a climate that provides good growing seasons. The official language is French, with many other languages spoken in Togo, especially those of the Geb family. The largest religious group in Togo consists of indigenous beliefs, and there are significant Christian and Muslim minorities. Togo is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, the Francophonie Community, and the Economic Community of West African States.
It is a long and narrow country located in West Africa, north of the Equator.Bordering Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Benin, Togo has a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean.
Stretching from sandy beaches along the Gulf of Guinea to highlands and green savannah, Togo is slightly larger than Croatia at 56,700 square kilometres.
Near the coast there are small ponds called lakes, mountains in the central region, and plains in the north.
Between the 11th and 16th centuries, many tribes entered the region from all directions. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, the coastal region was an important trading center for Europeans searching for slaves, earning Togo and the surrounding area the name "Slave Coast". In 1884, Germany declared Togoland a protectorate. After World War I, control of Togo passed to France. Togo gained independence from France in 1960.
In 1967, Gnassingbé Eyadema led a successful military coup to become the country's president. At the time of his death in 2005, Eyadema was one of the longest-serving leaders in modern African history, having been president for 38 years. In 2005, his son Faure Gnassingbé was elected president of the country.
Togo has a young population, with the average age being just 19 years. Its capital is Lomé and French is the official language.
Togolese music is vibrant, as is its science. The white star of the flag represents hope, the green represents nature, and the yellow represents the country's natural resources.
Population: 8.9 million.
Currency: West African franc.
Independence: 1960 (from France).
Other questions
Religion: Christians constitute about 43%, along with 14% of Muslims, and 35.6% of followers of local religions.
Source: websites