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Togo
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This article is about the African country. For other uses, see Togo (disambiguation).

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Togolese Republic
République Togolaise

Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: "Travail, Liberté, Patrie" (French)
"Work, Liberty, Homeland"
Anthem: Salut à toi, pays de nos aïeux (French)
"Hail to thee, land of our forefathers"
Capital
(and largest city) Lomé
6°7'N 1°13'E? / ?6.117°N 1.217°E? / 6.117; 1.217
Official language(s) French
Vernacular languages Gbe languages such as Ewe, Mina and Aja; Kabiyé; and others.
Demonym Togolese
Government Republic
- President Faure Gnassingbé
- Prime Minister Gilbert Houngbo
Independence
- from France April 27, 1960
Area
- Total 56,785 km2 (125th)
21,925 sq mi
- Water (%) 4.2
Population
- 2009 estimate 6,619,000 (101st1)
- Density 116.6/km2 (93rd²)
301.9/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2009 estimate
- Total $5.612 billion
- Per capita $826
GDP (nominal) 2009 estimate
- Total $2.865 billion
- Per capita $422
HDI (2007) ? 0.512 (medium) (152nd)
Currency CFA franc (XOF)
Time zone GMT (UTC+0)
Drives on the right
Internet TLD .tg
Calling code +228
1 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 2005 figures CIA World Factbook - Togo
² Rankings based on 2005 figures (source unknown)

The Togolese Republic, often known as Togo, is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately 57,000 square kilometres (22,000 sq mi) with a population of approximately 6.7 million. Togo is a tropical, sub-Saharan nation, highly dependent on agriculture, with a climate that provides good growing seasons. The official language of is French. However, there are many other languages spoken, particularly those of the Gbe family. The largest religious group in Togo are those with indigenous beliefs, but there are significant Christian and Muslim minorities. Togo is a member of the United Nations, African Union, Organisation of the Islamic Conference, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, La Francophonie and Economic Community of West African States.

From the 11th to the 16th century, various tribes entered the region from all directions. From the 16th century to the 18th century, the coastal region was a major trading centre for Europeans in search of slaves, earning Togo and the surrounding region the name "The Slave Coast". In 1884, Germany declared a protectare over Togoland. After World War I, rule over Togo was transferred to France. Togo gained its independence from France in 1960. In 1967, Gnassingbé Eyadéma led a successful military coup, after which he became president. At the time of his death in 2005, Eyadéma was the longest-serving leader in modern African history, after having been president for 38 years. In 2005, his son Faure Gnassingbé was elected president.