Friday, July 17, 2009

Togo

Togo (officially the Togolese Republic) is a country in West Africa bordering 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. The official language is French; however, there are many other languages spoken in Togo.

Togo's size is just less than 57,000 square kilometres (22,000 sq mi). It has a population of more than 6,100,000 people, which is dependent mainly on agriculture. The mild weather makes for good growing seasons. Togo is a tropical, sub-Saharan nation.

Togo gained its independence from France in 1960. In 1967, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, the former leader of the country, led a successful military coup, after which he became President. Eyadéma was the longest-serving leader in African history (after being president for 38 years) at the time of his death in 2005.[3] In 2005, his son Faure Gnassingbé was elected president. About a third of the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day.

Contents

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 languages French
Demonym Togolese
Government Republic
- President Faure Gnassingbé
- Prime Minister Gilbert Houngbo[1]
Independence
- from France April 27, 1960
Area
- Total 56,785 km2 (125th)
21,925 sq mi
- Water (%) 4.2
Population
- 2006 estimate 6.3million (100th1)
- Density 108/km2 (93rd²)
280/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2008 estimate
- Total $5.368 billion[2]
- Per capita $810[2]
GDP (nominal) 2008 estimate
- Total $2.890 billion[2]
- Per capita $436[2]
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

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