World Factbook
Togo
République Togolaise
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; a five-pointed white star on a red square is in the upper-left corner meaning: the five horizontal stripes stand for the country's regions; red stands for the people's loyalty and patriotism; green for hope, fertility, and agriculture; yellow for mineral wealth and faith that hard work and strength will bring prosperity; the star symbolizes life, purity, peace, dignity, and national independence history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement
Capital
name
Lome
etymology
the name comes from a local word meaning "little market"
time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
6 07 N, 1 13 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Togo
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1992, effective 14 October 1992; revised 6 May 2024
amendment process
proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one fifth of the National Assembly membership; passage requires four-fifths majority vote by the Assembly; a referendum is required if approved by only two-thirds majority of the Assembly or if requested by the president; constitutional articles on the republican and secular form of government cannot be amended
Country name
former
French Togoland
etymology
the name derives from the town of Togodo (now Togoville) on the northern shore of Lake Togo; the town's name probably comes from the lake's name, which is composed of the Ewe words to ("water") and go ("shore")
local long form
République Togolaise
local short form
none
conventional long form
Togolese Republic
conventional short form
Togo
Independence
27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
Legal system
customary law system
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (organized into criminal and administrative chambers, each with a chamber president and advisors); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, including the court president)
subordinate courts
Court of Assizes (sessions court); Appeal Court; tribunals of first instance (divided into civil, commercial, and correctional chambers; Court of State Security; military tribunal
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court president appointed by decree of the president of the republic on the proposal of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy, a 9-member judicial, advisory, and disciplinary body; other judicial appointments and judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Assembly; judge tenure NA
Executive branch
note
note: in May 2024, the President signed into law changes to the constitution that converted the presidential system to a parliamentary republic and created the President of Council of Ministers position
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the president of the council of ministers
chief of state
President Jean-Lucien Kwassi Savi de TOVE (since 3 May 2025)
election results
2020: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE (UNIR) 70.8%, Agbeyome KODJO (MPDD) 19.5%, Jean-Pierre FABRE (ANC) 4.7%, other 5% 2015: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE (UNIR) 58.8%, Jean-Pierre FABRE (ANC) 35.2%, Tchaboure GOGUE (ADDI) 4%, other 2%
head of government
President of Council of Ministers Faure GNASSINGBE (since 3 May 2025)
election/appointment process
president is appointed by the national assembly for one six-year term; the president of the council of ministers is the leader of the majority party in the national assembly and is confirmed by the Constitutional Court with no term limits
National holiday
Independence Day, 27 April (1960)
National color(s)
green, yellow, red, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Koutammakou; the Land of the Batammariba
Political parties
Action Committee for Renewal or CAR Alliance of Democrats for Integral Development or ADDI Democratic Convention of African Peoples or CDPA Democratic Forces for the Republic or FDR National Alliance for Change or ANC New Togolese Commitment Pan-African National Party or PNP Pan-African Patriotic Convergence or CPP Patriotic Movement for Democracy and Development or MPDD Socialist Pact for Renewal or PSR The Togolese Party Union of Forces for Change or UFC Union for the Republic or UNIR
Legislative branch
note
note: party lists are required to contain equal numbers of men and women
legislature name
Parliament
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Salut à toi, pays de nos aieux" (Hail to Thee, Land of Our Forefathers)
history
adopted 1960, restored 1992; anthem was replaced during one-party rule between 1979 and 1992
lyrics/music
Alex CASIMIR-DOSSEH
National symbol(s)
lion
Administrative divisions
5 regions ( régions , singular - région ); Centrale, Kara, Maritime, Plateaux, Savanes
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
term in office
6 years
number of seats
113 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
4/29/2024
expected date of next election
April 2030
percentage of women in chamber
15%
parties elected and seats per party
Union for the Republic (UNIR) (108); Other (5)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate (Sénat)
term in office
6 years
number of seats
61 (41 directly elected; 20 appointed)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
2/15/2025
expected date of next election
February 2031
percentage of women in chamber
24.6%
parties elected and seats per party
Union for the Republic (UNIR) (34); Independents (3); Other (4)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 232-3190
chancery
2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 234-4212
chief of mission
Ambassador Frédéric Edem HEGBE (since 24 April 2017)
email address and website
embassyoftogo@hotmail.com https://embassyoftogousa.com/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[228] 2261-5501
embassy
Boulevard Eyadema B.P. 852, Lomé
telephone
[228] 2261-5470
mailing address
2300 Lome Place, Washington, DC 20521-2300
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Richard C. MICHAELS (since June 2025)
email address and website
consularLome@state.gov https://tg.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AIIB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt