Togo Government

The government of Togo is considered a presidential republic, which means the citizens of the country are actively involved in choosing their political representation. The most important government position in Togo is held by the President, who acts as both the Head of Government and the Head of State. The legislative branch is made up of the National Assembly, which is a unicameral body with 91 seats. It is lead by the Prime Minister and shares legislative responsibility with the executive branch. The judicial branch works independently of the other two branches of government.

Citizens of Togo elect the President to serve a 5-year term. This election is based on plurality voting, which means the candidate with the most votes wins in the first round. Members of the National Assembly, however, are elected by a closed list system in which citizens can only vote for the political party, rather than the candidate. Legislative representatives serve based on proportional representation of 30 constituencies. These constituencies have between 2 and 10 representatives. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of Togo.

The National Assembly members meet in Lomé, where the congressional palace is located. This building is long across one side and has a large, arc-shaped entrance that extends up to its upper floors. Its very top floor is not as long as the lower levels of the building and was built of cement rather than brick. The presidential palace is located in the same city. This building is characterized by its modern architecture and use of wood, brick, and iron. Its construction was finished in 1905.

Togo is considered a country of one political party, although minority parties are permitted to run for office as well. Currently, the Union for the Republic party holds majority control. This is the party of the President, the Prime Minister, and 62 of the 91 seats in the National Assembly. Other political groups represented in the National Assembly include: Save Togo Collective (20 seats), Rainbow Alliance (5 seats), Union of Forces for Change (2 seats), and Sursaut National (1 seat).

This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018

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Published on 2019-11-06


Capital	Lome
Languages	French (official, the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (the two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north)
Ethnic Groups	African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
Religion	Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%
Government	Presidential republic
Independance	27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
Area	56,785.00 km²
Water Area	2,400.00 km²
Land Area	54,385.00 km²
Population	7,756,937.00
Location	Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
No. Bordering Countries	3
Bordering Countries	Benin 651 km, Burkina Faso 131 km, Ghana 1,098 km
GDP(PPP)	$11,610,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$1,500.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are India, Burkina Faso, and China.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, and cocoa.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are China, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include machinery, foodstuffs, and petroleum products.
Climate	Tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
Terrain	Gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes
Learn More	Togo

Togo Government

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