Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Civic Brief • Countries

Togo

Togo, officially the Togolese Republic, is a country in West Africa.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Togo is a narrow West African country on the Gulf of Guinea. Its capital, Lomé, anchors an economy built on agriculture and phosphate mining.

Overview

Togo, officially the Togolese Republic, is a long, narrow state in West Africa. It borders Ghana to the west, Benin to the east, and Burkina Faso to the north. French is the official language, and the population is about 8 million. The country gained independence from France on 27 April 1960.

Key details

The landscape ranges from coastal plains to central hills and northern savanna. Agriculture is central, with crops like cassava, yams, and coffee. Togo is also a major phosphate producer. The largest ethnic group is often described as the Ewe, and indigenous languages include Ewe and Kabiye.

Canada connection

Togo is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, creating an institutional link with Canada. This membership facilitates diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries.

In short

  • Narrow West African country bordering Ghana, Benin, and Burkina Faso.
  • Capital and largest city is Lomé, on the Gulf of Guinea.
  • Economy relies on agriculture and phosphate mining.
  • Independent from France since 27 April 1960; member of the Commonwealth.
Canadian angle

Togo is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, which creates an institutional connection relevant to Canadian readers.

Quick questions

What is Togo?
Togo is a country in West Africa, officially the Togolese Republic.
What is the capital of Togo?
The capital and largest city is Lomé.
What language is spoken in Togo?
French is the official language, and indigenous languages like Ewe and Kabiye are also widely spoken.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Togo
    Supports: Basic geography, capital, official language, area, population, borders, and memberships.
  2. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/place/Togo
    Supports: Capital, geography, population, languages, religion, economy, and constitutional changes.
  3. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/summary/Togo
    Supports: Concise national profile including area, population, capital, languages, economy, and government change.
  4. CIA World Factbook — https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/about/archives/2022/countries/togo/summaries
    Supports: Historical background including transfer to French rule and independence in 1960.
  5. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14106781
    Supports: Country profile, independence, capital, population, languages, and economic context.
  6. Nations Online Project — https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/togo.htm
    Supports: Population and capital city information.
  7. ECOWAS — https://ecowap.ecowas.int/media/ecowap/naip/files/Togo_English.pdf
    Supports: Area, borders, coastline, administrative regions, independence date, and French as official language.