Factbook
History of Togo — Timeline
Key dates in the history of Togo, from the Magna Factbook and the Universal Encyclopedia.
1884From the 16th to the 18th centuries, the coastal region became a major trading center for enslaved people, and the surrounding region took on the name of "The Slave Coast." In 1884, Germany declared the area a protectorate called Togoland, which included present-day Togo.
1960French Togoland became Togo upon independence in 1960.
1960Independence: 27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship).
1967Gnassingbe EYADEMA, installed as military ruler in 1967, ruled Togo with a heavy hand for almost four decades.
1967His Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has been in power almost continually since 1967, with its successor, the Union for the Republic, maintaining a majority of seats in today's legislature.
2005Upon EYADEMA's death in 2005, the military installed his son, Faure GNASSINGBE, as president and then engineered his formal election two months later.
2007Togo held its first relatively free and fair legislative elections in 2007.
2019Constitutional changes in 2019 to institute a runoff system in presidential elections and to establish term limits have done little to reduce the resentment many Togolese feel after more than 50 years of one-family rule.
2019Togo has held multiple presidential and legislative elections, and in 2019, the country held its first local elections in 32 years.
2020Languages: French (official, language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (in the north) Religions: Christian 42.3%, folk religion 36.9%, Muslim 14%, Hindu <1%, Buddhist <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, none 6.2% (2020 est.) Urban population: 44.5% of total population (2023).
2023Generation mix — fossil fuels: 79.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 11.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); hydroelectricity: 8.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) Energy use: 4.538 million Btu/person (2023 est.).
2023Industries: phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, beverages Agriculture: cassava, maize, yams, sorghum, soybeans, beans, rice, vegetables, oil palm fruit, cotton (2023) Electricity access: 57.2% (2022 est.).
2023Major urban areas: 1.982 million LOME (capital) (2023) low-income West African economy; primarily agrarian economy; has a deep-water port; growing international shipping locale; improving privatization and public budgeting transparency; key phosphate mining industry; extremely high rural poverty Inflation: 2.9% (2024 est.).
2024Military spending: 2.2% of GDP (2024 est.).
2025The next presidential election is set for 2025.
