Demographics of Togo explained

Place:Togo
Size Of Population:8,049,233 (2022 est.)
Nation:Togolese
Official:French
Age 0–14 Years:39.73%
Age 65 Years:3.57%
Growth:2.48% (2022 est.)
Birth:31.86 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death:5.27 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net Migration:-1.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Infant Mortality:41.19 deaths/1,000 live births
Life:71.36 years
Life Male:68.76 years
Life Female:74.03 years
Fertility:4.23 children born/woman (2022 est.)

The demographics of Togo include ethnicity, population density, age, education level, health, economic status and religious affiliations.

Language and ethnicity

Togo's population of million people (est.) is composed of about 21 ethnic groups, the two biggest being the Tèm in the Centre (Bafilo, Sokodé, Sotouboua (about 22% of the population); they also live in Ghana and Bénin in big numbers. Tèms have a lot ties with 2/3 of the country as they live in the center of Togo. They exercise diversely almost all occupations from farmers, motors mechanic to business people] and Ewe in the South (about 21% of the population)).Dagomba is the first most common language in the north, where other Gur languages such as Mossi and Gourma are also found.

The ethnic groups of the coastal region, particularly Ewe and Gen language (or Mina) (the two major African languages in the south), constitute the bulk of the civil servants, professionals, and merchants, due in part to the former colonial administrations which provided greater infrastructure development in the south. Most of the southern peoples use these two closely related languages, which are spoken in commercial sectors throughout Togo.

The Kabye live on marginal land and traditionally have emigrated south from their home area in the Kara region to seek employment. Their historical means of social advancement has been through the military and law enforcement forces, and they continue to dominate these services.

Other groups include the Akposso on the Central Plateau, the Ana people who are related to the Yoruba, and live in the center of the country, in the strip between Atakpame and Tchamba, the Bassar in the Centre-West, the Tchamba in the Centre-East and the Konkombas in the upper region of Bassar, the Lambas in the Kandé region, the Hausa, the Tamberma, the Losso and the Ouachi.[1]

Population

Population distribution is very uneven due to soil and terrain variations. The population is generally concentrated in the south and along the major north-south highway connecting the coast to the Sahel. Age distribution is also uneven; nearly one-half of Togolese are less than fifteen years old.

French, the official language, is used in administration and documentation. The public primary schools combine French with Ewe or Kabye as languages of instruction, depending on the region. English is spoken in neighboring Ghana and is taught in Togolese secondary schools. As a result, many Togolese, especially in the south and along the Ghana border, speak some English.

Population census results[2]
Census datePopulationAverage annual
growth (%)
Population
density/km2
Proportion
urban (%)
1-11-19581,444,481.259.4
1-3-19701,950,6462.73421.2
22-11-19812,719,5672.94825.2
6-11-20106,191,1552.910937.7
According to the total population was in, compared to only 1 395 000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 39.6%, 56.9% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 3.4% was 65 years or older.[3]
Total populationPopulation aged 0–14 (%)Population aged 15–64 (%)Population aged 65+ (%)
19501 395 00041.354.44.3
19551 475 00041.954.13.9
19601 578 00042.653.83.6
19651 700 00043.653.13.3
19702 097 00044.852.13.1
19752 380 00045.951.13.1
19802 667 00046.650.33.1
19853 161 00046.750.23.1
19903 666 00046.050.93.1
19954 085 00044.852.13.1
20004 794 00043.253.63.1
20055 408 00041.555.23.3
20106 028 00039.656.93.4

Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 06.XI.2010):[4]

Age GroupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total3 009 0953 182 0606 191 155100
0–4456 524444 747901 27114.56
5–9482 501469 199951 70015.37
10–14390 477357 249747 72612.08
15–19313 257293 144606 4019.79
20–24252 807292 438545 2458.81
25–29214 803282 019496 8228.02
30–34199 636224 744424 3806.85
35–39166 528185 480352 0085.69
40–44139 731151 853291 5844.71
45–49112 191116 255228 4463.69
50–5482 96995 264178 2332.88
55–5954 93661 014115 9501.87
60–6444 43158 263102 6941.66
65-6926 70039 62466 3241.07
70-7424 12737 62961 7561.00
75-7913 25020 32433 574 0.54
80+27 96045 63173 5911.19
Age group MaleFemaleTotalPercent
0–141 329 5021 271 1952 600 69742.01
15–641 581 2891 760 4743 341 76353.98
65+92 037143 208235 2453.80
Unknown6 2677 18313 4500.22

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (Estimates 01.VII.2020) (Post-censal estimates.):[5]

Age GroupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total3 805 6833 990 4577 796 140100
0–4554 653546 7311 101 38414.13
5–9492 306493 409985 71512.64
10–14448 624446 196894 82011.48
15–19466 008454 136920 14411.80
20–24371 183342 666713 8489.16
25–29298 580294 682593 2627.61
30–34238 519288 749527 2676.76
35–39209 365274 289483 6546.20
40–44183 861207 689391 5505.02
45–49148 891169 758318 6484.09
50–54119 249131 375250 6243.21
55–5991 263100 293191 5562.46
60–6459 54071 641131 1811.68
65-6949 13259 692108 8231.40
70-7433 59145 31478 9051.01
75-7920 49430 73351 2260.66
80+20 42933 10853 5360.69
Age group MaleFemaleTotalPercent
0–141 495 5831 486 3362 981 91938.25
15–642 186 4542 335 2744 521 72858.00
65+123 646168 847292 4933.75

Vital statistics

Registration of vital events is in Togo not complete. The Population Departement of the United Nations prepared the following estimates. Population estimates account for under numeration in population census.

Population
(thousands)
Live births
(thousands)
Deaths
(thousands)
Natural change
(thousands)
CBRCDRNCTFRIMRLife expectancy
(years)
19501 39966353147.224.822.46.51157.940.92
19511 42168353247.324.722.76.54157.141.01
19521 44569353347.424.522.96.55156.341.17
19531 46970363447.324.223.16.57155.441.36
19541 49471363547.224.023.26.57154.541.45
19551 51972363547.123.823.36.57153.741.56
19561 54473363747.123.523.66.59152.741.80
19571 57174373847.123.323.96.61151.741.97
19581 59775373947.123.024.16.63150.642.16
19591 62477374047.222.724.56.68149.542.45
19601 65178374147.222.424.86.72148.342.69
19611 67980374247.422.225.26.75147.042.88
19621 70782384447.622.025.76.80145.743.15
19631 73783384647.921.726.16.85144.343.37
19641 77385384747.921.426.46.87142.843.70
19651 82087394947.921.226.86.90141.243.97
19661 88290395148.020.827.26.94139.444.37
19671 95793405347.920.427.56.96137.544.82
19682 03997415647.820.027.86.98135.645.28
19692 120101426048.019.728.37.04133.545.67
19702 197105426347.919.328.67.07131.346.12
19712 267109436647.918.929.07.10129.146.59
19722 331112436947.918.529.37.12126.847.09
19732 391115437147.818.129.77.13124.447.60
19742 450117447447.717.730.07.15122.148.10
19752 510120437647.617.230.47.15119.848.73
19762 570123437947.516.830.77.14117.449.33
19772 631125438147.216.430.87.11115.149.76
19782 693127438346.916.130.87.06112.850.23
19792 761128438546.415.630.77.00110.550.77
19802 838130438745.915.330.76.94108.451.23
19812 926133439045.614.930.76.87106.251.76
19823 023136449245.114.530.66.77104.252.26
19833 127139449544.714.230.56.70102.352.64
19843 232143459844.313.830.56.62100.453.09
19853 3371464510143.813.530.36.5498.753.43
19863 4391504610443.513.330.26.4697.153.71
19873 5451534610743.213.130.16.3995.754.05
19883 6531564710942.812.929.96.3094.454.35
19893 7641594811142.312.829.56.2293.254.39
19903 8761634911341.912.729.26.1392.154.37
19913 9901665111541.612.728.96.0591.154.27
19924 1061695211741.112.628.55.9590.054.30
19934 0781725311940.712.628.15.8588.954.20
19944 0931635111240.312.627.75.7587.754.04
19954 2801695311639.712.527.25.6586.354.04
19964 4461745511939.312.426.85.5484.754.10
19974 5931785612238.812.326.55.4483.054.19
19984 7281835812538.812.326.65.3881.454.20
19994 8681895913038.812.026.85.3479.454.54
20005 0081946013438.711.926.85.2777.554.74
20015 1451986113838.611.826.85.2375.654.86
20025 2822036114238.411.526.95.1973.655.31
20035 4212076114638.211.326.85.1571.855.64
20045 5652106314737.711.326.45.0869.955.57
20055 7122156315237.611.126.55.0768.255.96
20065 8742216415637.610.926.75.0866.556.22
20076 0482296516437.810.827.05.0964.956.51
20086 2222336616737.610.726.95.0563.356.70
20096 3992406717337.510.527.05.0361.757.01
20106 5722466817837.410.327.05.0160.257.30
20116 7492476718036.610.026.74.9258.657.93
20126 9272486818035.89.926.04.8157.058.07
20137 1062516818335.39.525.84.7255.458.68
20147 2882546918534.89.425.44.6653.958.85
20157 4732576918934.49.225.24.5952.459.40
20167 6612617019234.19.125.04.5651.059.55
20177 8532646919533.78.824.94.5049.660.15
20188 0472677119733.28.824.44.4448.260.24
20198 2432707020032.88.524.34.3946.860.90
20208 4432737120232.38.423.94.3245.561.04
20218 6452757120531.98.223.74.2644.261.62
Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects, 2022[6]

Fertility and births

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):[7] [8] [9]

YearTotalUrbanRural
CBR TFRCBR TFRCBR TFR
199835,55,2 (4,2)27,73,2 (2,6)38,66,3 (5,2)
201332,94,8 (4,1)32,23,7 (3,1)33,25,7 (4,9)
201731.64.428.93.333.15.2

Fertility data as of 2013-2014 and 2017 (DHS Program):[10]

RegionTotal fertility rate
(2013/14)
Percentage of women age 15-49 currently pregnantMean number of children ever born to women age 40-49Total fertility rate
(2017)
Lomé3.5 6.2 3.73.1
Maritime (except Lomé) 5.2 9.5 5.14.2
Plateaux5.2 10.6 5.44.9
Centrale5.1 7.2 5.75.3
Kara5.3 9.7 6.15.1
Savanes6.0 9.3 7.35.7

Life expectancy at birth

PeriodLife expectancy in
Years[11]
1950–195535.30
1955–1960 38.66
1960–1965 41.89
1965–1970 45.02
1970–1975 48.07
1975–1980 50.93
1980–1985 53.58
1985–1990 55.41
1990–1995 55.78
1995–2000 53.71
2000–2005 53.88
2005–2010 55.80
2010–2015 59.07

Other demographic statistics

The following demographic statistics of Togo in 2022 are from the World Population Review.

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.

Population

8,492,333 (2022 est.)

8,176,449 (July 2018 est.)

Religions

Christian 42.3%, folk religion 36.9%, Muslim 14%, Hindu <1%, Buddhist <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, none 6.2% (2020 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 39.73% (male 1,716,667/female 1,703,230)

15-24 years: 19.03% (male 817,093/female 820,971)

25-54 years: 33.26% (male 1,423,554/female 1,439,380)

55-64 years: 4.42% (male 179,779/female 200,392)

65 years and over: 3.57% (2020 est.) (male 132,304/female 175,074)

0-14 years: 40.13% (male 1,646,438 /female 1,634,609)

15-24 years: 19.1% (male 779,774 /female 782,192)

25-54 years: 32.96% (male 1,339,150 /female 1,356,020)

55-64 years: 4.34% (male 167,575 /female 187,432)

65 years and over: 3.46% (male 122,175 /female 161,084) (2018 est.)

Birth rate

31.86 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 25th

32.8 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 30th

Death rate

5.27 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 188th

6.8 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 135th

Total fertility rate

4.18 children born/woman (2023 est.) Country comparison to the world: 21st

4.23 children born/woman (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 25th

4.32 children born/woman (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 26th

Population growth rate

2.48% (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 24th

2.61% (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 18th

Median age

total: 20 years. Country comparison to the world: 196thmale: 19.7 yearsfemale: 20.3 years (2020 est.)

total: 19.9 years. Country comparison to the world: 196th

male: 19.6 years

female: 20.1 years (2018 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

25 years (2017 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

21 years (2013/14 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Contraceptive prevalence rate

23.9% (2017)

19.9% (2013/14)

Demographic profile

Togo’s population is estimated to have grown to four times its size between 1960 and 2010. With nearly 60% of its populace under the age of 25 and a high annual growth rate attributed largely to high fertility, Togo’s population is likely to continue to expand for the foreseeable future. Reducing fertility, boosting job creation, and improving education will be essential to reducing the country’s high poverty rate. In 2008, Togo eliminated primary school enrollment fees, leading to higher enrollment but increased pressure on limited classroom space, teachers, and materials. Togo has a good chance of achieving universal primary education, but educational quality, the underrepresentation of girls, and the low rate of enrollment in secondary and tertiary schools remain concerns.

Population distribution

one of the more densely populated African nations with most of the population residing in rural communities, density is highest in the south on or near the Atlantic coast.

Net migration rate

-1.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 167th

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 99th

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 81.2 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 76.2 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 5.1 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

19.8 (2015 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 43.9% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 3.6% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population: 41.7% of total population (2018)

rate of urbanization: 3.76% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.36 years. Country comparison to the world: 166thmale: 68.76 yearsfemale: 74.03 years (2022 est.)

total population: 65.8 years

male: 63.1 years

female: 68.6 years (2018 est.)

total population: 54.69 years

male: 52.75 years

female: 56.7 years (2000 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever

water contact diseases: schistosomiasis

animal contact diseases: rabies

respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis

Ethnic groups

Adja-Ewe/Mina 42.4%, Kabye/Tem 25.9%, Para-Gourma/Akan 17.1%, Akposso/Akebu 4.1%, Ana-Ife 3.2%, other Togolese 1.7%, foreigners 5.2%, no response 0.4% (2013-14 est.)[12]

HIV Prevalence

Adult infection rate 2.1% (2017 est.)

People living with HIV/Aids 110,000 (2017 est.)

Death rate 4,700 (2017 est.)

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2019) Country comparison to the world: 65th

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

yeartotal populationmalefemale
1995 est.
2015 est.
2019

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years

male: 14 years

female: 12 years (2017)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 9.5%

male: 12.3%

female: 7.4% (2017 est.)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Togo . 2 November 2023 .
  2. Web site: INSEED - Statistique Togo. Stat-togo.org. 27 August 2017.
  3. Web site: World Population Prospects - Population Division - United Nations. 2023-02-06. esa.un.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20110506065230/http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/index.htm. 6 May 2011.
  4. Web site: UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics.
  5. Web site: UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics.
  6. 6125:6196. M,X,AE,S,AH,S,AA,AV,AI.
  7. Web site: TROISIÈME ENQUÊTE DÉMOGRAPHIQUE ET DE SANTÉ (EDST-III 2013-2014). Dhsprogram.com. 2017-08-27.
  8. Web site: 1998 Census. Dhsprogram.com. 2017-08-27.
  9. Web site: The DHS Program - Togo. dhsprogram.com. 2019-12-17.
  10. Web site: TROISIÈME ENQUÊTE DÉMOGRAPHIQUE ET DE SANTÉ (EDST-III 2013-2014). Dhsprogram.com. 2017-08-27.
  11. Web site: World Population Prospects - Population Division - United Nations. esa.un.org. 2018-08-26.
  12. Web site: Country Summary .