Togo is a small, narrow country located in the west of Africa, with a population of around 8 million people. After gaining independence from France in 1960, Togo went through a period of authoritarian rule by a military dictator, whose son is now the country’s president.
A tropical, sub-Saharan nation, Togo’s economy still depends on agriculture, with a climate that provides fertile land. It has one of the largest phosphate deposits in the world, as well as reserves of limestone, marble and salt.
While the official language is French, many other languages, particularly from the Gbe family, are spoken. The largest religious group consists of people with indigenous beliefs, followed by significant Christian and Muslim minorities. Togo is a member of the United Nations and the African Union.