Demographics of Togo

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

Language and ethnicity

Togo's population of 5.86 million people (2008 est.) is composed of about 21 ethnic groups, the two biggest being the Ewe in the South (about 21% of the population) and the Kabye in the North (12% of the population). Dagomba is the second 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 speakers (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 Bassar in the Centre-West, the Cotocoli, the Tchamba and the Komkombas around Sokodé, the Lambas in the Kandé region, the Hausa, the Tamberma, the Losso and the Ouachi.

White African settlers descended from the original French and German colonials make up less than 1% of the total population along with Togo's minute Lebanese community. The remaining 99% are indigenous: most people in this category hail from one of thirty-seven different tribes.

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.

Demographics of Togo, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in thousands.

Population census results ^[1]

Census date	Population	Average annual growth (%)	Population density/km^2	Proportion urban (%)
1-11-1958	1,444,481	.	25	9.4
1-3-1970	1,950,646	2.7	34	21.2
22-11-1981	2,719,567	2.9	48	25.2
6-11-2010	6,191,155	2.9	109	37.7

According to the 2010 revision of the World Population Prospects the total population was 6 028 000 in 2010, 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 .^[2]

	Total population (x 1000)	Population aged 0–14 (%)	Population aged 15–64 (%)	Population aged 65+ (%)
1950	1 395	41.3	54.4	4.3
1955	1 475	41.9	54.1	3.9
1960	1 578	42.6	53.8	3.6
1965	1 700	43.6	53.1	3.3
1970	2 097	44.8	52.1	3.1
1975	2 380	45.9	51.1	3.1
1980	2 667	46.6	50.3	3.1
1985	3 161	46.7	50.2	3.1
1990	3 666	46.0	50.9	3.1
1995	4 085	44.8	52.1	3.1
2000	4 794	43.2	53.6	3.1
2005	5 408	41.5	55.2	3.3
2010	6 028	39.6	56.9	3.4

Vital statistics

Registration of vital events is in Togo not complete. The Population Departement of the United Nations prepared the following estimates. ^[2]

Period	Live births per year	Deaths per year	Natural change per year	CBR*	CDR*	NC*	TFR*	IMR*
1950-1955	68 000	43 000	25 000	47.2	29.7	17.6	6.33	191
1955-1960	72 000	40 000	32 000	47.4	26.4	21.0	6.42	172
1960-1965	79 000	39 000	40 000	48.0	23.6	24.4	6.65	154
1965-1970	92 000	40 000	52 000	48.5	21.2	27.3	6.94	138
1970-1975	109 000	42 000	66 000	48.6	18.9	29.7	7.20	124
1975-1980	121 000	44 000	77 000	48.0	17.3	30.7	7.28	113
1980-1985	135 000	46 000	89 000	46.2	15.7	30.5	7.06	105
1985-1990	149 000	49 000	101 000	43.8	14.3	29.5	6.58	97
1990-1995	159 000	51 000	108 000	41.1	13.1	28.0	5.99	91
1995-2000	171 000	55 000	116 000	38.5	12.3	26.1	5.38	84
2000-2005	183 000	60 000	124 000	35.9	11.7	24.2	4.83	77
2005-2010	190 000	65 000	125 000	33.2	11.3	21.9	4.30	74
* CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)

Fertility and Births

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):^{[3] [4]}

Year	CBR (Total)	TFR (Total)	CBR (Urban)	TFR (Urban)	CBR (Rural)	TFR (Rural)
1998	35,5	5,2 (4,2)	27,7	3,2 (2,6)	38,6	6,3 (5,2)
2013	32,9	4,8 (4,1)	32,2	3,7 (3,1)	33,2	5,7 (4,9)

CIA World Factbook demographic statistics

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

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.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 54.69 years
male: 52.75 years
female: 56.7 years (2000 est.)

HIV Prevalence

Adult infection rate 4.2% (2003)

People living with HIV/Aids 110,000 (2003)

Death rate 10,000 (2003)

Religions^[5]

• Christian 29%
• Islam 20%
• Indigenous beliefs 51%

Ethinic groups^[5]

• African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%
• European and Syrian-Lebanese 1%

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.7%
male: 67%
female: 37% (1995 est.)

References

1. Direction Générale de la Statistique et de la Compabilité Nationale. Données de Recensement
2. Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision
3. http://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR301/FR301.pdf
4. http://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR101/FR101.pdf
5. "Africa :: TOGO". CIA The World Factbook.