Togo's population of 8.64 million people (2021 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.
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.
According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects[3][4] the total population was 8,644,829 in 2021, 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
.[5]
Total population
Population aged 0–14 (%)
Population aged 15–64 (%)
Population aged 65+ (%)
1950
1 395 000
41.3
54.4
4.3
1955
1 475 000
41.9
54.1
3.9
1960
1 578 000
42.6
53.8
3.6
1965
1 700 000
43.6
53.1
3.3
1970
2 097 000
44.8
52.1
3.1
1975
2 380 000
45.9
51.1
3.1
1980
2 667 000
46.6
50.3
3.1
1985
3 161 000
46.7
50.2
3.1
1990
3 666 000
46.0
50.9
3.1
1995
4 085 000
44.8
52.1
3.1
2000
4 794 000
43.2
53.6
3.1
2005
5 408 000
41.5
55.2
3.3
2010
6 028 000
39.6
56.9
3.4
Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 06.XI.2010):[6]
Age Group
Male
Female
Total
%
Total
3 009 095
3 182 060
6 191 155
100
0–4
456 524
444 747
901 271
14.56
5–9
482 501
469 199
951 700
15.37
10–14
390 477
357 249
747 726
12.08
15–19
313 257
293 144
606 401
9.79
20–24
252 807
292 438
545 245
8.81
25–29
214 803
282 019
496 822
8.02
30–34
199 636
224 744
424 380
6.85
35–39
166 528
185 480
352 008
5.69
40–44
139 731
151 853
291 584
4.71
45–49
112 191
116 255
228 446
3.69
50–54
82 969
95 264
178 233
2.88
55–59
54 936
61 014
115 950
1.87
60–64
44 431
58 263
102 694
1.66
65-69
26 700
39 624
66 324
1.07
70-74
24 127
37 629
61 756
1.00
75-79
13 250
20 324
33 574
0.54
80+
27 960
45 631
73 591
1.19
Age group
Male
Female
Total
Percent
0–14
1 329 502
1 271 195
2 600 697
42.01
15–64
1 581 289
1 760 474
3 341 763
53.98
65+
92 037
143 208
235 245
3.80
Unknown
6 267
7 183
13 450
0.22
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (Estimates 01.VII.2020) (Post-censal estimates.):[7]
Age Group
Male
Female
Total
%
Total
3 805 683
3 990 457
7 796 140
100
0–4
554 653
546 731
1 101 384
14.13
5–9
492 306
493 409
985 715
12.64
10–14
448 624
446 196
894 820
11.48
15–19
466 008
454 136
920 144
11.80
20–24
371 183
342 666
713 848
9.16
25–29
298 580
294 682
593 262
7.61
30–34
238 519
288 749
527 267
6.76
35–39
209 365
274 289
483 654
6.20
40–44
183 861
207 689
391 550
5.02
45–49
148 891
169 758
318 648
4.09
50–54
119 249
131 375
250 624
3.21
55–59
91 263
100 293
191 556
2.46
60–64
59 540
71 641
131 181
1.68
65-69
49 132
59 692
108 823
1.40
70-74
33 591
45 314
78 905
1.01
75-79
20 494
30 733
51 226
0.66
80+
20 429
33 108
53 536
0.69
Age group
Male
Female
Total
Percent
0–14
1 495 583
1 486 336
2 981 919
38.25
15–64
2 186 454
2 335 274
4 521 728
58.00
65+
123 646
168 847
292 493
3.75
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
≠
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.
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: 196th
male: 19.7 years
female: 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.[15]
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.[15]
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