# Demographics of Togo

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

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 :
| 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 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects 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 .
| | 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):
| 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.):
| 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 |

## 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) | CBR | CDR | NC | TFR | IMR | Life expectancy (years) |
| 1950 | 1 399 | 66 | 35 | 31 | 47.2 | 24.8 | 22.4 | 6.51 | 157.9 | 40.92 |
| 1951 | 1 421 | 68 | 35 | 32 | 47.3 | 24.7 | 22.7 | 6.54 | 157.1 | 41.01 |
| 1952 | 1 445 | 69 | 35 | 33 | 47.4 | 24.5 | 22.9 | 6.55 | 156.3 | 41.17 |
| 1953 | 1 469 | 70 | 36 | 34 | 47.3 | 24.2 | 23.1 | 6.57 | 155.4 | 41.36 |
| 1954 | 1 494 | 71 | 36 | 35 | 47.2 | 24.0 | 23.2 | 6.57 | 154.5 | 41.45 |
| 1955 | 1 519 | 72 | 36 | 35 | 47.1 | 23.8 | 23.3 | 6.57 | 153.7 | 41.56 |
| 1956 | 1 544 | 73 | 36 | 37 | 47.1 | 23.5 | 23.6 | 6.59 | 152.7 | 41.80 |
| 1957 | 1 571 | 74 | 37 | 38 | 47.1 | 23.3 | 23.9 | 6.61 | 151.7 | 41.97 |
| 1958 | 1 597 | 75 | 37 | 39 | 47.1 | 23.0 | 24.1 | 6.63 | 150.6 | 42.16 |
| 1959 | 1 624 | 77 | 37 | 40 | 47.2 | 22.7 | 24.5 | 6.68 | 149.5 | 42.45 |
| 1960 | 1 651 | 78 | 37 | 41 | 47.2 | 22.4 | 24.8 | 6.72 | 148.3 | 42.69 |
| 1961 | 1 679 | 80 | 37 | 42 | 47.4 | 22.2 | 25.2 | 6.75 | 147.0 | 42.88 |
| 1962 | 1 707 | 82 | 38 | 44 | 47.6 | 22.0 | 25.7 | 6.80 | 145.7 | 43.15 |
| 1963 | 1 737 | 83 | 38 | 46 | 47.9 | 21.7 | 26.1 | 6.85 | 144.3 | 43.37 |
| 1964 | 1 773 | 85 | 38 | 47 | 47.9 | 21.4 | 26.4 | 6.87 | 142.8 | 43.70 |
| 1965 | 1 820 | 87 | 39 | 49 | 47.9 | 21.2 | 26.8 | 6.90 | 141.2 | 43.97 |
| 1966 | 1 882 | 90 | 39 | 51 | 48.0 | 20.8 | 27.2 | 6.94 | 139.4 | 44.37 |
| 1967 | 1 957 | 93 | 40 | 53 | 47.9 | 20.4 | 27.5 | 6.96 | 137.5 | 44.82 |
| 1968 | 2 039 | 97 | 41 | 56 | 47.8 | 20.0 | 27.8 | 6.98 | 135.6 | 45.28 |
| 1969 | 2 120 | 101 | 42 | 60 | 48.0 | 19.7 | 28.3 | 7.04 | 133.5 | 45.67 |
| 1970 | 2 197 | 105 | 42 | 63 | 47.9 | 19.3 | 28.6 | 7.07 | 131.3 | 46.12 |
| 1971 | 2 267 | 109 | 43 | 66 | 47.9 | 18.9 | 29.0 | 7.10 | 129.1 | 46.59 |
| 1972 | 2 331 | 112 | 43 | 69 | 47.9 | 18.5 | 29.3 | 7.12 | 126.8 | 47.09 |
| 1973 | 2 391 | 115 | 43 | 71 | 47.8 | 18.1 | 29.7 | 7.13 | 124.4 | 47.60 |
| 1974 | 2 450 | 117 | 44 | 74 | 47.7 | 17.7 | 30.0 | 7.15 | 122.1 | 48.10 |
| 1975 | 2 510 | 120 | 43 | 76 | 47.6 | 17.2 | 30.4 | 7.15 | 119.8 | 48.73 |
| 1976 | 2 570 | 123 | 43 | 79 | 47.5 | 16.8 | 30.7 | 7.14 | 117.4 | 49.33 |
| 1977 | 2 631 | 125 | 43 | 81 | 47.2 | 16.4 | 30.8 | 7.11 | 115.1 | 49.76 |
| 1978 | 2 693 | 127 | 43 | 83 | 46.9 | 16.1 | 30.8 | 7.06 | 112.8 | 50.23 |
| 1979 | 2 761 | 128 | 43 | 85 | 46.4 | 15.6 | 30.7 | 7.00 | 110.5 | 50.77 |
| 1980 | 2 838 | 130 | 43 | 87 | 45.9 | 15.3 | 30.7 | 6.94 | 108.4 | 51.23 |
| 1981 | 2 926 | 133 | 43 | 90 | 45.6 | 14.9 | 30.7 | 6.87 | 106.2 | 51.76 |
| 1982 | 3 023 | 136 | 44 | 92 | 45.1 | 14.5 | 30.6 | 6.77 | 104.2 | 52.26 |
| 1983 | 3 127 | 139 | 44 | 95 | 44.7 | 14.2 | 30.5 | 6.70 | 102.3 | 52.64 |
| 1984 | 3 232 | 143 | 45 | 98 | 44.3 | 13.8 | 30.5 | 6.62 | 100.4 | 53.09 |
| 1985 | 3 337 | 146 | 45 | 101 | 43.8 | 13.5 | 30.3 | 6.54 | 98.7 | 53.43 |
| 1986 | 3 439 | 150 | 46 | 104 | 43.5 | 13.3 | 30.2 | 6.46 | 97.1 | 53.71 |
| 1987 | 3 545 | 153 | 46 | 107 | 43.2 | 13.1 | 30.1 | 6.39 | 95.7 | 54.05 |
| 1988 | 3 653 | 156 | 47 | 109 | 42.8 | 12.9 | 29.9 | 6.30 | 94.4 | 54.35 |
| 1989 | 3 764 | 159 | 48 | 111 | 42.3 | 12.8 | 29.5 | 6.22 | 93.2 | 54.39 |
| 1990 | 3 876 | 163 | 49 | 113 | 41.9 | 12.7 | 29.2 | 6.13 | 92.1 | 54.37 |
| 1991 | 3 990 | 166 | 51 | 115 | 41.6 | 12.7 | 28.9 | 6.05 | 91.1 | 54.27 |
| 1992 | 4 106 | 169 | 52 | 117 | 41.1 | 12.6 | 28.5 | 5.95 | 90.0 | 54.30 |
| 1993 | 4 078 | 172 | 53 | 119 | 40.7 | 12.6 | 28.1 | 5.85 | 88.9 | 54.20 |
| 1994 | 4 093 | 163 | 51 | 112 | 40.3 | 12.6 | 27.7 | 5.75 | 87.7 | 54.04 |
| 1995 | 4 280 | 169 | 53 | 116 | 39.7 | 12.5 | 27.2 | 5.65 | 86.3 | 54.04 |
| 1996 | 4 446 | 174 | 55 | 119 | 39.3 | 12.4 | 26.8 | 5.54 | 84.7 | 54.10 |
| 1997 | 4 593 | 178 | 56 | 122 | 38.8 | 12.3 | 26.5 | 5.44 | 83.0 | 54.19 |
| 1998 | 4 728 | 183 | 58 | 125 | 38.8 | 12.3 | 26.6 | 5.38 | 81.4 | 54.20 |
| 1999 | 4 868 | 189 | 59 | 130 | 38.8 | 12.0 | 26.8 | 5.34 | 79.4 | 54.54 |
| 2000 | 5 008 | 194 | 60 | 134 | 38.7 | 11.9 | 26.8 | 5.27 | 77.5 | 54.74 |
| 2001 | 5 145 | 198 | 61 | 138 | 38.6 | 11.8 | 26.8 | 5.23 | 75.6 | 54.86 |
| 2002 | 5 282 | 203 | 61 | 142 | 38.4 | 11.5 | 26.9 | 5.19 | 73.6 | 55.31 |
| 2003 | 5 421 | 207 | 61 | 146 | 38.2 | 11.3 | 26.8 | 5.15 | 71.8 | 55.64 |
| 2004 | 5 565 | 210 | 63 | 147 | 37.7 | 11.3 | 26.4 | 5.08 | 69.9 | 55.57 |
| 2005 | 5 712 | 215 | 63 | 152 | 37.6 | 11.1 | 26.5 | 5.07 | 68.2 | 55.96 |
| 2006 | 5 874 | 221 | 64 | 156 | 37.6 | 10.9 | 26.7 | 5.08 | 66.5 | 56.22 |
| 2007 | 6 048 | 229 | 65 | 164 | 37.8 | 10.8 | 27.0 | 5.09 | 64.9 | 56.51 |
| 2008 | 6 222 | 233 | 66 | 167 | 37.6 | 10.7 | 26.9 | 5.05 | 63.3 | 56.70 |
| 2009 | 6 399 | 240 | 67 | 173 | 37.5 | 10.5 | 27.0 | 5.03 | 61.7 | 57.01 |
| 2010 | 6 572 | 246 | 68 | 178 | 37.4 | 10.3 | 27.0 | 5.01 | 60.2 | 57.30 |
| 2011 | 6 749 | 247 | 67 | 180 | 36.6 | 10.0 | 26.7 | 4.92 | 58.6 | 57.93 |
| 2012 | 6 927 | 248 | 68 | 180 | 35.8 | 9.9 | 26.0 | 4.81 | 57.0 | 58.07 |
| 2013 | 7 106 | 251 | 68 | 183 | 35.3 | 9.5 | 25.8 | 4.72 | 55.4 | 58.68 |
| 2014 | 7 288 | 254 | 69 | 185 | 34.8 | 9.4 | 25.4 | 4.66 | 53.9 | 58.85 |
| 2015 | 7 473 | 257 | 69 | 189 | 34.4 | 9.2 | 25.2 | 4.59 | 52.4 | 59.40 |
| 2016 | 7 661 | 261 | 70 | 192 | 34.1 | 9.1 | 25.0 | 4.56 | 51.0 | 59.55 |
| 2017 | 7 853 | 264 | 69 | 195 | 33.7 | 8.8 | 24.9 | 4.50 | 49.6 | 60.15 |
| 2018 | 8 047 | 267 | 71 | 197 | 33.2 | 8.8 | 24.4 | 4.44 | 48.2 | 60.24 |
| 2019 | 8 243 | 270 | 70 | 200 | 32.8 | 8.5 | 24.3 | 4.39 | 46.8 | 60.90 |
| 2020 | 8 566 | 281 | 73 | 209 | 32.5 | 8.4 | 24.1 | 4.39 | 45.1 | 61.1 |
| 2021 | 8 774 | 284 | 74 | 211 | 32.0 | 8.3 | 23.7 | 4.32 | 43.8 | 61.3 |
| 2022 | 8 983 | 287 | 72 | 215 | 31.5 | 7.9 | 23.7 | 4.25 | 42.6 | 62.3 |
| 2023 | 9 196 | 290 | 72 | 218 | 31.1 | 7.7 | 23.4 | 4.19 | 41.4 | 62.7 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births |||||||||||
Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects, 2022

### Demographic and Health Surveys

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):
| Year | Total | Total | Urban | Urban | Rural | Rural |
| Year | CBR | TFR | CBR | TFR | CBR | TFR |
| 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) |
| 2017 | 31.6 | 4.4 | 28.9 | 3.3 | 33.1 | 5.2 |
Fertility data as of 2013-2014 and 2017 (DHS Program):
| Region | Total fertility rate (2013/14) | Percentage of women age 15-49 currently pregnant | Mean number of children ever born to women age 40-49 | Total fertility rate (2017) |
| Lomé | 3.5 | 6.2 | 3.7 | 3.1 |
| Maritime (except Lomé) | 5.2 | 9.5 | 5.1 | 4.2 |
| Plateaux | 5.2 | 10.6 | 5.4 | 4.9 |
| Centrale | 5.1 | 7.2 | 5.7 | 5.3 |
| Kara | 5.3 | 9.7 | 6.1 | 5.1 |
| Savanes | 6.0 | 9.3 | 7.3 | 5.7 |

### Life expectancy at birth

| Period | Life expectancy in Years |
| 1950–1955 | 35.30 |
| 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 |

## Language and ethnicity

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.
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.

## Religion

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