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12 Significant Facts about Togo You Should Know

The West African nation of Togo, officially the Togolese Republic, boasts palm-fringed beaches and lush, forested hills. But it also suffers from extreme poverty with respect to education and well-being of the people.
Sucheta Pradhan
Togo shares its borders with Ghana to the west, Benin to the east, Burkina Faso to the north, and Gulf of Guinea to the south.
The total area of Togo is 22,008 square miles, making it one of the smallest African countries.
Togo is only 71 miles in breadth, which also makes it one of the narrowest countries in the world.
Between 16th and 18th centuries, Togo was part of the West African Slave Coast. It was one of the regions where Europeans would come to buy slaves.
Togo primarily comprises 40 indigenous tribes, which make up about 51% of its population. However, Christians and Muslims also form significant minorities in the country.
In the Ewe language, which is widely spoken in the country, Togo means ‘House of the Sea’.
Lomé is the capital and the largest city in Togo. It is also the country’s only international port.
Although several indigenous languages are spoken, the country’s official language is French as it was formerly a French nation. It got its independence from France in 1980.
Major industries in Togo include phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, and handicrafts. The main exports include cotton, phosphates, cacao, and coffee.
The country also boasts low coastal plains with extensive marshes and lagoons.
To the north, Togo’s terrain has gently rolling grasslands, and hills and plateaus in the south.
Togo is a very poor country with minimal healthcare facilities. Many people of the country suffer from parasitic, venereal, intestinal, and respiratory disorders.
Even today, the Togolese largely depend on traditional healing methods. Every medical clinic has a herbalist, and treatments involve taking advice from a Voodoo priest.