Togo - People
The total population in 2015 was 7,305,000. In 2006, the country had an estimated population of of 6.6 million with an average annual growth rate of 2.5%.2 Considered to be one of the poorest countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Togo’s average per capita GNP is estimated at US $440.34 This is particularly low compared to the Sub-Saharan Africa average (US $842) and to the Low-Income Countries average (US $650).
For such a small country, there is an amazing number of ethnic groups and over 60 local languages are spoken. The official language is French, and the two principal local languages are Ewé (the predominant language of the south that is also spoken in Ghana and Benin) and Kabyé (the predominant language of the north).
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.
Most of the southern peoples use the Ewe or Mina languages, which are closely related and spoken in commercial sectors throughout Togo. 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.
Togo is both a country of emigration and asylum. In the early 1990s, southern Togo suffered from the economic decline of the phosphate sector and ethnic and political repression at the hands of dictator Gnassingbe EYADEMA and his northern, Kabye-dominated administration. The turmoil led 300,000 to 350,000 predominantly southern Togolese to flee to Benin and Ghana, with most not returning home until relative stability was restored in 1997. In 2005, another outflow of 40,000 Togolese to Benin and Ghana occurred when violence broke out between the opposition and security forces over the disputed election of EYADEMA’s son Faure GNASSINGBE to the presidency. About half of the refugees reluctantly returned home in 2006, many still fearing for their safety. Despite ethnic tensions and periods of political unrest, Togo in 2016 was home to more than 18,000 refugees from Ghana.
Togolese communities are close and based on a network of extended family and other members of the community. Sharing is very much the norm. The Ewe tribes who live in the more developed south constitute around 45% of the population and the Kabre, which constitute 35% live in the north. Around 7% of the populaton are foreigners.
Outside of Togo’s capital, residents of rural communities have had relatively little direct exposure to other cultures, races, religions, and lifestyles. What people view as typical American behavior or norms may be a misconception, such as the belief that all Americans are rich and have blond hair and blue eyes. The people of Togo are justly known for their generous hospitality to foreigners; however, members of different communitied may display a range of reactions to cultural differences.
A typical Togolese meal is a carbohydrate-base rice, yams, pâte (boiled corn meal or flour) or fufu (pounded white yams), accompanied by a variety of hot, spicy sauces. Rice and beans, usually eaten at breakfast, is another common meal. Meat is available throughout Togo, but it is expensive; fresh fish is only available in larger towns. Fruits and vegetables are seasonal, occasionally making it difficult for vegetarians to adhere to a sound diet, especially in the more remote areas.
In Togo, over 61% of the population lives below the poverty line, a situation more acute in rural areas. Rural poverty is a significant problem in the country; the Savannah region is the poorest with roughly 90% living in poverty, followed by the Central region (78%), Kara (75%), Coastal (69%), Plateau (56%), and Lomé (24%). Undernourishment afflicts 64.2% of the population, and the poor lack reliable access to education, health, electricity, and drinking water. The country’s poverty is in part due to the political turmoil it experienced between 1991-2006 when per capita incomes fell by 20%. In addition to widespread poverty, environmental problems and population growth continue to hinder advancements in development. Togo’s natural resources are being depleted rapidly with devastating consequences for the ecosystem. In particular, clean water is becoming increasingly scarce.
Compliance with malaria prophylaxis, use of mosquito nets, and application of insect repellent are essential. Malaria is a very serious, sometimes fatal, disease. Many illnesses are entirely preventable if proper food and water precautions are taken. These illnesses include food poisoning, parasitic infections, hepatitis A, dysentery, Guinea worms, tapeworms, and typhoid fever.
By April 2017, after over a decade of persistent efforts, Togo has eliminated lymphatic filariasis — also known as elephantiasis — as a public health problem. The announcement followed a formal validation by the World Health Organization (WHO) which congratulated the Togolese government for this historic achievement. “This is a truly remarkable public health achievement that demonstrates the translation of collective commitment into real action by the Togolese government, partners and communities. By eliminating this debilitating disease, the country has banished a significant cause of poverty into the archives of history," said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa.
Lymphatic filariasis is caused by a parasitic infection affecting people living in tropical countries. Filarial worms are transmitted to humans through mosquito bites and damage the body's lymphatic vessels leading to severe disfigurement, pain and disability. People affected by the disease are not only physically disabled, but suffer mental, social and financial losses contributing to stigma and poverty.
The population had trebled since the first census in 1961 and as of 1990 ws set to double again within the next 22 years if present growth rates were sustained. Projections aimed at bringing the rate down to around 3% by the end of the millennium - still a very high figure. Half the population was under the age of 15. This has put enormous strains on the economy in terms of increased costs of education and other social services as well as creating serious unemployment.
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.
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