Population
With a population density of 138 residents per km2,
Togo is one of Africa's most densely populated countries.
The density is greatest in the coastal region and decreases
to the north. The urbanization rate is 42 percent, but the
urbanization rate is high. The dominant city is the capital
Lomé (1.7 million residents, 2012).
According to
Countryaah, Togo's population is divided into some 40 ethnic groups.
Socially, culturally and politically, the country is divided
between the densely populated and fertile south and the
sparsely populated, dry savannah areas of the central and
northern parts.
In the south, Kwa-speaking peoples, among whom are marked
ewe (1.3 million), wachi (641,000) and mine (363,000). Ewe
and mine are mostly Christian, while wachi has predominantly
maintained its indigenous religion. They feed on tropical
hay farming with root vegetables such as base crops; there
is also some plantation operation.
The central and northern parts of the country are
populated by a number of belt-talking people, including
kabyé (878,000), temba (359,000), losso (256,000) and mob
(333,000). Most people practice indigenous religions, but
Islam is constantly gaining more followers, mainly among
temba. The supply is based on hacking farms with millet and
sorghum as base crops, often in combination with some
livestock management. In the central parts of the country
there are also 90,000 yoruba.
Language
The official language is French. The vernacular belongs
to the Niger-Congo family. In the north, Gurs are spoken,
and in the South Kwa languages; the most important of these
is ewe.
Religion
The part of Africa that today includes Togo was already
reached in the 15th century by European seafarers and slave
traders. A German Catholic mission station was established
in Togo in the 1840s. Today, almost half of the population
is Christian, and they live mainly in the southern parts of
the country. Among the Christian communities, the Catholic
Church is the largest with nearly 30% of its population as
members. Just over 13% are Protestants. There are also
fifteen independent pentacostal, charismatic or apostolic
communities in the country. Altogether, they comprise just
over 6% of the population. By far the largest among these is
the Assemblées de Dieu ('Assembly of God') established in
the country in 1921. Of the country's population, one-third
is estimated to practice traditional African religion,
including characterized by animism and ancestral cult. Many
people mix Christian faith with indigenous traditional
religion.
The Constitution and other laws guarantee freedom of
religion. The country has no real state religion, but
Christians and Muslims are automatically recognized by the
government. Other religious groups must apply for
registration to receive the same status as Christianity and
Islam. According to the constitution, it is prohibited to
form political parties that are ethnically or religiously
based. Also, it is not allowed to discuss politics in the
religious programs broadcast by radio and television
stations. There is no religious education in the public
school, but there are many Catholic, Protestant and Islamic
schools in the country. The government provides these
schools with staff and pays their salaries. It is common for
different religious groups to invite each other to their
ceremonies. Similarly, marriages across religious boundaries
are common.
The following days are national religious holidays: the
second day of Easter, the Ascension of Christ, the second
Pentecost, Mary's ascension to heaven, Id al-fitr, All
Saints' Day, Id al-adha (tabaski) and Christmas
Day.
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