Togo's population hits 8.685 million, U.N. projections show

Public Management

Tuesday, 17 February 2026 11:59

Togo's population hits 8.685 million, U.N. projections show

(Togo First) - Togo's population reached 8.685 million on Jan. 1, 2026, according to new projections from the United Nations Population Division. The figures are based on results from the country’s fifth Population and Housing Census (RGPH-5), carried out with technical support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

After incorporating detailed data from the 2022 census, the population was revised to 8.133 million in 2023. It then rose to 8.314 million in 2024 and 8.499 million in 2025. The 2026 total represents a net increase of approximately 186,000 people over one year.

That increase reflects the difference between recorded births and deaths over the period, plus net migration. Population growth remains driven primarily by natural increase.

Between 2023 and 2026, the cumulative rise exceeded 550,000 people. The average annual growth rate has remained steady at around 2.1% to 2.2%, broadly in line with regional norms.

A Steady Trend

In the near term, the trend appears almost linear, with the population expanding by roughly 180,000 to 190,000 people each year. The natural growth rate, while gradually declining over the long term, has remained relatively stable as a result of two parallel trends.

Fertility continues its slow decline. The fertility rate, which represents the average number of children a woman would have over her lifetime if current patterns remained constant, is projected to fall from 4.19 children per woman in 2023 to around 4.01 in 2026. In 1960, the rate exceeded six children per woman.

The crude birth rate, which measures the number of births per 1,000 inhabitants per year, fell from 47.9 per thousand in 1960 to 32.6 per thousand in 2023 and is expected to reach approximately 31.2 per thousand in 2026. In practical terms, the country now records around 31 births per 1,000 inhabitants annually, compared with nearly 48 in the early 1960s.

Life expectancy has also continued to rise, reaching 63.3 years in 2026, up from 62.7 years in 2023 and just 43.5 years in 1960. Infant mortality is declining as well, projected to fall from 41.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 to around 39.1 per thousand in 2026, compared with 134.3 per thousand in 1960. Life expectancy is now nearly 20 years higher than in the early 1960s, and the risk of death before age one has fallen by more than two-thirds over six decades.

These gains reflect ongoing improvements in sanitation and access to healthcare. They also suggest that a demographic transition is underway, even if it remains incomplete.

A Predominantly Young Population

The population structure remains defined by its youth. The median age stood at 18.1 years in 2023, meaning half the population was under 18.

At the same time, the share of those aged 15 to 64 is gradually expanding. It accounted for 54% in 2023, approximately 55.5% in 2026, and could approach 58% by 2030.

This shift points to a gradual expansion of the working-age population, a factor that could support economic growth if the labor market is able to absorb these new cohorts.

A Stable Medium-Term Outlook

Projections indicate the population should reach 9.459 million by 2030, with growth remaining steady and showing no marked acceleration.

For public authorities, these data represent a key planning tool, helping anticipate needs in education, healthcare and the broader economy, against the backdrop of a population that remains predominantly young.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.