Togo Ranks 117th in Global Innovation Index 2025, But Shows Strength in Market Sophistication

Economic governance

Monday, 06 October 2025 17:23

Togo Ranks 117th in Global Innovation Index 2025, But Shows Strength in Market Sophistication

Togo ranks 117th out of 139 economies in the 2025 Global Innovation Index (GII).
The nation secured the 2nd position among low-income countries.
Market sophistication and institutions are Togo's strongest pillars.

Togo placed 117th out of 139 economies in the 2025 edition of the Global Innovation Index (GII), published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The country ranked second among low-income nations, trailing Rwanda (104th) but surpassing Madagascar (120th) and Uganda (124th).

WIPO annually publishes the GII in collaboration with INSEAD and Cornell University. The index assesses countries' capacity to generate and leverage innovation, utilizing 80 indicators across seven pillars. Three pillars measure "inputs"—institutions, human capital and research, and infrastructure—which represent conditions conducive to innovation. The remaining four pillars evaluate "outputs," or concrete results: market sophistication, business sophistication, knowledge and technology outputs, and creative outputs.

The report indicates Togo's strongest performances in market sophistication and institutions, where it secured the 106th position. This ranking reflects a stable business environment and increasing access to credit for startups. Conversely, research, infrastructure, and business sophistication remain weaknesses, with respective rankings of 107th, 129th, and 136th.

Togo "superperforms" in knowledge and creativity outputs, achieving a 105th global rank. Within Africa, Togo ranks 19th out of 36 countries, behind Cameroon (116th globally) and ahead of Benin (118th). Mauritius, Morocco, and South Africa lead the continent's innovation rankings.

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.