🇹🇬Togo Political Stability: 19.4/100

Togo is a small West African country bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east, and Burkina Faso to the north, with a coastline along the Bight of Benin. The country features a diverse landscape that includes sandy beaches along the Gulf of Guinea, rolling savanna in the north, and hills in the central region. The climate is generally tropical, with temperatures ranging from 23 °C on the coast to about 30 °C in the north, and it has several national parks and reserves for nature enthusiasts.

As of 2022, Togo has a population of approximately 8.68 million, with a significant portion living in rural areas dedicated to agriculture. The largest ethnic group is the Ewe, making up about 32% of the population, followed by the Kabye at 22%. The capital city, Lomé, has seen substantial growth, with a population of around 837,437 in 2010, and the surrounding urban area reaching nearly 1.5 million.

World Bank governance: rule of law 24th percentile, corruption control 21st percentile, political stability 11th percentile.

Togo's strongest governance dimension is Rule of Law at 24/100, placing it in the bottom quartile globally. This reflects relatively strong confidence in contract enforcement, property rights, police, and courts.

The weakest dimension is Political Stability at 11/100. Political instability concerns may affect the overall security environment and long-term predictability.

A moderate spread of 13 points separates the strongest and weakest indicators. This suggests governance strengths in some areas but room for improvement in others. Travelers can generally rely on institutional frameworks, though certain aspects of governance may be less dependable.

Togo's fragile governance environment presents real challenges for travelers. Institutional capacity is severely limited across most dimensions. Visitors should expect minimal government services, potential interactions with corruption, and limited recourse through legal systems. Travel to Togo requires extensive preparation and risk awareness.

The U.S. State Department currently rates Togo as Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution). This aligns with a governance profile that, while not without challenges, provides a baseline of institutional functioning.