Changes

Togo's climate varies from tropical to savanna. The south is humid, with temperatures ranging from 23^oC to 32^oC (75^oF to 90^oF). In the north, temperature fluctuations are greater--from 18^oC to more than 38^oC (65^oF to 100^oF).  

Togo's climate varies from tropical to savanna. The south is humid, with temperatures ranging from 23^oC to 32^oC (75^oF to 90^oF). In the north, temperature fluctuations are greater--from 18^oC to more than 38^oC (65^oF to 100^oF).  

*Area: 56,785 sq. km.; slightly smaller than West Virginia.

*Area: 56,785 km².; slightly smaller than West Virginia.

*Cities: Capital--Lome 1,008,000 (pop. 2007 est.); other major cities--Sokodé 111,200, Kara 104,900, Atakpamé 77,300, Dapaong 53,600.  

*Cities: Capital--Lome 1,008,000 (pop. 2007 est.); other major cities--Sokodé 111,200, Kara 104,900, Atakpamé 77,300, Dapaong 53,600.  

*Terrain: Savannah and hills and coastal plain.

*Terrain: Savannah and hills and coastal plain.

*Industry (24% of 2005 GDP): Types--mining, manufacturing, construction, energy.  

*Industry (24% of 2005 GDP): Types--mining, manufacturing, construction, energy.  

*Services: 32.4% of 2005 GDP.

*Services: 32.4% of 2005 GDP.

*Trade: (2005): Exports--$739 million: phosphates, cocoa, coffee, cotton. Imports--$1 billion: consumer goods, including foodstuffs, fabrics, clothes, vehicles, equipment. Major partners--Ghana, France, Cote d'Ivoire, Germany, Nigeria, Canada, People's Republic of China, Benin.  

*Trade: (2005): Exports--$739 million: phosphates, cocoa, coffee, cotton. Imports--$1 billion: consumer goods, including foodstuffs, fabrics, clothes, vehicles, equipment. Major partners--Ghana, France, Côte d'Ivoire, Germany, Nigeria, Canada, People's Republic of China, Benin.  

Commerce is the most important economic activity in Togo after agriculture. Lome is an important regional trading center. Its port operates 24 hours a day, mainly transporting goods to the inland countries of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Lome's "Grand Marche" is known for its entrepreneurial market women, who have a stronghold on many areas of trade, notably in African cloth. In addition to textiles, Togo is an important center for re-export of alcohol, cigarettes, perfume, and used automobiles to neighboring countries. Political instability during the last decade has, however, eroded Togo's position as a trading center.  

Commerce is the most important economic activity in Togo after agriculture. Lome is an important regional trading center. Its port operates 24 hours a day, mainly transporting goods to the inland countries of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Lome's "Grand Marche" is known for its entrepreneurial market women, who have a stronghold on many areas of trade, notably in African cloth. In addition to textiles, Togo is an important center for re-export of alcohol, cigarettes, perfume, and used automobiles to neighboring countries. Political instability during the last decade has, however, eroded Togo's position as a trading center.  

When bilateral donors cut off assistance to Togo in the early 1990s as a result of the regimes' poor democracy and human rights performance, the country was unable to service its debts to multilateral lenders, who ceased their programs as a result. As part of the Government of Togo's strategy to address donor concerns, in 2006 it undertook discussions with the IMF toward the resumption of a country program. Togo successfully completed an IMF Staff-Monitored Program in mid-2007. Talks are underway to relaunch a regular program, which would hasten Togo's eligibility for World Bank assistance and multilateral debt relief. After the successful legislative elections in October 2007, missions from the EU, IMF, and World Bank visited Togo to assess the financial state of the country. The EU, immediately after the elections, reinitiated assistance with a grant of 26 million Euros to be used for urban development and democracy projects. As of fall 2006, Togo was $104.5 million in arrears to the World Bank and owed $15.4 million to the African Development Bank (ADB).  

When bilateral donors cut off assistance to Togo in the early 1990s as a result of the regimes' poor democracy and human rights performance, the country was unable to service its debts to multilateral lenders, who ceased their programs as a result. As part of the Government of Togo's strategy to address donor concerns, in 2006 it undertook discussions with the IMF toward the resumption of a country program. Togo successfully completed an IMF Staff-Monitored Program in mid-2007. Talks are underway to relaunch a regular program, which would hasten Togo's eligibility for World Bank assistance and multilateral debt relief. After the successful legislative elections in October 2007, missions from the EU, IMF, and World Bank visited Togo to assess the financial state of the country. The EU, immediately after the elections, reinitiated assistance with a grant of 26 million Euros to be used for urban development and democracy projects. As of fall 2006, Togo was $104.5 million in arrears to the World Bank and owed $15.4 million to the African Development Bank (ADB).  

Togo is one of 16 members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The ECOWAS development fund is based in Lome. Togo also is a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), which groups eight West African countries using the CFA franc; the eight countries are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo. The West African Development Bank (BOAD), which is associated with UEMOA, is based in Lome. Togo long served as a regional banking center, but that position has been eroded by the political instability and economic downturn of the early 1990s. Historically, France has been Togo's principal trading partner, although other European Union countries are important to Togo's economy. Total U.S. trade with Togo amounts to about $16 million annually.  

Togo is one of 16 members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The ECOWAS development fund is based in Lome. Togo also is a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), which groups eight West African countries using the CFA franc; the eight countries are Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo. The West African Development Bank (BOAD), which is associated with UEMOA, is based in Lome. Togo long served as a regional banking center, but that position has been eroded by the political instability and economic downturn of the early 1990s. Historically, France has been Togo's principal trading partner, although other European Union countries are important to Togo's economy. Total U.S. trade with Togo amounts to about $16 million annually.  

==History==

==History==