Togo is officially known as the Republic of Togo (French: Republic of Togo) is a nation in West Africa. Benin, Burkina Faso, and Ghana form its western, eastern, and northern borders. It goes south all the way to the Gulf of Guinea, where the capital, Lomé, is. With a population of approximately 8 million and an area of approximately 57,000 square kilometers (22,000 square miles), it spans less than 115 kilometers (71 miles) between Ghana and Benin, its eastern neighbor.

Tribes came to the area in a variety of ways from the 11th to the 16th century. Togo and the surrounding area were dubbed "The Slave Coast" because the coastal region served as a hub for European traders looking to acquire slaves from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Togoland was designated as a protectorate by Germany in 1884. France assumed control of Togo following World War I. In 1960, Togo declared independence from France. Gnassingbé Eyadéma led a military coup d'état in 1967 that was successful, and he then became president of an anti-communist, one-party state. Eyadéma won the presidency three times during multiparty elections in 1993 that were marred by irregularities. Eyadéma had served as president for 38 years, making him the "longest-serving leader in modern African history" at the time of his death. Faure Gnassingbé, his son, was elected president in 2005.

Togo is a sub-Saharan nation with a tropical climate whose primary industry is agriculture. Other languages, particularly those of the Gbe family, are spoken in addition to French, which is the official language. Christianity is practiced by 42.3% of the population, making it the most popular religion in the country. Togo is a member of the Economic Community of West African States, the United Nations, the African Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, the Francophonie, and the Commonwealth.