Togo - A country in West Africa

Togo is a country in West Africa, bordering Ghana, Benin, and Burkina Faso.
Despite its rich cultural and linguistic diversity, a large part of the population lives in conditions of severe hardship.

Today, nearly half of the urban population lives in slums, and around 50% of the total population survives on less than 1.90 USD per day.

Demographics and social pressure

Togo is experiencing strong population growth, which places significant pressure on infrastructure and essential public services.

• Population (2025): approximately 9.5 million inhabitants

• The population has doubled in 25 years

• Population growth rate: around 2.2% per year

This rapid growth results in:

• heavy pressure on the education system

• limited access to healthcare

• insufficient employment opportunities

The median age is 20, meaning that one out of every two people in Togo is a child or an adolescent.

Languages and cultural diversity

Togo stands out for its exceptional linguistic diversity.

• Official language: French

• National languages: Éwé and Kabiyè

• More than 40 local languages are spoken across the country

This diversity is a great cultural strength but also presents challenges in education and access to information.

Poverty and living conditions

(amounts expressed in Swiss francs – CHF)

Economic hardship affects a large share of the population:

• Extreme poverty:
  Around 50% of the population lives on less than 1.70 CHF per day,
  representing approximately 4.7 million people living on less than the price of a coffee in Switzerland.

• Moderate poverty:
  About 34% live on less than 3 CHF per day.

• Average annual income:
  Approximately 1,000 CHF per person,
  which is nearly 100 times less than the Swiss average.

Health and housing

Living conditions have a direct impact on people’s health:

• Life expectancy: around 63 years, about 10 years below the global average

• Precarious housing:

  • Nearly one in two urban residents lives in a slum

  • Limited access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare

Children are the most affected by these conditions.

Why our work matters

It is within this context that Massékopé – Village of Hope carries out its work.
Understanding the realities of life in Togo highlights the importance of local, tangible, and sustainable actions focused on the essential needs of children and their families.