Togo has a population of approximately 9 million.[1] The country is relatively equally populated in its urban and rural regions, which account for 44%[2] and 56%[3] of the population, respectively. Agriculture is a fairly important source of employment for the country, as it assumes 31% of the workforce.[4] The agricultural sector represents 18.3% of the national GDP.[5]
In Togo, two-thirds of the country’s population relies directly or indirectly on crop and livestock farming to live, of which the latter is practiced mostly by smallholder families.[6] Despite playing an important role in Togo’s economy, the agricultural sector is also associated with poverty and food insecurity in the country: rural areas, primarily in the north of Togo, constitute about one-third of the country’s food-insecure people, and this insecurity poses a threat mainly to theSavanes Region, where grain and vegetable farmers are concentrated.[7] Development in Togo is hindered primarily by infrastructure deficiencies, such as poor transportation networks (railroads) and irrigation systems[8].
The top produced commodities in Togo are cassava, yams, maize, oil palm fruit, and sorghum.[9] Togo’s top export commodities in terms of quantity are soya beans, palm oil, refined sugar, whole milk, and wine.[10]
The minimum wage in Togo is set by law at 52,500 Central African francs (80 EUR) per month.[11] This figure is above the national poverty line, yet the lack of enforcement by the government leads to employers often ignoring the applicable law. Reports show that employers often pay below this minimum wage, mostly to unskilled or low-skilled workers. Additionally, the government does not enforce occupational safety and health (OSH) law, and employers often ignore it. An alarming number of 91% of the country’s workforce is part of the informal sector, meaning the law cannot enforce OSH protections, wage, or hour laws. Among those, the majority is found in agriculture, mining, and manufacturing sectors.[12]
The Global Living Wage Coalition has developed 3 reference value studies for Togo based on the Anker methodology, two for living wage (one urban and one rural) and one for living income (for rural).
Living wage
The Anker Living Wage Reference Value in rural Togo is estimated at 92,764 Central African francs (141EUR) per month. This is the wage required for workers in a typical rural area of Togo to afford a basic but decent standard of living. This is based on a family of 5.5 with 1.71 full-time workers. This indicator is higher than four other comparators; the World Bank’s USD 2,15 poverty line for low-income countries, the national poverty line adjusted for inflation, the national minimum wage, as well as the average wage paid in the agricultural sector.[13]
For urban areas of Togo, the Anker Living Wage Reference is estimated at 122,967 Central African francs (187 EUR) per month for a family size of 5 with 1.69 workers. This indicator is also higher than the four above-mentioned comparators, but looking at the average wage paid in manufacturing industries instead of agriculture.[14]
Living income
A Living Income Reference Value for rural areas of Togo was estimated at 149,206 Central African francs (227 EUR) per month. This value represents the amount a typical family of 5.5 with 1.71 full-time workers needs to cover the monthly cost of a basic but decent standard of living in rural communities. This indicator is also higher than all previously-mentioned comparators in the living wage reference value report.[13]
Living Wage and Income Reference Value: Rural Togo 
Living wage and living income required for workers in a typical rural area of Togo to afford a basic but decent standard of living.
Living Wage Reference Value, Urban Togo
Living wage estimate for workers to be able to afford a basic but decent living standard in a typical urban area of Togo.
Fair Trade Risk Map
Highlights salient issues in Togo, such as the standard of living and forced labour
IFAD and Togo: Working together for long-term agricultural and rural development
Plan to attempt to create the conditions for economic growth and to put agricultural and rural development on track