Togo
Partly Free
37
100
| PR Political Rights | 11 40 |
| CL Civil Liberties | 26 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
41
100
Partly Free
A country or territory’s Freedom in the World status depends on its aggregate Political Rights score, on a scale of 0–40, and its aggregate Civil Liberties score, on a scale of 0–60.
See the methodology.
While regular multiparty elections have taken place since 1992, the late Gnassingbé Eyadéma and his son, Faure Gnassingbé, have controlled Togolese politics since a 1963 coup. Gnassingbé has maintained control in part through a security apparatus dominated by his ethnic group, malapportioned election districts that benefit the ruling party, co-optation of opposition parties, and opportunistic changes to the constitutional and legal framework. Opposition calls for reform have been harshly repressed.
This report has been abridged for Freedom in the World 2026. Freedom in the World is entirely funded by nongovernmental sources such as private foundations, corporations, and individuals like you. Please consider making a donation to support future editions of this vital resource.
For additional background information, see the reports from the 2024 and 2025 editions of Freedom in the World.
A1
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? | 0.000 4.004 |
Score Change: The score declined from 1 to 0 because the country’s long-ruling president, Faure Gnassingbé, was appointed president of the Council of Ministers, a post that oversees the functions of the government, is decided on by the ruling party, and does not have term limits.
A2
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? | 1.001 4.004 |
Score Change: The score declined from 2 to 1 because the president appointed a third of the newly established Senate while the rest were voted in by municipal councilors just before the end of their own mandates; opposition parties largely boycotted the election.
A3
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Are the electoral laws and framework fair, and are they implemented impartially by the relevant election management bodies? | 0.000 4.004 |
B1
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive political groupings of their choice, and is the system free of undue obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties or groupings? | 2.002 4.004 |
B2
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Is there a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections? | 1.001 4.004 |
B3
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Are the people’s political choices free from domination by forces that are external to the political sphere, or by political forces that employ extrapolitical means? | 1.001 4.004 |
B4
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Do various segments of the population (including ethnic, racial, religious, gender, LGBT+, and other relevant groups) have full political rights and electoral opportunities? | 2.002 4.004 |
C1
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of the government? | 1.001 4.004 |
Score Change: The score declined from 2 to 1 because both the executive and a majority of the seats in the Senate are not directly elected by voters.
C2
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective? | 1.001 4.004 |
C3
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Does the government operate with openness and transparency? | 2.002 4.004 |
D1
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Are there free and independent media? | 2.002 4.004 |
D2
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Are individuals free to practice and express their religious faith or nonbelief in public and private? | 3.003 4.004 |
D3
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political indoctrination? | 2.002 4.004 |
D4
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Are individuals free to express their personal views on political or other sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution? | 1.001 4.004 |
Score Change: The score declined from 2 to 1 because the government reacted to protests by arbitrarily detaining people, restricting access to social media platforms, and threatening to arrest individuals for sharing and liking social media posts.
E1
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Is there freedom of assembly? | 1.001 4.004 |
E2
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Is there freedom for nongovernmental organizations, particularly those that are engaged in human rights– and governance-related work? | 2.002 4.004 |
E3
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations? | 2.002 4.004 |
F1
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Is there an independent judiciary? | 2.002 4.004 |
F2
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Does due process prevail in civil and criminal matters? | 1.001 4.004 |
F3
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Is there protection from the illegitimate use of physical force and freedom from war and insurgencies? | 2.002 4.004 |
F4
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Do laws, policies, and practices guarantee equal treatment of various segments of the population? | 1.001 4.004 |
G1
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Do individuals enjoy freedom of movement, including the ability to change their place of residence, employment, or education? | 2.002 4.004 |
G2
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Are individuals able to exercise the right to own property and establish private businesses without undue interference from state or nonstate actors? | 2.002 4.004 |
G3
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Do individuals enjoy personal social freedoms, including choice of marriage partner and size of family, protection from domestic violence, and control over appearance? | 1.001 4.004 |
G4
1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
| Do individuals enjoy equality of opportunity and freedom from economic exploitation? | 2.002 4.004 |
Country Facts
-
Population
8,849,000 -
Global Freedom Score
37 100 partly free
