2025 country profile

How democratic is
Togo?

Togo scores 48.3 out of 100 and ranks 109 of 179 in our independent 2025 democracy measure. Its lowest-scoring test is rights and checks on power. Explore the evidence and history below.

Democracys.org beta estimate, derived from V-Dem v16. A measure of political institutions and conditions—not a percentage of democracy or a judgment of people.

Printable country brief Compare this country

DEMOCRACYS SCORE

48.3out of 100Major democratic constraints

2025 rank109 of 179

10-year change−2.6

25-year change+6.5

Source-bound range41.0–55.7

Weakest areaRights & checks

The source-bound range is an uncertainty guide, not a confidence interval for this combined score. How to read the range →

SCORE HISTORY

Togo, 1975–2025

The shaded area is a plain-language uncertainty guide. Treat small score differences cautiously.

About uncertainty

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

What changed on the ground?

A documented development to help interpret the institutions behind the score.

2025 context · Freedom House assessment

A new executive arrangement removed a tenure constraint

The long-serving president became head of a Council of Ministers selected through the ruling party, without term limits for the role. Freedom House also describes indirect and appointed selection of the Senate. The change shifted how power is authorized and reduced voters’ direct leverage over executive leadership.

Read the country report · Freedom in the World 2026

AI-assisted source summary · not independently expert-reviewed

What this context does—and does not—explain

This is a selected development, not a complete political history. Its date may differ from the selected comparison period. It is not evidence that one event caused a particular number of points, and it may describe progress even when this index declines.

The scores use V-Dem. The narrative summarizes a separate assessment by Freedom House, whose definitions and coverage differ. Neither organization endorses this website. The summary is AI-assisted, source-linked, and has not received independent country-expert review. Source checked October 5, 2026.

Why democracy measures can disagree →

UNDERSTAND THE CHANGE

What drove the score?

2015–2025 · the measured story

The score for Togo fell 2.6 points, from 50.9 to 48.3 between 2015 and 2025. 1 of the five areas improved while 4 worsened, so the headline combines competing movements. Participation contributed the largest upward push in the score calculation.

Read the political context ↓

Largest influence on the calculation

Participation

The evidence rates opportunities to participate through civic organizations, direct democracy, and local or regional institutions more favorably.

Area score: 27.6 → 53.9
Approx. contribution to overall change: +5.9 points

Moving in the other direction

Rights and checks

The evidence points toward weaker civil liberties, equality before the law, or constraints on executive power.

Area score: 45.4 → 31.5
Approx. contribution to overall change: −3.2 points

These contributions explain the calculation—not the causes. The five area scores combine several indicators; they do not identify which individual law, election, or event changed.

When did the biggest shifts appear?

The largest year-to-year movements within this period. These are changes in annual estimates, not precise dates of political events.

2016–2017−3.1 points
The overall score fell from 51.1 to 48.0. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2019–2020+3.6 points
The overall score rose from 52.7 to 56.3. Rights and checks supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2022–2023−2.9 points
The overall score fell from 53.9 to 51.0. Participation supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 56.3 in 2020. Small differences may fall within the source’s uncertainty.

See all five areas and how contributions are calculated

Changes in inputs versus contributions to the overall score
Area	2015	2025	Input change	Approx. contribution
Participation	27.6	53.9	+26.3	+5.9
Rights and checks	45.4	31.5	−13.9	−3.2
Elections	47.1	35.1	−12.0	−2.6
Political equality	66.8	55.9	−10.9	−2.0
Public reasoning	74.9	70.6	−4.3	−0.7

We change the five inputs from their starting to ending values in every possible order, then average each area’s effect on the formula. This distributes the formula’s interactions (a Shapley allocation). It is a mathematical attribution, not a causal estimate.

Inputs and published scores are rounded, so contributions are approximate and may not add exactly to the displayed total. No significance test is implied. Read the full scoring method →

BENEATH THE SCORE

Five dimensions of democracy

The headline score cannot show where a political system is strong or constrained. These five tests can. Each has equal weight in the beta standard.

Free and fair elections

Can people choose their leaders through broad voting rights, honest elections, free political groups, and open public debate?

35.1

Rights and checks on power

Are basic freedoms protected, laws applied fairly, courts independent, and leaders prevented from abusing power?

31.5

Public participation

Can people shape public life through civic groups, direct voting, and meaningful local and regional government?

53.9

Public reasoning

Do leaders explain decisions, consult the public, answer opposing arguments, and consider the common good?

70.6

Political equality

Do different social groups have equal rights, access, resources, and a real chance to influence political power?

55.9

HOW TO READ THIS PROFILE

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.

The score breakdown identifies which parts of the measure changed most. The country report adds documented political context. Together they help explain the institutions at stake—but they do not prove that a specific event produced a specific number of points.

Why this score differs from other democracy indices →

What a declining score can—and cannot—tell us about democratic backsliding

A recent improvement can coexist with a long-term decline. Always compare the dates, check the linked source, and consider developments the selected narrative does not cover.

ANNUAL DATA

Togo score table

Download Togo CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	48.3	41.0–55.7	35.1	31.5	53.9	70.6	55.9
2024	48.4	41.2–56.4	35.0	34.2	45.8	71.2	61.0
2023	51.0	43.7–59.1	38.9	37.9	47.6	74.3	60.7
2022	53.9	47.5–62.0	39.9	42.4	52.9	75.4	62.8
2021	54.2	47.5–62.2	39.6	42.4	52.9	75.4	64.7
2020	56.3	49.4–63.9	42.4	44.8	51.8	75.4	71.2
2019	52.7	45.6–60.3	39.5	37.1	48.9	72.8	70.6
2018	49.9	42.7–57.8	42.8	38.8	35.6	70.5	66.8
2017	48.0	40.4–55.6	44.2	43.7	24.7	68.4	66.6
2016	51.1	43.9–58.1	47.2	46.0	27.6	74.2	67.6
2015	50.9	44.2–58.2	47.1	45.4	27.6	74.9	66.8
2014	50.6	44.3–58.3	46.5	44.4	27.6	74.9	66.8
2013	49.9	43.3–57.2	43.2	44.4	27.6	75.1	66.8
2012	52.3	45.8–59.2	41.2	46.3	32.3	79.9	69.2
2011	52.4	46.1–59.6	41.6	46.3	32.4	79.9	69.0
2010	52.3	46.1–59.6	41.4	46.2	32.4	79.8	69.0
2009	51.1	44.3–58.0	43.4	42.1	32.5	77.6	66.7
2008	51.1	44.8–58.3	43.3	41.5	32.5	78.0	66.7
2007	49.1	43.2–56.0	35.5	41.4	31.6	78.0	66.7
2006	47.6	41.5–54.7	33.8	39.6	31.4	74.2	66.5
2005	43.9	37.0–50.3	32.5	31.6	30.2	66.5	66.3
2004	41.8	34.6–49.3	30.3	39.7	25.3	51.6	68.7
2003	42.0	34.4–49.3	30.4	39.7	26.8	50.6	68.7
2002	42.2	34.3–49.4	30.2	39.7	27.2	51.7	68.7
2001	42.0	34.4–49.3	30.1	39.7	27.6	50.0	68.7
2000	41.8	34.3–49.3	30.1	39.7	25.7	51.4	68.7
1999	40.6	33.4–48.4	29.7	35.8	26.1	51.4	66.0
1998	41.4	34.0–49.1	31.0	37.1	27.3	51.4	66.0
1997	41.4	33.8–49.2	32.8	36.8	27.7	51.4	63.2
1996	41.5	33.9–49.3	32.8	36.8	28.1	51.4	63.2
1995	41.4	33.9–49.3	32.2	36.8	28.1	51.4	63.2
1994	41.3	33.7–49.1	31.7	36.8	28.1	51.4	63.2
1993	41.6	34.5–49.4	28.9	38.7	28.3	51.4	66.8
1992	40.5	33.3–48.1	27.4	37.3	28.3	51.4	64.0
1991	36.6	29.3–44.1	22.9	33.8	22.8	49.1	61.8
1990	21.6	14.5–26.0	15.5	18.5	19.7	11.9	49.8
1989	20.1	14.0–24.7	15.0	18.2	17.2	8.7	50.5
1988	20.2	14.1–24.7	15.0	18.2	17.6	8.7	50.5
1987	20.3	14.3–24.8	15.0	18.2	18.3	8.7	49.9
1986	20.2	14.3–24.6	15.1	18.2	18.1	8.7	49.9
1985	20.2	14.4–24.8	15.1	17.8	18.5	8.7	49.9
1984	20.1	14.3–24.7	15.0	17.8	18.1	8.7	49.9
1983	20.2	14.4–24.8	15.0	17.8	18.5	8.7	49.9
1982	20.2	14.4–24.8	15.0	17.8	18.5	8.7	49.9
1981	20.2	14.4–24.8	15.0	17.8	18.5	8.7	49.9
1980	19.7	14.0–24.4	14.0	17.1	17.9	8.7	49.7
1979	17.5	12.1–21.4	8.1	14.8	16.6	8.7	49.8
1978	17.3	12.0–21.2	8.1	14.8	15.8	8.7	49.8
1977	17.4	12.0–21.3	8.1	14.8	16.2	8.7	49.8
1976	17.7	12.1–21.4	7.9	14.8	16.6	8.7	51.5
1975	17.7	12.1–21.4	7.9	14.8	16.6	8.7	51.5
1974	17.7	12.1–21.4	7.9	14.8	16.6	8.7	51.5
1973	17.7	12.1–21.4	7.9	14.8	16.6	8.7	51.5
1972	17.7	12.1–21.4	7.9	14.8	16.6	8.7	51.5
1971	17.3	11.8–21.1	7.9	14.8	15.0	8.7	51.5
1970	17.2	11.7–21.1	7.9	13.8	15.4	8.7	51.5
1969	17.3	11.8–21.2	8.0	13.8	15.8	8.7	51.5
1968	17.6	12.0–21.5	8.7	13.8	16.2	8.7	51.5
1967	16.9	11.3–20.4	9.9	14.2	16.6	5.1	51.5
1966	29.7	22.5–35.4	22.9	26.0	30.1	18.4	57.1
1965	26.3	19.1–32.1	22.9	26.0	14.8	18.4	57.1
1964	26.3	19.1–32.0	22.9	26.0	14.8	18.4	57.1
1963	29.5	22.1–35.4	21.4	26.2	32.9	19.7	51.9
1962	32.3	25.0–38.9	26.3	22.1	33.4	39.3	42.5
1961	34.0	26.4–40.9	26.6	29.7	33.4	39.3	42.5
1960	30.5	23.3–37.3	24.8	29.3	26.8	39.1	33.7
1959	24.2	16.2–30.4	22.2	24.0	11.4	37.8	30.2
1958	23.8	15.8–30.0	20.3	24.0	11.4	37.8	30.2
1957	20.8	13.4–26.6	17.3	19.3	11.4	31.1	28.3
1956	20.4	13.5–26.1	12.4	19.3	14.8	31.1	27.4
1955	12.6	5.7–16.4	7.5	16.0	4.2	20.8	19.7
1954	12.6	5.7–16.4	7.5	16.0	4.2	20.8	19.7
1953	12.6	5.7–16.4	7.5	16.0	4.2	20.8	19.7
1952	12.7	6.0–16.5	7.4	15.9	4.5	20.8	19.7
1951	12.4	5.7–16.2	6.5	15.9	4.3	20.8	19.7
1950	12.4	5.7–16.2	6.5	15.9	4.3	20.8	19.7
1949	12.3	5.6–16.1	6.4	15.9	4.3	20.8	19.7
1948	12.3	5.6–16.1	6.4	15.9	4.3	20.8	19.7
1947	12.3	5.6–16.1	6.4	15.9	4.3	20.8	19.7
1946	10.5	4.7–13.9	4.3	9.3	4.3	20.8	19.7
1945	9.6	4.1–12.8	2.9	7.5	4.3	20.8	19.7
1944	9.4	4.1–12.7	2.5	7.3	4.3	20.8	19.7
1943	6.6	2.6–9.2	1.7	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1942	6.6	2.6–9.2	1.7	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1941	6.6	2.6–9.2	1.7	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1940	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1939	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1938	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1937	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1936	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1935	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1934	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1933	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1932	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1931	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1930	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1929	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1928	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1927	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1926	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1925	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1924	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1923	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1922	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1921	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1920	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1919	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1918	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1917	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4
1916	6.5	2.6–9.1	1.5	7.3	4.3	5.2	19.4

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Togo Democracy Score, 1916–2025,” Democracys Standard v1.0 beta; derived from Coppedge et al. (2026), V-Dem Country-Year Dataset v16.

Open source DOI

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How democratic isTogo?