Safest cities in Togo
10 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
Areas the UK FCDO advises against visiting
- Togo-Burkina Faso border
- Savanes Region
- the city of Dapaong and the N1 highway leading to it from the south.
In full or in part — the official advisory lists exact boundaries and exceptions.
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in TogoTerrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Togo.
Terrorist kidnap
- British nationals are seen as legitimate targets, including tourists, humanitarian aid workers, journalists and business travellers. If you are kidnapped, the reason for your presence is unlikely to protect you or secure your safe release.
Political situation
- Political rallies, protests and violent demonstrations can take place unexpectedly. Monitor media outlets, updates from the local authorities or from your travel operator about possible disruptions. Be vigilant if you’re visiting crowded public places or attending events which attract large crowds. If you see a threatening or intimidating…
Togo-Burkina Faso border
- FCDO advises against all travel to within 5km of the border with Burkina Faso, due to the security situation in Burkina Faso and the risk of kidnapping in the region.
Togo’s other borders
- Togo’s borders can close at short notice.
Crime
- ScamsScam artists target foreign visitors and residents. The scams come in many forms – romance and friendship, business ventures, work and employment opportunities – and can cause financial loss. Warn your friends and family to be sceptical if they’re asked to transfer funds to you in Togo. Tell them to contact you to check you’ve made this request.
Laws and cultural differences
- Personal IDCarry a copy of the photo page of your passport with you at all times. Make sure you’re able to access the original quickly if needed.
- Illegal drugs and prison sentencesPossession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs is a serious offence and can result in fines and a prison sentence.
- Using cameras in secure areasIt’s illegal to take photographs of or near sensitive or official sites such as:
- LGBT+ travellersSame-sex sexual relationships are illegal in Togo and penalties are severe. You could be fined or given a prison sentence.
- MoneyTogo is a cash-based society so bring enough cash with you to cover your visit. Credit cards are not widely accepted. Some hotels and restaurants will accept credit cards, but card-paying machines are not reliable so you may be asked to pay in cash.
Outdoor activities
- Swimming safetyOcean currents are very strong along the coast and there are a number of drownings each year. Dangerous beaches are unlikely to have warning signs. Follow local advice before swimming.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Togo, see information on driving abroad. You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Togo for up to 6 months. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence.
- Road conditionsRoads outside towns and cities are poorly lit. During the rainy season, minor unpaved roads may be blocked.
- Sea travelThere have been incidents of piracy and armed robbery against large vessels in Togolese waters and those of neighbouring countries. Mariners should take appropriate precautions. If you’re travelling by sea, read about the regional risks at sea.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Togo, updated 2025-12-15 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- no data
- Income inequality
- Gini 37.92021
- Human development
- HDI 0.5712023
- Income
- $4,090/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 28.7 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 52/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 46/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 32/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 5.5/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.56GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 34.3 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 21%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.1 doctors /1k0.3 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 249 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Flood
- 3.0/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 1.3/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is criminalized in Togo (as of 2025). This describes the law on the books, not necessarily enforcement practice.
How Togo compares
| Measure | Togo | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | no data | 2.4 /100k | — |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 37.9 | 35.2 | +2.7 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.571 | 0.763 | −0.192 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 28.7 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +13.3 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 46/100 | 52/100 | −6/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 32/100 | 39/100 | −7/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 34.3 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +14.6 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 5.5/10 | 3.8/10 | +1.7/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Togo | Africa median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | no data | 4.5 /100k | — |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 37.9 | 38.5 | −0.6 — better for Togo |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.571 | 0.560 | +0.011 — better for Togo |
| Road deaths | 28.7 /100k | 27.9 /100k | +0.8 /100k — better for Africa median |
| Rule of law | 46/100 | 42/100 | +4/100 — better for Togo |
| Corruption perceptions | 32/100 | 30/100 | +2/100 — better for Togo |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 34.3 µg/m³ | 27.3 µg/m³ | +7.0 µg/m³ — better for Africa median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 5.5/10 | 5.2/10 | +0.3/10 — better for Africa median |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.