Religion in Togo

Religion in Togo (2022 census)[1]
  1. Christianity (49.2%)
  2. Islam (18.6%)
  3. Traditional (17.0%)
  4. No religion (9.40%)
  5. Other (2.90%)
  6. Not stated/Unknown (2.90%)
Holy Ghost Cathedral in Kpalimé.

Religion in Togo is diverse, with the nation ranking as the seventh most religiously diverse in the world. Christianity is the largest religion practised by approximately half of the population, while adherents of Islam and traditional religions also represent major religious groups in the country.[1][2]

Mosque in Blitta

A significant number of Christians and Muslims in Togo also incorporate elements of folk religion into their practice.[3][4] Togo is a secular state and the nation's constitution provides freedom of religion and worship.[5] The Christian population primarily comprises Catholics and various Protestant denominations.[1]

Statistics

The 2022 general population and housing census found 49.2% of the Togolese population identified as Christian, 18.6% as Muslim, 17.0% as practitioners of traditional faiths, 9.4% with no religion, and 2.9% with other religions.[1]

Between the 2010 and 2022 censuses, the share of Muslims increased from 16.1% to 18.6% of the total population, and the proportion of Togolese Christians grew from 48.6% to 49.2%. Conversely, the percentage of those identifying with traditional religions declined sharply from 27.7% to 17.0% of the population in the same time period.[1][6]

Religion 2022 Census[1]
# %
Christianity 3,965,800 49.2
—Catholicism 1,688,420 21.0
—Protestantism 1,680,523 20.8
—Jehovah's Witnesses 51,087 0.6
—Other Christian 545,770 6.8
Islam 1,499,867 18.6
Traditional faiths 1,367,266 17.0
Other 231,073 2.9
No religion 759,447 9.4
Not stated 187,619 2.3
Unknown 47,100 0.6
Total 8,058,172 100

Overview

The 2014 General Population and Housing Census noted that 25% of the population was Catholic, making it the primary branch of Christianity in Togo, while other denominations included Methodists, Lutherans, Assemblies of God, Seventh-day Adventists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and Jehovah's Witnesses. Nichiren Buddhists, followers of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness, Baha’is and Hindus are among other religious groups in the country.[7]

Christians live mainly in the south of the country, while Muslims live predominately in the central and northern regions.[7]

Traditional African religions

According to the 2022 census, approximately 1.4 million Togolese identified with traditional religions, representing 17% of the total population.[1] Among Christians and Muslims, some practice a form of worship that combines traditional rites and Voodoo beliefs. The Togolese remain very attached to animist practices and their ancestral customs.[8] Among these religions, the most important are the Yoruba religion, whose famous ceremony, the Gelede, is characterized by the expression of feelings through music and songs,[9] and fetishism, which is the worship of fetishes believed to cure the ills caused by witchcraft.

Protestantism and the Orange Order

The Togolese branch of the Orange Order, governed by the Grand Lodge of Togo, serves as a local chapter of the international Protestant fraternal organization.[10][11] Its origins trace back to September 1915 with the establishment of its first lodge, LOL 867, "Defenders of Lome," by John Amate Atayi. Atayi, a Togolese local, was first initiated into the order in Lagos, Nigeria, before bringing its principles to his home country.[12][13] the lodges in Togo, which also include LOL 884, concentrate on positive evangelism, youth development, and community philanthropy.[14] Members interpret the victory of William of Orange not as a political symbol but rather as a testament to civil and religious freedom. This perspective highlights the organization's focus on non-political, charitable works and spiritual growth within the local community.[15][16]

Islam

Muslims represent the second largest religious group in Togo, after Christians.[1] Islam was introduced to Togo by Berber groups who built mosques and converted populations, so that by 1900, 4% of the population was Muslim. In the 17th century, the Tchokossi, a Muslim people, settled in the Mango region of Togo, and gradually spread northward. German, and later French, rule was considered very favorable to the development of Islam in the country. The settlers signed agreements with the Muslim Berbers of the region to provide them with gold, weapons and mercenaries.[17] The first mosque in Togo was built in the middle of the 19th century in the village of Didawurê.[18]

In 1997, Togo has become a member country of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.[19]

The 2022 census recorded approximately 1.5 million Togolese Muslims, accounting for roughly 19% of the total population.[1] The vast majority of Muslims in Togo are Sunni of the Maliki school.

Other religions

Hinduism

Hinduism is a recent phenomenon in Togo. This religion was exported to Togo through the Hindu Monastery of Africa based in Accra, Ghana.[20] The religion was introduced by indigenous Africans based in Accra, Ghana, and a branch of the Hindu Monastery of Africa has been established in Lomé. There are around 80,000 or 1% Hindus in Togo in 2022.[21][22][23]

Baháʼí Faith

In 2020, there were around 40,000 followers of Baháʼí Faith in Togo.

Cults

Cults has enormously grew in Togo since the 1990s with the socio-economic crisis the country is going through.[17] More than two thousand are registered in Lomé, some of which are hiding networks of prostitution, modern slavery, and embezzlement.

Freedom of religion

In 2022, Freedom House rated Togo's religious freedom as 3 out of 4,[24] noting that religious freedom is constitutionally protected and generally respected in practice. Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism are recognised by the state; other groups must register as religious associations to receive similar benefits. The registration process has been subject to long delays with almost 900 applications pending at the beginning of 2021.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Population by religion, sex and urban/rural residence - Togo". UNdata. 26 February 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  2. ↑ Tong, Yunping (12 February 2026). "Religious Diversity Around the World". Pew Research Center. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "Togo 2012 International Religious Freedom Report" (PDF). 2009-2017 Archive for the U.S. Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2012. p. 1. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  4. ↑ Matt, Phillips; Andrew, David; Bainbridge, James; Bewer, Tim; Bindloss, Joe; Carillet, Jean-Bernard; Clammer, Paul; Cornwell, Jane; Crossan, Rob; et al. (Authors) (September 2007). The Africa Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the Continent. Coordinated by Matt Phillips. Footscray, Australia: Lonely Planet. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-74104-602-1. OCLC 144596621.
  5. ↑ "Togo 2021 International Religious Freedom Report" (PDF). Office of International Religious Freedom. 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  6. ↑ Madore, Frédérick (11 March 2025). Religious Activism on Campuses in Togo and Benin. De Gruyter. p. 4. doi:10.1515/9783111428895. ISBN 978-3-11-142889-5.
  7. 1 2 US State Dept 2021 report, Retrieved 2023-4-25
  8. ↑ "Traditions, religions and customs in Togo - Togo-Tourisme" (in French). 30 September 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  9. ↑ Heritage in danger. ICOM. 2004. 0020-6418.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  10. ↑ Millar, Scott (22 May 2005). "Orange Order finds African outposts". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  11. ↑ Prohászka, Géza (22 January 2010). "Mervyn Jess, 'The Orange Order'". Journal for Research into Freemasonry and Fraternalism. 1 (1): 128–129. doi:10.1558/jrff.v1i1.128. ISSN 1757-2479.
  12. ↑ "Orange Expansion | Museum of Orange Heritage". Museum. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  13. ↑ Kaufmann, Eric P (17 May 2007). The Orange Order. Oxford University PressOxford. ISBN 978-0-19-920848-7.
  14. ↑ "From Canada to Australia, America to Togo, lodges step out to celebrate Twelfth". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 10 July 2017. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  15. ↑ "25 facts you may not know about the Orange Order". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 11 July 2022. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  16. ↑ Mcareavey, Naomi (2015). "The Shadow of a Year: The 1641 Rebellion in Irish History and Memory. John Gibney. History of Ireland and the Irish Diaspora. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 2013. xii + 230 pp. $29.95". Renaissance Quarterly. 68 (1): 299–301. doi:10.1086/681360. ISSN 0034-4338.
  17. 1 2 "Discovery of Togo: Religions". Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  18. ↑ "Togo: when religions coexist peacefully!" (in French). 17 September 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  19. ↑ Togo, 55th member of the Islamic Conference. 10 June 1997. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  20. ↑ Peter Bernard Clarke (2005). Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements. p. 688. ISBN 978-0415453837.
  21. ↑ "Hinduism spreads in Ghana, reaches Togo". Zee News. 6 November 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  22. ↑ "About Head | Hindu Monastery of Africa ..::.. Serve, Meditate, Love and Realize". Archived from the original on 18 March 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  23. ↑ Encyclopedia of new religious movements. Peter Bernard Clarke, pg. 268
  24. ↑ Freedom House, Retrieved 2023-04-25

Bibliography

  • Jean-Paul Savi (2020). Geopolitical Failure and Missionary Failure? German Catholic Missionaries in Togoland (1892-1921). Paris: L’Harmattan.
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