Togo: immigration

How many refugees are in Togo?

Togo hosted 54,167 refugees and 4,282 asylum seekers at the end of 2025, according to UNHCR, up from 47,494 refugees a year earlier. By origin, 45,144 came from Burkina Faso and 8,437 from Ghana. UNHCR also counts 10,171 internally displaced people in Togo.

In the other direction, UNHCR counts 12,661 refugees and 5,334 asylum seekers from Togo in other countries. The figures are compiled from government and UNHCR data. No national asylum statistics were found on INSEED's site on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: UNHCR · 45,144 came from Burkina Faso · 12,661 refugees and 5,334 asylum seekers from Togo

How many people seek asylum in Togo?

6,647 new asylum applications were lodged in Togo in 2025, according to UNHCR's asylum statistics. All were first-time claims handled by the government procedure.

The number of asylum seekers in Togo rose from 1,262 at the end of 2024 to 4,282 a year later, according to UNHCR. 3,944 of the asylum seekers at the end of 2025 came from Burkina Faso, according to the breakdown by origin.

Official sources: UNHCR's asylum statistics · UNHCR · breakdown by origin

Where do refugees from Togo live?

The largest group of refugees from Togo lived in Benin, with 4,717 at the end of 2025, followed by Ghana with 3,405, according to UNHCR's breakdown by country of asylum. France hosted 1,339 and the United States 529 refugees and 1,350 asylum seekers.

People from Togo lodged 1,576 first-time asylum applications abroad in 2025, according to UNHCR's asylum statistics, plus appeals and repeat claims. Canada had 968 Togolese asylum seekers at the end of 2025.

Official sources: UNHCR's breakdown by country of asylum · UNHCR's asylum statistics

How many migrants live in Togo?

281,994 international migrants lived in Togo in 2024, according to UN estimates published by the World Bank. The estimate was 279,936 in 2020 and 137,968 in 2000.

The UN counts people born in another country, mostly from census data, so the figure includes long-term residents as well as refugees. Togo's labour inspectorate approved 303 work contracts for expatriates in 2024, against 3,438 national contracts, according to INSEED's National Statistical Yearbook 2024.

Official sources: World Bank · National Statistical Yearbook 2024

How much money do migrants send home to Togo?

Personal remittances received by Togo were equal to 8.7% of GDP in 2020, according to the World Bank. The share was 7.3% in 2019 and 6.4% in 2018.

Remittances are money sent home by Togolese working abroad. Togo's balance of payments in INSEED's National Statistical Yearbook 2024 shows net secondary income of 405.9 billion CFA francs in 2023, which includes such transfers along with other private and public transfers. 2020 is the latest year with a World Bank remittance figure for Togo.

Official sources: World Bank · National Statistical Yearbook 2024

How many immigrants live in Togo?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2024, is 3.0%. It was 3.6% in 2015. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 2.2%, and Togo placed 18th highest of 48. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 114th highest.

What is net migration in Togo?

According to the UN Population Division, net migration in Togo was -15,010 in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from -69,512 (2017) to 27,362 (2008). It is 35th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is -5,646. Worldwide: 142nd of 193.

How many refugees are in Togo?

In 2025, the number of refugees in the country in Togo was 54,167, according to UNHCR. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 21st highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 35,241. Worldwide: 63rd of 169.

How many refugees have fled Togo?

12,661: that is the number of refugees from the country living abroad in Togo for 2025, according to UNHCR. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 51,092; its low point was 2020, at 7,704. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 12,726, and Togo placed 25th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 59th of 189.

How big are remittances in Togo's economy?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2020, is 8.7% of GDP. No year since 2005 has been higher. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 2.6% of GDP; Togo is 8th highest of 41. Of 169 countries with 2020 data, 33rd highest.