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Religion in Togo is diverse, withChristianity being the most widely professed faith. A substantial number of theTogolese also practicetraditional faiths andIslam.
A significant number ofChristians andMuslims in Togo also incorporate elements of folk religion.[2][3]Togo is asecular state and the nation's constitution provides freedom of religion and worship.[4]
The 2014 General Population and Housing Census noted that 25% of the population wasCatholic, making it the primary branch of Christianity in Togo, while other denominations includedMethodists,Lutherans,Assemblies of God,Seventh-day Adventists,The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) andJehovah's Witnesses.Nichiren Buddhists, followers of theInternational Society of Krishna Consciousness, Baha’is andHindus are among other religious groups in the country.[5]
Christians live mainly in the south of the country, while Muslims live predominately in the central and northern regions.
In 2021, approximately one-third of the population practiced an animist religion. 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.[6] Among these religions, the most important are theYoruba religion, whose famous ceremony, theGelede, is characterized by the expression of feelings through music and songs,[7] andfetishism, which is the worship of fetishes believed to cure the ills caused by witchcraft.[citation needed]
The Togolese branch of theOrange Order, governed by the Grand Lodge of Togo, serves as a local chapter of the internationalProtestantfraternal organization.[8][9] Its origins trace back to September 1915 with the establishment of its first lodge, LOL 867, "Defenders ofLome," by John Amate Atayi. Atayi, a Togolese local, was first initiated into the order inLagos, Nigeria, before bringing its principles to his home country.[10][11] the lodges in Togo, which also include LOL 884, concentrate on positiveevangelism,youth development, and communityphilanthropy.[12] Members interpret the victory ofWilliam of Orange not as a political symbol but rather as a testament to civil andreligious freedom. This perspective highlights the organization's focus on non-political,charitable works and spiritual growth within the local community.[13][14]
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 (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.[15] The first mosque in Togo was built in the middle of the 19th century in the village ofDidawurê.[16]
In 1997, Togo has become a member country of theOrganization of Islamic Cooperation.[17]
In 2025, Muslims represent around 16% of the total population.[18] The vast majority ofMuslims in Togo areSunni of theMaliki school.
Hinduism is a recent phenomenon inTogo. This religion was exported to Togo through theHindu Monastery of Africa based inAccra,Ghana.[19] The religion was introduced byindigenous Africans based in Accra, Ghana, and a branch of the Hindu Monastery of Africa has been established inLomé. There are around 80.000 or 1% Hindus in Togo in 2022.[20][21][22]
In 2020, there were around 40,000 followers ofBaháʼí Faith in Togo.[citation needed]
Cults has enormously grew in Togo since the 1990s with the socio-economic crisis the country is going through.[15] More than two thousand are registered inLomé, some of which are hiding networks ofprostitution,modern slavery, andembezzlement.[citation needed]
In 2022, Freedom House rated Togo's religious freedom as 3 out of 4,[23] noting that religious freedom is constitutionally protected and generally respected in practice. Islam, Catholicism andProtestantism 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.
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