Togo vs. Burkina Faso
Geography
| Togo | Burkina Faso | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana | Western Africa, north of Ghana |
| Geographic coordinates | 8 00 N, 1 10 E | 13 00 N, 2 00 W |
| Map references | Africa | Africa |
| Area | total: 56,785 sq km land: 54,385 sq km water: 2,400 sq km | total: 274,200 sq km land: 273,800 sq km water: 400 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly smaller than West Virginia | slightly larger than Colorado |
| Land boundaries | total: 1,880 km border countries (3): Benin 651 km, Burkina Faso 131 km, Ghana 1098 km | total: 3,611 km border countries (6): Benin 386 km, Cote d'Ivoire 545 km, Ghana 602 km, Mali 1325 km, Niger 622 km, Togo 131 km |
| Coastline | 56 km | 0 km (landlocked) |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 30 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | none (landlocked) |
| Climate | tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north | three climate zones including a hot tropical savanna with a short rainy season in the southern half, a tropical hot semi-arid steppe climate typical of the Sahel region in the northern half, and small area of hot desert in the very north of the country bordering the Sahara Desert |
| Terrain | gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes | Mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in the west and southeast. Occupies an extensive plateau with savanna that is grassy in the north and gradually gives way to sparse forests in the south. (2019) |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Mont Agou 986 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 236 m | highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m mean elevation: 297 m |
| Natural resources | phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land | gold, manganese, zinc, limestone, marble, phosphates, pumice, salt |
| Land use | agricultural land: 67.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 45.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 18.4% (2018 est.) forest: 4.9% (2018 est.) other: 27.7% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 44.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 22% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 37% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 21.93% (2018 est.) forest: 19.3% (2018 est.) other: 36.5% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 70 sq km (2012) | 550 sq km (2016) |
| Natural hazards | hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts | recurring droughts |
| Environment - current issues | deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; very little rain forest still present and what remains is highly degraded; desertification; water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas | recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation (2019) |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban |
| Geography - note | the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna | landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black, Red, and White Voltas |
| Total renewable water resources | 14.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 13.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | one of the more densely populated African nations with most of the population residing in rural communities, density is highest in the south on or near the Atlantic coast as shown in this population distribution map | Most of the population is located in the center and south. Nearly one-third of the population lives in cities. The capital and largest city is Ouagadougou (Ouaga), with a population of 1.8 million as shown in this population distribution map |
Source: CIA Factbook
