Togo has ranked second in Africa in the latest edition of the World Bank Women, Business and the Law report, highlighting the country’s significant progress in strengthening legal protections for women in economic and social life.
According to the 2026 report, which assesses 190 economies worldwide, Togo scored 79.33 out of 100, placing it just behind Mauritius at 82.30 and ahead of Côte d’Ivoire at 78.25. The ranking positions Togo first within the Economic Community of West African States and the West African Economic and Monetary Union, as well as among Francophone African countries, surpassing several larger economies on the continent.
The Women, Business and the Law index measures the extent to which laws and regulations promote or restrict women’s economic participation. The 2026 edition applies a more rigorous methodology than in previous years, expanding beyond legislative review to examine implementation, institutional frameworks and the practical exercise of rights. This expanded approach has led to score adjustments in many countries, making Togo’s high placement particularly notable.
Togo achieved perfect scores of 100 in four key areas: pay, marriage, assets and pensions. In these domains, legislation ensures that women and men are treated equally under the law. This includes equal pay for equal work, equal rights within marriage, equal property ownership rights and equal access to retirement benefits. Such legal guarantees are critical to economic empowerment, as discriminatory laws in these areas have historically limited women’s financial independence.
The country also stands out for permitting employees to request flexible working arrangements, a policy that remains uncommon across much of sub Saharan Africa. This provision is widely viewed by labour policy experts as an important step toward supporting women’s participation in the workforce, particularly for those balancing employment with caregiving responsibilities.
In the mobility category, which evaluates whether women can travel freely, obtain passports and choose their residence without requiring spousal consent, Togo received a legal score of 75. Its implementation score reached 68.75, indicating that while legal provisions are largely in place, there remains room to strengthen enforcement and awareness. In several African countries, restrictions tied to spousal approval still persist, limiting women’s autonomy.
The report also shows that Togo performed above the regional average on parental rights and women’s entrepreneurship indicators. Reforms targeting employment policy and childcare support have contributed to measurable gains in improving women’s access to economic opportunities. Expanding childcare availability and addressing workplace discrimination are widely recognized by international development institutions as central to narrowing gender gaps in labor force participation.
Despite the progress, the report identifies institutional gaps that require attention. Togo scored 31.95 on institutional support mechanisms, reflecting weaknesses in administrative structures and enforcement capacity. The implementation perception score of 64.54 suggests that while laws are strong on paper, effective application across all sectors remains uneven.
In response to the findings, national authorities acknowledged that legislative reform alone is not sufficient. Strengthening oversight bodies, improving access to legal remedies and ensuring that women are aware of their rights will be essential to translating legal equality into lived equality. The government has reiterated its commitment to consolidating recent reforms and deepening women’s participation in the economy.
The broader significance of Togo’s ranking lies in its demonstration that sustained legal reform can yield tangible international recognition. As global institutions increasingly link gender equality to economic growth and investment climate performance, countries that align legal frameworks with international standards may enhance both social inclusion and economic competitiveness.
Togo’s performance in the 2026 Women, Business and the Law report positions it as a regional example of legal modernization. The next phase will depend on closing institutional gaps and ensuring that legal rights are consistently enforced across the country, reinforcing progress toward inclusive and equitable economic development.
Togo inflation eases to 0.2% in January
