Togo has emerged as one of Africa’s top performers in advancing gender equality under the law, ranking second on the continent in the latest Women, Business and the Law report published by the World Bank on February 24, 2026.
According to the report, Togo achieved an overall score of 79.33 out of 100, placing it just behind Mauritius, which recorded 82.30 points. The country ranked ahead of Côte d’Ivoire, which scored 78.25. The performance positions Togo as the leading country within both the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), while also making it the highest-ranked Francophone African nation assessed in the study.
The 2026 edition of the Women, Business and the Law report introduced a more rigorous evaluation methodology covering 190 economies worldwide. Beyond reviewing legal texts, the updated framework examines how laws are implemented, institutional effectiveness and whether women are able to exercise their rights in practice. The tougher criteria make Togo’s strong showing particularly significant, highlighting measurable progress in gender-focused legal reforms.
Togo performed exceptionally well in several key areas of the legal framework. The country obtained perfect scores of 100 in four categories pay, marriage, assets and pensions indicating that legislation guarantees equal treatment for men and women in these domains. The findings confirm that women in Togo enjoy equal pay protections, equal rights within marriage, the ability to own and manage property independently, and equal access to retirement benefits.
Another notable achievement highlighted in the report is the provision allowing employees to request flexible working arrangements, a policy still uncommon across much of sub-Saharan Africa. Analysts say such measures can significantly improve women’s participation in the labour market, particularly for working mothers balancing employment and caregiving responsibilities.
Togo also performed above the regional average in areas linked to parental rights and women’s entrepreneurship. Reforms targeting employment regulations and childcare support long viewed as structural barriers to female economic participation have begun delivering tangible outcomes. These improvements are expected to strengthen women-led enterprises and expand access to formal employment opportunities.
On mobility rights, which assess whether women can travel freely, obtain passports and choose their residence without spousal authorization, Togo received a legal score of 75 and an implementation score of 68.75. The results suggest that while legal guarantees largely exist, practical enforcement continues to evolve. In several countries across the region, restrictions requiring spousal consent still limit women’s autonomy, making Togo’s progress comparatively strong.
Despite these gains, the report identified remaining institutional challenges. Togo scored 31.95 in institutional support mechanisms, pointing to gaps in enforcement capacity and administrative systems needed to fully translate legal reforms into everyday realities. The implementation perception score of 64.54 further indicates uneven application of rights across institutions and communities.
In response, Togo’s Business Climate Cell acknowledged that legislative reforms alone are insufficient without strong institutional backing. Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening enforcement mechanisms and expanding policies that promote women’s economic inclusion.
Observers note that improving gender equality frameworks can have broader economic implications. Research consistently shows that empowering women through legal and economic reforms boosts productivity, increases household incomes and enhances national economic growth.
Togo’s high ranking therefore signals not only progress in gender equality but also an improving business and investment climate. As governments across Africa seek inclusive growth models, the country’s reforms may serve as a reference point for how legal modernization can support women’s participation in economic development while strengthening competitiveness across the region.
