Lome is the capital and largest city of Togo. Lome is the country's administrative and industrial centre and its chief port. The city exports coffee, cocoa, copra, and palm kernels. It also has an oil refinery.

Togo is in Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana. The climate is tropical, hot and humid in the south and semi arid in the north.

The official language is French. French is used in business. English is not widely spoken or understood. The main religions are Indigenous beliefs, Christianity and Islam.

Subsistence agriculture is the main economic activity in Togo; the majority of the population depends on subsistence agriculture. Phosphates are Togo's most important commodity, and the country has an estimated 60 million metric tons of phosphate reserves.

Togo is socially relatively conservative, but at the same time it is also relatively relaxed. Expatriate business dress is casual for some smaller meetings, but suits at formal business meetings.

The security risk for expatriates in Togo is medium. Risks include protests, general crime, and unscheduled closures of the borders with Ghana and Benin.

The currency of Togo is the CFA Franc BCEAO (XOF). Togo is a cash based economy. Credit cards are not widely accepted. There are limited ATMs at major banks in Lome.

Medical facilities are poor. Serious or complex medical treatment may require evacuation which can be expensive. Cholera, TB, meningitis and malaria are common.

The population of Lome is 1.5 Million (2016 est.), while the inflation rate is -1.5% (June 2017).

The cost of living for expatriates / professional migrants in Lome as at 1 July 2017 is low in comparison to other places in the world.

Lome is ranked as a extreme hardship location.