Lomé, city, southwestern Togo, largest city and capital of the country, on the Bight of Benin (an arm of the Atlantic Ocean). It is Togo's chief port and its principal administrative, transportation, and economic center. Most of Togo's international trade passes through Lomé's port, which was enlarged and deepened in 1968 to accommodate oceangoing vessels. The main exports are cotton, coffee, cacao, and palm nuts; most of Togo's exports of phosphates pass through the nearby port of Kpémé. Textiles and processed food are major manufactures of Lomé. Railroads extend inland to Kpalimé, Atakpamé, and Sokodé and along the coast to Aného. Lomé is the seat of the University of Benin (1965) and the National School of Administration (1958).
Lomé grew after 1897 as the capital of German Togoland and as a port exporting raw materials. It passed to Anglo-French control (1914-1922) and to French control (1922-1960), before becoming the capital of independent Togo in 1960. Population (1994 estimate) 600,000.
