Yes, they return only at the ends of the branches, no it doesn't necessarily lead to legginess. You'll notice that the new growth on each branch is soft and green, and last year's growth is brown and hard. It's the soft green growth that has leaves.

In the mediterranean areas, figs grow in areas which don't have all-round rainfall. They produce very long roots which find their way to moisture deep in the soil. They have the same structure of bare stems and bunches of big leaves at the end. The overall effect is of a well clothed tree, because you can't see what's going on underneath. And I think the arid conditions tend to give a tree which is more bushy. Add to that, that Portuguese cultivated trees (I can't answer for other areas) are pruned ferociously! Big branches cut off to simulate lots of small branches - precisely because it's the ends where you get the fruit (and leaves), and the more ends you have, the more fruit.

In this country, our figs don't lack water (and if they do, because they are in a pot and haven't been watered, they can die from drought), so we restrict growth by restricting the root run, for example by planting them in a metre cubed hole lined with paving slabs.

If yours is still young and 5ft high, I suspect you may have potted it quite generously.

If you are getting leaves only at the top, that suggests you only have one stem. I would plant it out, restricting its root run, but giving it plenty of water through the summer to make sure it's established.

If it still isn't showing signs of branching by the winter, you may need to do something. Obvious would be to cut the top off. But I'd probably go for a belt and braces approach and air-layer the tip. In summer, scratch through the bark on one side just above where you'd like to cut it (needs to be on the brown bit not the green). Wrap it in a water-retaining medium - I use coir-based (peat free) compost, a good handful. Make sure it good and moist , almost dripping. Wrap that in clingfilm and tie string round top and bottom to keep it in place. After several months, you will see through the cling film that the compost is full of roots. At that point (early spring rather than winter), cut below the cling film, open up the clingfilm carefully and put up your new fig plant. You now have a spare if the original takes umbrage at being pruned!