Morocco

Internet country code

.ma

Internet hosts

276,521 (2009) country comparison to the world: 57

Internet users

10.3 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 31

Radio broadcast stations

AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998)

Telephone system

general assessment: modern system with all important capabilities; however, density is low with only 9 fixed lines available for each 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership reached 65 per 100 persons in 2008 domestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; Internet available but expensive; principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; national network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radio relay international: country code - 212; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria; participant in Medarabtel; fiber-optic cable link from Agadir to Algeria and Tunisia (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

2.991 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 50

Telephones - mobile cellular

22.816 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 35

Television broadcast stations

35 (plus 66 repeaters) (1995)

Agriculture - products

barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock

Budget

revenues: $26.16 billion expenditures: $27.93 billion (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate

3.32% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 132 3.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA%

Current account balance

-$5.836 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 160 -$224 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$20.12 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 $19.91 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 39.5 (1999 est.)

Economy - overview

Moroccan economic policies brought macroeconomic stability to the country in the early 1990s but have not spurred growth sufficient to reduce unemployment - nearing 20% in urban areas - despite the Moroccan Government's ongoing efforts to diversify the economy. Morocco's GDP growth rose to 5.9% in 2008, with the economy recovering from a drought in 2007 that severely reduced agricultural output and necessitated wheat imports at rising world prices. Moroccan authorities understand that reducing poverty and providing jobs are key to domestic security and development. In 2005, Morocco launched the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), a $2 billion social development plan to address poverty and unemployment and to improve the living conditions of the country's urban slums. Moroccan authorities are implementing reform efforts to open the economy to international investors. Despite structural adjustment programs supported by the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club, the dirham is only fully convertible for current account transactions. In 2000, Morocco entered an Association Agreement with the EU and, in 2006, entered a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US. Long-term challenges include improving education and job prospects for Morocco's youth, and closing the income gap between the rich and the poor, which the government hopes to achieve by increasing tourist arrivals and boosting competitiveness in textiles.

Electricity - consumption

20.78 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

3.455 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

21.56 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Exchange rates

Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - 7.526 (2008 est.), 8.3563 (2007), 8.7722 (2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004)

Exports

$20.17 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 $15.15 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

clothing and textiles, electric components, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, citrus fruits, vegetables, fish

Exports - partners

Spain 19.2%, France 17.6%, Brazil 7.1%, US 4.5%, Belgium 4.5%, Italy 4.3% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$88.88 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$137.9 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 $129.9 billion (2007 est.) $125.9 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 15.7% industry: 30.1% services: 54.1% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,500 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 148 $4,200 (2007 est.) $4,200 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 3.2% (2007 est.) 7.8% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 33.2% (2007)

Imports

$39.35 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 $29.32 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics

Imports - partners

France 16.1%, Spain 13.5%, Italy 6.5%, China 6%, Germany 5.6%, Saudi Arabia 5.4%, Moldova 5% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

4.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Industries

phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 56 2% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

32.1% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Labor force

11.29 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 44

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 44.6% industry: 19.8% services: 35.5% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$65.75 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 52 $75.49 billion (31 December 2007) $49.36 billion (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

560 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 151

Natural gas - imports

500 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Natural gas - production

60 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.501 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Oil - consumption

187,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

Oil - exports

17,420 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Oil - imports

195,800 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Oil - production

4,310 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Oil - proved reserves

750,000 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Population below poverty line

15% (2007 est.)

Public debt

55.6% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 70.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$22.72 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 $24.72 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$966 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 73 $1.337 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$40.92 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$NA (31 December 2008) $71.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$NA (31 December 2008) $67.42 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$NA (31 December 2008) $16.23 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

9.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 121 9.8% (2007 est.)

Area

total: 446,550 sq km country comparison to the world: 57 land: 446,300 sq km water: 250 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than California

Climate

Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior

Coastline

1,835 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m

Environment - current issues

land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 12.6 cu km/yr (10%/3%/87%) per capita: 400 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

32 00 N, 5 00 W

Geography - note

strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

Irrigated land

14,450 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 2,017.9 km border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km

Land use

arable land: 19% permanent crops: 2% other: 79% (2005)

Location

Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Natural hazards

northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts

Natural resources

phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt

Terrain

northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains

Total renewable water resources

29 cu km (2003)

Administrative divisions

15 regions; Grand Casablanca, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Doukkala-Abda, Fes-Boulemane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara, Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal, Tanger-Tetouan, Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate note: Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara, the political status of which is considered undetermined by the US Government; portions of the regions Guelmim-Es Smara and Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra as claimed by Morocco lie within Western Sahara; Morocco also claims Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, another region which falls entirely within Western Sahara

Capital

name: Rabat geographic coordinates: 34 01 N, 6 49 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

10 March 1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended September 1996 note: the amendment of September 1996 was to create a bicameral legislature

Country name

conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco conventional short form: Morocco local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah local short form: Al Maghrib

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert P. JACKSON embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 09718 telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65 FAX: [212] (37) 76 56 61 consulate(s) general: Casablanca

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161 consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch

chief of state: King MOHAMMED VI (since 30 July 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Abbas EL FASSI (since 19 September 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch following legislative elections

Flag description

red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and green are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian gulf; design dates to 1912

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

2 March 1956 (from France)

International organization participation

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed on the recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the monarch)

Legal system

based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law systems; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of a Chamber of Counselors (or upper house) (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates for nine-year terms; one-third of the members are elected every three years) and Chamber of Representatives (or lower house) (325 seats; 295 members elected by multi-seat constituencies and 30 from national lists of women; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms) elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held 8 September 2006 (next to be held in 2009); Chamber of Representatives - last held 7 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PI 17, MP 14, RNI 13, USFP 11, UC 6, PND 4, PPS 4, Al Ahd 4, other 17; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PI 52, PJD 46, MP 41, RNI 39, USFP 38, UC 27, PPS 17, FFD 9, MDS 9, Al Ahd 8, other 39

National holiday

Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)

Political parties and leaders

Action Party or PA [Mohammed EL IDRISSI]; Al Ahd (The Covenant) Party [Najib EL OUAZZANI]; Alliance des Libert'es (Alliance of Liberty) or ADL [Ali BELHAJ]; An-Nahj Ad-Dimocrati or An-Nahj [Abdellah EL HARIF]; Authenticity and Modernity Party or PAM [Mohamed Cheikh BIADILLAH, Secretary General]; Choura et Istiqlal (Consultation and Independence) Party or PCI [Abdelwahed MAACH]; Citizens' Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]; Citizenship and Development Initiative or ICD [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Constitutional Union Party or UC [Mohammed ABIED]; Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Mahmoud ARCHANE]; Democratic Forces Front or FFD [Touhami EL KHIARI]; Democratic Socialist Vanguard Party or PADS [Ahmed BENJELLOUN]; Democratic Society Party or PSD [Zhor CHEKKAFI]; Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and Development Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Istiqlal (Independence) Party or PI [Abbas EL FASSI]; Justice and Development Party or PJD [Abdelilah BENKIRANE]; Labor Party or PT [Abdelkrim BENATIK]; Moroccan Liberal Party or PML [Mohamed ZIANE]; National Democratic Party or PND [Abdallah KADIRI]; National Ittihadi Congress Party or CNI [Abdelmajid BOUZOUBAA]; National Popular Movement or MNP [Mahjoubi AHERDANE]; National Rally of Independents or RNI [Mustapha EL MANSOURI]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP [Abdellah IBRAHIM]; Popular Movement or MP [Mohamed LAENSER]; Progress and Socialism Party or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI]; Reform and Development Party or PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]; Renaissance and Virtue Party or PRV [Mohamed KHALIDI]; Renewal and Equity Party or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR]; Social Center Party or PSC [Lahcen MADIH]; Socialist Democratic Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Abdelwahed RADI]; Unified Socialist Left Party or PGSU [Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir AMAOUI]; General Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Abderrazzak AFILAL]; Moroccan Employers Association or CGEM [Hassan CHAMI]; National Labor Union of Morocco or UNMT [Abdelslam MAATI]; Union of Moroccan Workers or UMT [Mahjoub BENSEDDIK]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003)

Background

In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, successive Moorish dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad AL-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age. In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's sovereignty steadily erode; in 1912, the French imposed a protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new country that same year. Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of the territory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature, which first met in 1997. The country has made improvements in human rights under King MOHAMMED VI and its press is moderately free. Despite the continuing reforms, ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 9,152,580 females age 16-49: 9,080,830 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 7,779,589 females age 16-49: 7,881,024 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 356,014 female: 343,520 (2009 est.)

Military branches

Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Navy (includes Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al Malakiya Marakishiya; Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2008)

Military expenditures

5% of GDP (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)

Age structure

0-14 years: 30% (male 5,333,396/female 5,131,886) 15-64 years: 64.7% (male 11,261,139/female 11,305,792) 65 years and over: 5.2% (male 781,089/female 1,046,062) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

20.96 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Death rate

5.45 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

21,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Infant mortality rate

total: 36.88 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 69 male: 40.35 deaths/1,000 live births female: 33.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.8 years country comparison to the world: 125 male: 69.42 years female: 74.3 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 52.3% male: 65.7% female: 39.6% (2004 census)

Median age

total: 25 years male: 24.5 years female: 25.6 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Moroccan(s) adjective: Moroccan

Net migration rate

-0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Population

34,859,364 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Population growth rate

1.479% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Religions

Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 9 years (2005)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.51 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Urbanization

urban population: 56% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals; Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon de Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; discussions have not progressed on a comprehensive maritime delimitation, setting limits on resource exploration and refugee interdiction, since Morocco's 2002 rejection of Spain's unilateral designation of a median line from the Canary Islands; Morocco serves as one of the primary launching areas of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa

Illicit drugs

one of the world's largest producers of illicit hashish; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; significant consumer of cannabis

Airports

58 (2009) country comparison to the world: 81

Airports - with paved runways

total: 32 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 26 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 8 (2009)

Heliports

1 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 35 country comparison to the world: 81 by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 6, container 8, passenger/cargo 13, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 4 foreign-owned: 16 (France 14, Germany 2) registered in other countries: 4 (Gibraltar 4) (2008)

Pipelines

gas 830 km; oil 439 km (2008)

Ports and terminals

Agadir, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Safi

Railways

total: 1,907 km country comparison to the world: 74 standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,022 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways

total: 57,625 km country comparison to the world: 76 paved: 35,664 km (includes 639 km of expressways) unpaved: 21,961 km (2006)