Morocco

Broadcast media

2 television broadcast networks with state-run Radio-Television Marocaine (RTM) operating one network and the state partially owning the other; foreign TV broadcasts are available via satellite dish; 3 radio broadcast networks with RTM operating one; the government-owned network includes 10 regional radio channels in addition to its national service (2007)

Internet country code

.ma

Internet hosts

277,793 (2010) country comparison to the world: 61

Internet users

13.213 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 29

Telephone system

general assessment: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; national network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radio relay; Internet available but expensive domestic: fixed-line teledensity is roughly 10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership approached 75 per 100 persons in 2009 international: country code - 212; landing point for the Atlas Offshore, Estepona-Tetouan, Euroafrica, Spain-Morocco, and SEA-ME-WE-3 fiber-optic telecommunications undersea cables that provide 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 (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

3.749 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 43

Telephones - mobile cellular

31.928 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 32

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $22.92 billion expenditures: $27.21 billion (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 3.31% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

6.3% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 6.2% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

-$4.625 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 175 -$5.362 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$30.19 billion (30 June 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 $26.56 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.9 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 39.5 (1999 est.)

Economy - overview

Morocco's market economy benefits from the country's relatively low labor costs and proximity to Europe, which aid key areas of the economy such as agriculture, light manufacturing, tourism, and remittances. Morocco is also the world's largest exporter of phosphate, which has long provided a source of export earnings and economic stability. Economic policies pursued since 2003 by King MOHAMMED VI have brought macroeconomic stability to the country with generally low inflation, improved financial performance, and steady progress in developing the service and industrial sectors. In 2006, Morocco entered a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US, and in 2008 entered into an advanced status in its 2000 Association Agreement with the EU. However, poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment rates remain high. In response to these challenges, King MOHAMMED in 2005 launched a National Initiative for Human Development, a $2 billion program aimed at alleviating poverty and underdevelopment by expanding electricity to rural areas and replacing urban slums with public and subsidized housing, among other policies. Morocco's trade and budget deficits widened in 2010, and reducing government spending and adapting to sluggish economic growth in Europe will be challenges in 2011. Morocco's long-term challenges include improving education and job prospects for young Moroccans, closing the disparity in wealth between the rich and the poor, confronting corruption, and expanding and diversifying exports beyond phosphates and low-value-added products.

Electricity - consumption

21.47 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

3.429 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

19.49 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Exchange rates

Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - 8.3619 (2010) 8.0571 (2009) 7.526 (2008) 8.3563 (2007) 8.7722 (2006)

Exports

$17.58 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 73 $14.05 billion (2009 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 19.7%, France 17.8%, India 5.8%, US 4.2%, Brazil 4.1% (2010)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$103.5 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$151.4 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 $146.8 billion (2009 est.) $139.9 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 17.1% industry: 31.6% services: 51.4% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,800 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 150 $4,700 (2009 est.) $4,500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 119 4.9% (2009 est.) 5.6% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$32.65 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 $30.41 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

France 16.9%, Spain 14.2%, China 7.9%, US 6.2%, Saudi Arabia 6.1%, Italy 5.9%, Germany 5.4% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate

4.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

30.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Labor force

11.44 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$69.15 billion (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 49 $62.91 billion (31 December 2009) $65.75 billion (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption

560 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Natural gas - imports

500 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 65

Natural gas - production

60 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.444 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Oil - consumption

209,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Oil - exports

25,090 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Oil - imports

221,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Oil - production

3,938 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Oil - proved reserves

680,000 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Population below poverty line

15% (2007 est.)

Public debt

61.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 56.9% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$23.61 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 $23.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$108.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 $109.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$1.281 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 $1.861 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$43.82 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 56 $42.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$88.84 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 $92.38 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$66.09 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 $67.24 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

22.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Unemployment rate

9.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 9.1% (2009 est.)

Area

total: 446,550 sq km country comparison to the world: 58 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

14,570 sq km (2008)

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 that 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) daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in July

Constitution

10 March 1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended September 1996; new constitution approved in referendum July 2011

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 Samuel L. KAPLAN 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 Abdelilah BENKIRANE (since 29 November 2011) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: the monarchy 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; the pentacle represents the five pillars of Islam and signifies the association between God and the nation; design dates to 1912

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

2 March 1956 (from France)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club (associate), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, 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

mixed legal system of civil law based on French law and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts by Supreme Court

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the Chamber of Counselors (or upper house) (270 seats - to be reduced to a maximum of 120; members elected indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates to serve nine-year terms; one-third of the members are elected every three years) and Chamber of Representatives (or lower house) (395 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held on 3 October 2009 (next to be held in 2012); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 25 November 2011 (next to be held in 2016) election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - (partial results as of 6 December 2011) PJD 107, PI 60, RNI 52, PAM 47, USFP 39, MP 32, UC 23, PPS 18

National anthem

name: "Hymne Cherifien" (Hymn of the Sharif) lyrics/music: Ali Squalli HOUSSAINI/Leo MORGAN note: music adopted 1956, lyrics adopted 1970

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

pentacle symbol; lion

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

Background

In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, a series of Moroccan Muslim 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. The Alaouite dynasty, to which the current Moroccan royal family belongs, dates from the 17th century. 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. Sultan MOHAMMED V, the current monarch's grandfather, organized the new state as a constitutional monarchy and in 1957 assumed the title of king. Morocco 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. Under King MOHAMMED VI - who in 1999 succeeded his father to the throne - human rights have improved. Morocco enjoys a moderately free press, but the government has taken action against journalists who they perceive to be challenging the monarchy, Islam, and the status of Western Sahara. Influenced by protests elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa, thousands of Moroccans since February have rallied weekly in multiple cities across the country to demand greater democracy and a crackdown on government corruption. Police response to most of the protests has been subdued compared to the violence elsewhere in the region. In early March, King MOHAMMED VI established a commission to draft a new constitution; the constitution was passed by popular referendum in early July 2011. Under the new constitution, some new powers are extended to parliament and the prime minister, but ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch. In late July, the King urged swift implementation of the new constitution, starting with the holding of parliamentary elections in 2011 instead of in 2012. A prominent moderate Islamist party, the Justice and Development Party, subsequently won the largest number of seats on 25 November 2011, becoming the first Islamist party to lead the Moroccan Government.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 8,252,682 females age 16-49: 8,691,419 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 7,026,016 females age 16-49: 7,377,045 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 300,327 female: 298,366 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Royal Moroccan Navy (includes Coast Guard, Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al Malakiya Marakishiya; Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2010)

Military expenditures

5% of GDP (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Military service age and obligation

20 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; service obligation - 18 months (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.8% (male 4,514,623/female 4,382,487) 15-64 years: 66.1% (male 10,335,931/female 10,785,380) 65 years and over: 6.1% (male 881,622/female 1,068,318) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

19.19 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

9.9% (2004) country comparison to the world: 67

Death rate

4.75 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 98% of population rural: 60% of population total: 81% of population unimproved: urban: 2% of population rural: 40% of population total: 19% of population (2008)

Education expenditures

5.6% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 41

Ethnic groups

Arab-Berber 99%, other 1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,200 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

26,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Health expenditures

5.5% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 128

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2009) country comparison to the world: 142

Infant mortality rate

total: 27.53 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 74 male: 32.32 deaths/1,000 live births female: 22.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.9 years country comparison to the world: 78 male: 72.84 years female: 79.11 years (2011 est.)

Literacy

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

Major cities - population

Casablanca 3.245 million; RABAT (capital) 1.77 million; Fes 1.044 million; Marrakech 909,000; Tangier 768,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

110 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 66

Median age

total: 26.9 years male: 26.3 years female: 27.4 years (2011 est.)

Nationality

noun: Moroccan(s) adjective: Moroccan

Net migration rate

-3.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

16% (2000) country comparison to the world: 31

Physicians density

0.62 physicians/1,000 population (2009) country comparison to the world: 117

Population

31,968,361 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

Population growth rate

1.067% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Religions

Muslim 99%, Christian 1%, Jewish about 6,000 (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 83% of population rural: 52% of population total: 69% of population unimproved: urban: 17% of population rural: 48% of population total: 31% of population (2008)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 10 years (2007)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.21 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 21.9% country comparison to the world: 45 male: 22.8% female: 19.4% (2009)

Urbanization

urban population: 58% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains unresolved; 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; both countries claim Isla Perejil (Leila Island); 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; Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations, each nation accusing the other of harboring militants and arms smuggling; the FLN's assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco is a dormant dispute

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 (2010) country comparison to the world: 82

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 (2010)

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 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Merchant marine

total: 30 country comparison to the world: 83 by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 2, container 7, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 3 foreign-owned: 6 (France 4, Germany 2) registered in other countries: 5 (Gibraltar 4, Panama 1) (2010)

Pipelines

gas 830 km; oil 439 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Casablanca, Jorf Lasfar, Mohammedia, Safi, Tangier

Railways

total: 2,067 km country comparison to the world: 70 standard gauge: 2,067 km 1.435-m gauge (1,022 km electrified) (2010)

Roadways

total: 58,256 km country comparison to the world: 76 paved: 39,480 km (includes 866 km of expressways) unpaved: 18,776 km (2008)