Morocco

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 1,378,867 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2017 est.)

Broadcast media

2 TV 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 (2019)

Communications - note

the University of al-Quarawiyyin Library in Fez is recognized as the oldest existing, continually operating library in the world, dating back to A.D. 859; among its holdings are approximately 4,000 ancient Islamic manuscripts (2018)

Internet country code

.ma

Internet users

total: 19,611,643 | percent of population: 58.3% (July 2016 est.)

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; one of the most state-of-the-art markets in Africa; high mobile penetration rates in the region with low cost for broadband Internet access; LTE and VoD (Video on Demand) launched (2018) | domestic: fixed-line teledensity is 6 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 129 per 100 persons (2018) | international: country code - 212; landing point for the Atlas Offshore, Estepona-Tetouan, Canalink and SEA-ME-WE-3 fiber-optic telecommunications undersea cables that provide connectivity to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Australia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 2,046,390 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2017 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 43,916,066 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129 (2017 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: 22.81 billion (2017 est.) | expenditures: 26.75 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2010) | 3.31% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.6% (31 December 2017 est.) | 5.73% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current account balance

-$3.92 billion (2017 est.) | -$4.363 billion (2016 est.)

Debt - external

$51.48 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $44.65 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.9 (2007 est.) | 39.5 (1999 est.)

Economy - overview

Morocco has capitalized on its proximity to Europe and relatively low labor costs to work towards building a diverse, open, market-oriented economy. Key sectors of the economy include agriculture, tourism, aerospace, automotive, phosphates, textiles, apparel, and subcomponents. Morocco has increased investment in its port, transportation, and industrial infrastructure to position itself as a center and broker for business throughout Africa. Industrial development strategies and infrastructure improvements - most visibly illustrated by a new port and free trade zone near Tangier - are improving Morocco's competitiveness. In the 1980s, Morocco was a heavily indebted country before pursuing austerity measures and pro-market reforms, overseen by the IMF. Since taking the throne in 1999, King MOHAMMED VI has presided over a stable economy marked by steady growth, low inflation, and gradually falling unemployment, although poor harvests and economic difficulties in Europe contributed to an economic slowdown. To boost exports, Morocco entered into a bilateral Free Trade Agreement with the US in 2006 and an Advanced Status agreement with the EU in 2008. In late 2014, Morocco eliminated subsidies for gasoline, diesel, and fuel oil, dramatically reducing outlays that weighed on the country’s budget and current account. Subsidies on butane gas and certain food products remain in place. Morocco also seeks to expand its renewable energy capacity with a goal of making renewable more than 50% of installed electricity generation capacity by 2030. Despite Morocco's economic progress, the country suffers from high unemployment, poverty, and illiteracy, particularly in rural areas. Key economic challenges for Morocco include reforming the education system and the judiciary.

Exchange rates

Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - | 9.639 (2017 est.) | 9.7787 (2016 est.) | 9.7787 (2015 est.) | 9.7351 (2014 est.) | 8.3798 (2013 est.)

Exports

$21.48 billion (2017 est.) | $22.66 billion (2016 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Spain 23.2%, France 22.6%, Italy 4.5%, US 4.2% (2017)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$109.3 billion (2017 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$298.6 billion (2017 est.) | $286.8 billion (2016 est.) | $283.6 billion (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 58% (2017 est.) | government consumption: 18.9% (2017 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 28.4% (2017 est.) | investment in inventories: 4.2% (2017 est.) | exports of goods and services: 37.1% (2017 est.) | imports of goods and services: -46.6% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 14% (2017 est.) | industry: 29.5% (2017 est.) | services: 56.5% (2017 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$8,600 (2017 est.) | $8,300 (2016 est.) | $8,300 (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.1% (2017 est.) | 1.1% (2016 est.) | 4.6% (2015 est.)

Gross national saving

30.1% of GDP (2017 est.) | 28.9% of GDP (2016 est.) | 28.8% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$39.64 billion (2017 est.) | $36.59 billion (2016 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Spain 16.7%, France 12.2%, China 9.2%, US 6.9%, Germany 6%, Italy 5.9%, Turkey 4.5% (2017)

Industrial production growth rate

2.8% (2017 est.)

Industries

automotive parts, phosphate mining and processing, aerospace, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, energy, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.8% (2017 est.) | 1.6% (2016 est.)

Labor force

12 million (2017 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 39.1% | industry: 20.3% | services: 40.5% (2014 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$45.93 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $52.75 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $53.83 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Population below poverty line

15% (2007 est.)

Public debt

65.1% of GDP (2017 est.) | 64.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$26.27 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $25.37 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of broad money

$87.13 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $74.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$5.351 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $5.203 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$63.17 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $54.78 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$124.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $109.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$87.13 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $74.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

20.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

10.2% (2017 est.) | 9.9% (2016 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

55.4 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

61,160 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

160 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

684,000 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

28.25 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

165 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

68% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

16% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

15% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

5.289 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

8.303 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

28.75 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption

1.218 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.133 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

87.78 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.444 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

278,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

9,504 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

229,300 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

66,230 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Area

total: 446,550 sq km | land: 446,300 sq km | water: 250 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than three times the size of New York; slightly larger than California | Area comparison map: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Africa :: Morocco Print Image Description slightly more than three times the size of New York; slightly larger than California

Climate

Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior

Coastline

1,835 km

Elevation

mean elevation: 909 m | lowest point: Sebkha Tah -59 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 and soil pollution due to dumping of industrial wastes into the ocean and inland water sources, and onto the land

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

Geographic coordinates

32 00 N, 5 00 W

Geography - note

strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar; the only African nation to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines

Irrigated land

14,850 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 2,362.5 km | border countries (4): Algeria 1900 km, Western Sahara 444 km, Spain (Ceuta) 8 km, Spain (Melilla) 10.5 km | note: an additional 75-meter border segment exists between Morocco and the Spanish exclave of Penon de Velez de la Gomera

Land use

agricultural land: 67.5% (2011 est.) | arable land: 17.5% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 2.9% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 47.1% (2011 est.) | forest: 11.5% (2011 est.) | other: 21% (2011 est.)

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 | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm | continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Natural hazards

northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts; windstorms; flash floods; landslides

Natural resources

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

Population distribution

the highest population density is found along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts; a number of densely populated agglomerations are found scattered through the Atlas Mountains

Terrain

mountainous northern coast (Rif Mountains) and interior (Atlas Mountains) bordered by large plateaus with intermontane valleys, and fertile coastal plains

Administrative divisions

11 regions (recognized); Beni Mellal-Khenifra, Casablanca-Settat, Draa-Tafilalet, Fes-Meknes, Guelmim-Oued Noun, Laayoune-Sakia al Hamra, Oriental, Marrakech-Safi, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, Souss-Massa, Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima | 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-Oued Noun and Laayoune-Sakia al Hamra as claimed by Morocco lie within Western Sahara; Morocco also claims a 12th region, Dakhla-Oued ed Dahab, 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 last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October | etymology: name derives from the Arabic title "Ribat el-Fath," meaning "stronghold of victory," applied to the newly constructed citadel in 1170

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Morocco; if the father is unknown or stateless, the mother must be a citizen | dual citizenship recognized: yes | residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Constitution

history: several previous; latest drafted 17 June 2011, approved by referendum 1 July 2011; note - sources disagree on whether the 2011 referendum was for a new constitution or for reforms to the previous constitution | amendments: proposed by the king, by the prime minister, or by members in either chamber of Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by both chambers and approval in a referendum; the king can opt to submit self-initiated proposals directly to a referendum (2016)

Country name

conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco | conventional short form: Morocco | local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah | local short form: Al Maghrib | former: French Protectorate in Morocco, Spanish Protectorate in Morocco | etymology: the English name "Morocco" derives from, respectively, the Spanish and Portuguese names "Marruecos" and "Marrocos," which stem from "Marrakesh" the Latin name for the former capital of ancient Morocco; the Arabic name "Al Maghrib" translates as "The West"

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador David GREENE (since 5 August 2019) | telephone: [212] 537 637 200 | embassy: Km 5.7 Avenue Mohammed VI, Souissi, Rabat 10170 | mailing address: Unit 9400, Box Front Office, DPO AE 09718 | FAX: [212] 537 637 201 | consulate(s) general: Casablanca

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Lalla Joumala ALAOUI (since 24 April 2017) | chancery: 3508 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 | FAX: [1] (202) 462-7643 | consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch

chief of state: King MOHAMMED VI (since 30 July 1999) | head of government: Prime Minister Saad-Eddine al-OTHMANI (since 17 March 2017) | cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the prime minister in consultation with Parliament and appointed by the monarch | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from the majority party 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

parliamentary 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, CAEU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNSC (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest courts: Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (consists of 5-judge panels organized into civil, family matters, commercial, administrative, social, and criminal sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 12 members) | judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the Superior Council of Judicial Power, a 20-member body presided by the monarch, which includes the Supreme Court president, the prosecutor general, representatives of the appeals and first instance courts (among them 1 woman magistrate), the president of the National Council of the Rights of Man, and 5 "notable persons" appointed by the monarch; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court members - 6 designated by the monarch and 6 elected by Parliament; court president appointed by the monarch from among the court members; members serve 9-year nonrenewable terms | subordinate courts: courts of appeal; High Court of Justice; administrative and commercial courts; regional and sadad courts (for religious, civil and administrative, and penal adjudication); first instance courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of civil law based on French civil law and Islamic (sharia) law; judicial review of legislative acts by Constitutional Court

Legislative branch

description: bicameral Parliament consists of: Chamber of Advisors (120 seats; members indirectly elected by an electoral college of local councils, professional organizations, and labor unions; members serve 6-year terms) Chamber of Representatives (395 seats; 305 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 90 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms); note - in the national constituency, 60 seats are reserved for women and 30 reserved for those under age 40 | elections: Chamber of Advisors - last held on 2 October 2015 (next to be held in fall 2021) Chamber of Representatives - last held on 7 October 2016 (next to be held in fall 2021) | election results: Chamber of Advisors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 106, women 14, percent of women 11.7% Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party NA; seats by party - PJD 125, PAM 102, PI 46, RNI 37, MP 27, USFP 20, UC 19, PPS 12, MDS 3, other 4; composition - men 314, women 81, percent of women 20.5%; note - total Parliament percent of women 18.4%

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; national colors: red, green

Political parties and leaders

Action Party or PA [Mohammed EL IDRISSI] Amal (hope) Party [Mohamed BANI] An-Nahj Ad-Dimocrati or An-Nahj [Mustapha BRAHMA] Authenticity and Modernity Party or PAM [Ilyas al-OMARI] Constitutional Union Party or UC [Mohamed SAJID] Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Abdessamad ARCHANE] Democratic Forces Front or FFD [Mustapha BENALI] Democratic Oath Party or SD Democratic Socialist Vanguard Party or PADS [Abderrahman BENAMROU] Democratic Society Party [Zhour CHAKKAFI] Environment and Development Party or PED [Karim HRITAN] Green Left Party [Mohamed FARES] Istiqlal (Independence) Party or PI [Nizar BARAKA] Ittihadi National Congress or CNI [Abdesalam EL AZIZ] Labor Party or PT Moroccan Liberal Party or PML [Mohammed ZIANE] Moroccan Union for Democracy or UMD [Jamal MANDRI] National Rally of Independents or RNI [Aziz AKHANNOUCH] Neo-Democrats Party [Mohamed DARIF] Party of Development Reform or PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOHEN] Party of Justice and Development or PJD [Saad Eddine al-OTHMANI] Party of Liberty and Social Justice [Miloud MOUSSAOUI] Popular Movement or MP [Mohand LAENSER] Progress and Socialism Party or PPS [Nabil BENABDELLAH] Renaissance and Virtue Party [Mohamed KHALIDI] Renaissance Party [Said EL GHENNIOUI] Renewal and Equity Party or PRE [Chakir ACHEHABAR] Shoura (consultation) and Istiqlal Party [Ahmed BELGHAZI] Social Center Party or PCS [Lahcen MADIH] Socialist Party [Abdelmajid BOUZOUBAA] Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Driss LACHGAR] Unified Socialist Party or GSU [Nabila MOUNIB] Unity and Democracy Party [Ahmed FITRI]

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. Since Spain's 1976 withdrawal from what is today called Western Sahara, Morocco has extended its de facto administrative control to roughly 75% of this territory; however, the UN does not recognize Morocco as the administering power for Western Sahara. The UN since 1991 has monitored a cease-fire between Morocco and the Polisario Front - an organization advocating the territory’s independence - and restarted negotiations over the status of the territory in December 2018. King MOHAMMED VI in early 2011 responded to the spread of pro-democracy protests in the region by implementing a reform program that included a new constitution, passed by popular referendum in July 2011, under which some new powers were extended to parliament and the prime minister, but ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch. In November 2011, the Justice and Development Party (PJD) - a moderate Islamist party - won the largest number of seats in parliamentary elections, becoming the first Islamist party to lead the Moroccan Government. In September 2015, Morocco held its first direct elections for regional councils, one of the reforms included in the 2011 constitution. The PJD again won the largest number of seats in nationwide parliamentary elections in October 2016.

Military and security forces

Royal Armed Forces: Royal Moroccan Army, Royal Moroccan Navy (includes Coast Guard, marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force, Royal Morroccan Gendarmerie, Morroccan Royal Guard (provides security for the royal family; officially part of the Royal Army); Force Auxiliaire (a paramilitary force under the Ministry of Interior that supplements the military and the police as needed) (2019)

Military expenditures

3.1% of GDP (2018) | 3.19% of GDP (2017) | 3.21% of GDP (2016) | 3.23% of GDP (2015) | 3.68% of GDP (2014)

Military service age and obligation

19 years of age for compulsory military service; both sexes are obligated to military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2019)

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.47% (male 4,441,554 /female 4,298,715) | 15-24 years: 16.83% (male 2,873,939 /female 2,902,206) | 25-54 years: 42.41% (male 7,039,912 /female 7,513,651) | 55-64 years: 8.33% (male 1,404,527 /female 1,454,304) | 65 years and over: 6.95% (male 1,081,035 /female 1,304,287) (2018 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Africa :: Morocco Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Morocco. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate

17.5 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.9% (2011)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

70.8% (2018)

Current Health Expenditure

5.8% (2016)

Death rate

4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Demographic profile

Morocco is undergoing a demographic transition. Its population is growing but at a declining rate, as people live longer and women have fewer children. Infant, child, and maternal mortality rates have been reduced through better health care, nutrition, hygiene, and vaccination coverage, although disparities between urban and rural and rich and poor households persist. Morocco’s shrinking child cohort reflects the decline of its total fertility rate from 5 in mid-1980s to 2.2 in 2010, which is a result of increased female educational attainment, higher contraceptive use, delayed marriage, and the desire for smaller families. Young adults (persons aged 15-29) make up almost 26% of the total population and represent a potential economic asset if they can be gainfully employed. Currently, however, many youths are unemployed because Morocco’s job creation rate has not kept pace with the growth of its working-age population. Most youths who have jobs work in the informal sector with little security or benefits. During the second half of the 20th century, Morocco became one of the world’s top emigration countries, creating large, widely dispersed migrant communities in Western Europe. The Moroccan Government has encouraged emigration since its independence in 1956, both to secure remittances for funding national development and as an outlet to prevent unrest in rebellious (often Berber) areas. Although Moroccan labor migrants earlier targeted Algeria and France, the flood of Moroccan "guest workers" from the mid-1960s to the early 1970s spread widely across northwestern Europe to fill unskilled jobs in the booming manufacturing, mining, construction, and agriculture industries. Host societies and most Moroccan migrants expected this migration to be temporary, but deteriorating economic conditions in Morocco related to the 1973 oil crisis and tighter European immigration policies resulted in these stays becoming permanent. A wave of family migration followed in the 1970s and 1980s, with a growing number of second generation Moroccans opting to become naturalized citizens of their host countries. Spain and Italy emerged as new destination countries in the mid-1980s, but their introduction of visa restrictions in the early 1990s pushed Moroccans increasingly to migrate either legally by marrying Moroccans already in Europe or illegally to work in the underground economy. Women began to make up a growing share of these labor migrants. At the same time, some higher-skilled Moroccans went to the US and Quebec, Canada. In the mid-1990s, Morocco developed into a transit country for asylum seekers from sub-Saharan Africa and illegal labor migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia trying to reach Europe via southern Spain, Spain’s Canary Islands, or Spain’s North African enclaves, Ceuta and Melilla. Forcible expulsions by Moroccan and Spanish security forces have not deterred these illegal migrants or calmed Europe’s security concerns. Rabat remains unlikely to adopt an EU agreement to take back third-country nationals who have entered the EU illegally via Morocco. Thousands of other illegal migrants have chosen to stay in Morocco until they earn enough money for further travel or permanently as a "second-best" option. The launching of a regularization program in 2014 legalized the status of some migrants and granted them equal access to education, health care, and work, but xenophobia and racism remain obstacles.

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 51.6 (2015 est.) | youth dependency ratio: 41.9 (2015 est.) | elderly dependency ratio: 9.7 (2015 est.) | potential support ratio: 10.3 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 98.7% of population | rural: 65.3% of population | total: 85.4% of population | unimproved: urban: 1.3% of population | rural: 34.7% of population | total: 14.6% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

5.3% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic groups

Arab-Berber 99%, other 1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

<.1% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

<500 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

21,000 (2018 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant mortality rate

total: 21.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | male: 25 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 16.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic (official), Berber languages (Tamazight (official), Tachelhit, Tarifit), French (often the language of business, government, and diplomacy) | note: the proportion of Berber speakers is disputed

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.3 years (2018 est.) | male: 74.2 years | female: 80.5 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 68.5% | male: 78.6% | female: 58.8% (2015)

Major urban areas - population

3.716 million Casablanca, 1.865 million RABAT (capital), 1.204 million Fes, 1.157 million Tangier, 989,000 Marrakech, 906,000 Agadir (2019)

Maternal mortality rate

70 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

total: 29.7 years (2018 est.) | male: 29 years | female: 30.3 years

Nationality

noun: Moroccan(s) | adjective: Moroccan

Net migration rate

-3.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

26.1% (2016)

Physicians density

0.73 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

34,314,130 (July 2018 est.)

Population distribution

the highest population density is found along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts; a number of densely populated agglomerations are found scattered through the Atlas Mountains

Population growth rate

0.95% (2018 est.)

Religions

Muslim 99% (official; virtually all Sunni, <0.1% Shia), other 1% (includes Christian, Jewish, and Baha'i); note - Jewish about 6,000 (2010 est.) | MENA religious affiliation: PDF

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 84.1% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 65.5% of population (2015 est.) | total: 76.7% of population (2015 est.) | unimproved: urban: 15.9% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 34.5% of population (2015 est.) | total: 23.3% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years | male: 14 years | female: 13 years (2017)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female | total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.09 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 22.2% | male: 20% | female: 22.8% (2016 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 63% of total population (2019) | rate of urbanization: 2.14% annual rate of change (2015-20 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 National Liberation Front's assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco is a dormant dispute

Illicit drugs

the world's largest producer and exporter of cannabis; total production for 2015-2016 growing season estimated to be 700 metric tons; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; significant consumer of cannabis

Airports

55 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 31 (2017) | over 3,047 m: 11 (2017) | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 (2017) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 (2017) | 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 24 (2013) | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 (2013) | 914 to 1,523 m: 11 (2013) | under 914 m: 5 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

CN (2016)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 87 | by type: container ship 7, general cargo 6, oil tanker 3, other 71 (2018)

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 4 (2015) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 65 (2015) | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 6,786,850 (2015) | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 47,828,227 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines

944 km gas, 270 km oil, 175 km refined products (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Casablanca, Jorf Lasfar, Mohammedia, Safi, Tangier | container port(s) (TEUs): Tangier (3,312,409) (2017) | LNG terminal(s) (import): Jorf Lasfar

Railways

total: 2,067 km (2014) | standard gauge: 2,067 km 1.435-m gauge (1,022 km electrified) (2014)

Roadways

total: 57,300 km (2018)