Morocco
Kingdom of Morocco
Population
37.39M
Area
716,550 km²
GDP
$154.43B
GDP Per Capita
$9,100
Pop. Density
52/km²
Quick Facts
Currency
د.م.Moroccan dirham(MAD)
Calling Code
+212
Timezone
UTC
Languages
Arabic, Berber
Driving Side
right
Demonym
Moroccan
Background
In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, a series of 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 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, which broke down in late 2020, between Morocco and the Polisario Front -- an organization advocating the territory’s independence -- and restarted negotiations over the status of the territory in 2018. In 2020, the US recognized Morocco's sovereignty over all of Western Sahara.
In 2011, King MOHAMMED VI responded to the spread of pro-democracy protests in the North Africa region by implementing a reform program that included a new constitution, passed by popular referendum, under which some new powers were extended to parliament and the prime minister, but ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch. Later that year, the Justice and Development Party (PJD) -- a moderate Islamist democratic party -- won the largest number of seats in parliamentary elections, becoming the first Islamist party to lead the Moroccan Government. In 2015, Morocco held its first direct elections for regional councils, which was one of the reforms included in the 2011 constitution. The PJD again won the largest number of seats in nationwide parliamentary elections in 2016, but it lost its plurality to the probusiness National Rally of Independents (RNI) in 2021. In 2020, Morocco signed a normalization agreement with Israel, similar to those that Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Sudan had concluded with Israel earlier that year.
Historical Trends
GDP (USD)
↑111.7% since 2006Population
↑23.8% since 2006Life Expectancy at Birth
Latest: 75.3 yearsData source: World Bank Open Data
Geography18
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Mauritania
Geographic coordinates
28 30 N, 10 00 W
Map references
Africa
Area
land: 716,300 sq km
water: 250 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly larger than twice the size of California
Land boundaries
border countries: Algeria 1,941 km; Mauritania 1,564 km; Spain (Ceuta) 8 km and Spain (Melilla) 10.5 km
Coastline
2,945 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate
Mediterranean in the north, becoming more extreme in the interior; in the south, hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
Terrain
mountainous northern coast (Rif Mountains) and interior (Atlas Mountains) bordered by large plateaus with intermontane valleys, and fertile coastal plains; the south is mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces
Elevation
lowest point: Sebkha Tah -59 m
mean elevation: 909 m
Natural resources
phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Land use
agricultural land
agricultural land: arable land
agricultural land: permanent crops
agricultural land: permanent pasture
forest
other
Irrigated land
17,645 sq km (2019)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Draa - 1,100 km
Population distribution
the highest population density is found along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts; a number of densely populated agglomerations are scattered through the Atlas Mountains, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards
in the north, the mountains are geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts; windstorms; flash floods; landslides; in the south, a hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility
Geography - note
strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar; the only African nation to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines; the waters off the Atlantic coast are particularly rich fishing areas
People & Society34
Population
male: 18,664,263
female: 18,723,322
Nationality
adjective: Moroccan
Ethnic groups
Arab-Amazigh 99%, other 1%
Languages
major-language sample(s):
كتاب ديال لحقائق متاع العالم، احسن مصدر متاع المعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Muslim 99% (official; virtually all Sunni, <0.1% Shia), other 1% (includes Christian, Jewish, and Baha'i); note - Jewish about 3,000-3,500 (2020 est.)
Age structure
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 12,236,752/female 12,410,567)
65 years and over: 8.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,529,357/female 1,610,969)
Dependency ratios
youth dependency ratio: 38.9 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 12.7 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 7.8 (2024 est.)
Median age
male: 30.1 years
female: 31 years
Population growth rate
0.81% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
16.5 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
6.66 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
-1.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution
the highest population density is found along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts; a number of densely populated agglomerations are scattered through the Atlas Mountains, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization
rate of urbanization: 1.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
3.893 million Casablanca, 1.959 million RABAT (capital), 1.290 million Fes, 1.314 million Tangier, 1.050 million Marrakech, 979,000 Agadir (2023)
Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
70 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male: 20.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
male: 72.5 years
female: 76 years
Total fertility rate
2.24 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
1.09 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban
improved: rural
improved: total
unimproved: urban
unimproved: rural
unimproved: total
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 6.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.74 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density
0.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban
improved: rural
improved: total
unimproved: urban
unimproved: rural
unimproved: total
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
26.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer: 0.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use
male: 23.7% (2025 est.)
female: 0.9% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
3% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
58% (2018 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 18: 13.7% (2018)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% national budget): 23.3% national budget (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male: 15 years (2023 est.)
female: 15 years (2023 est.)
Government25
Country name
conventional long form
conventional short form
local long form
local short form
former
etymology
Government type
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital
geographic coordinates: 34 01 N, 6 49 W
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: derives from the Arabic name Ribat el-Fath, from the words ribat (fortified monastery) and fath (conquest); the third Almohad sultan, Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Manṣur, gave the name to a fort on the site in the 12th century
Administrative divisions
12 regions; Beni Mellal-Khenifra, Casablanca-Settat, Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, Draa-Tafilalet, Fes-Meknes, Guelmim-Oued Noun, Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Safi, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, Souss-Massa, Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima
Legal system
mixed system of civil law based on French civil law and Islamic (sharia) law; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts
Constitution
amendment process: 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
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
head of government: Prime Minister Aziz AKHANNOUCH (since 7 October 2021)
cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the prime minister in consultation with Parliament and appointed by the monarch; the monarch chooses the ministers of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Islamic Affairs, and National Defense Administration
election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; monarch appoints the prime minister from the majority party following legislative elections
Legislative branch
legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
number of seats
electoral system
scope of elections
term in office
most recent election date
parties elected and seats per party
percentage of women in chamber
expected date of next election
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
number of seats
scope of elections
term in office
most recent election date
percentage of women in chamber
expected date of next election
Judicial branch
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the Superior Council of Judicial Power, a 20-member body presided over 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 for Human Rights (CNDH), 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
Political parties
Amal (hope) Party
An-Nahj Ad-Dimocrati or An-Nahj or Democratic Way
Authenticity and Modernity Party or PAM
Constitutional Union Party or UC
Democratic and Social Movement or MDS
Democratic Forces Front or FFD
Environment and Sustainable Development Party or PEDD
Federation of the Democratic Left or FGD
Green Left Party or PGV
Istiqlal (Independence) Party or PI
Moroccan Liberal Party or PML
Moroccan Union for Democracy or UMD
National Democratic Party
National Rally of Independents or RNI
Neo-Democrats Party
Party of Development Reform or PRD
Party of Justice and Development or PJD
Party of Liberty and Social Justice or PLJS
Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS
Popular Movement or MP
Renaissance and Virtue Party or PRV
Renaissance Party
Renewal and Equity Party or PRE
Shoura (consultation) and Istiqlal Party
Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP
Unified Socialist Party or GSU
Unity and Democracy Party
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission
chancery
telephone
FAX
email address and website
washingtonembmorocco@maec.gov.ma
Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in the United States (diplomatie.ma)
consulate(s) general
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
embassy
mailing address
telephone
FAX
email address and website
https://ma.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general
International organization participation
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AIIB, AMF, AMU, AU, 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, UNOOSA, UNSC (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
2 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday
Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)
Flag
meaning: 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 the association between God and the nation
history: the design dates to 1912
National symbol(s)
pentacle symbol, lion
National color(s)
red, green
National anthem(s)
lyrics/music: Ali Squalli HOUSSAINI/Leo MORGAN
history: music adopted 1956, lyrics adopted 1970
National heritage
selected World Heritage Site locales: Medina of Fez; Medina of Marrakesh; Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou; Historic City of Meknes; Archaeological Site of Volubilis; Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin); Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador); Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida); Historic and Modern Rabat
Economy30
Economic overview
lower middle-income North African economy; ongoing recovery from recent drought and earthquake; rebounding via tourism, manufacturing, and raw materials processing; significant trade and investment with EU; reform programs include fiscal rebalancing, state enterprise governance and private sector investments
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $339.603 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $328.425 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 1.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2023: $8,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $8,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$154.431 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 6.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry: 24.1% (2024 est.)
services: 54.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
government consumption
investment in fixed capital
investment in inventories
exports of goods and services
imports of goods and services
Agricultural products
wheat, milk, potatoes, sugar beets, tomatoes, barley, olives, apples, tangerines/mandarins, onions (2023)
Industries
automotive parts, phosphate mining and processing, aerospace, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, energy, tourism
Industrial production growth rate
5% (2024 est.)
Labor force
12.475 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2023: 9.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 9.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male: 22% (2024 est.)
female: 22.4% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
3.9% (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures
on alcohol and tobacco: 2.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022: 8.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 7.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget
expenditures: $44.819 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt
Taxes and other revenues
21% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022: -$4.8 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: -$3.349 billion (2021 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022: $58.575 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $47.09 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners
Spain 20%, France 17%, Germany 6%, UK 5%, Italy 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities
fertilizers, cars, garments, insulated wire, tomatoes (2023)
Imports
Imports 2022: $73.81 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $60.215 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners
Spain 16%, China 11%, France 10%, USA 9%, Turkey 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, vehicle parts/accessories, natural gas, coal (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $36.328 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $32.314 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external
Exchange rates
Currency
Exchange rates 2024
Exchange rates 2023
Exchange rates 2022
Exchange rates 2021
Exchange rates 2020
Energy7
Electricity access
Electricity
consumption: 36.379 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 462 million kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 2.311 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 7.781 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
solar: 5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 15.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
exports: 25 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 10.344 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 96 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 296,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 684,000 barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
consumption: 912.277 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 861.38 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 1.444 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Communications6
Telephones - fixed lines
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 137 (2021 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 is available via satellite dish; 3 radio broadcast networks, with RTM operating one; the state-owned network includes 10 regional radio channels in addition to its national service (2019)
Internet country code
.ma
Internet users
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2022 est.)
Transportation6
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
CN
Airports
48 (2025)
Heliports
17 (2025)
Railways
standard gauge: 2,067 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (1,022 km electrified)
Merchant marine
by type: container ship 6, general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 81
Ports
total ports
large
medium
small
very small
ports with oil terminals
key ports
Military & Security7
Military and security forces
Ministry of Interior: General Directorate for National Security (DGSN; aka National Police), Auxiliary Forces (2025)
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2023: 4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 4.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 4.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 4.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 220,000 active Armed Forces (175,000 Army; 10,000 Navy; 15,000 Air Force, 20,000 Gendarmerie) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Moroccan military's inventory is mostly a mix of older and some more modern armaments from France and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation
19-25 years of age for 12-month compulsory and voluntary military service for men and women (2025)
Military deployments
775 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 890 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2025)
Military - note
the FAR participates in international peacekeeping operations, as well as both bilateral and multinational training exercises; it has relations with a variety of partners including the militaries of France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and the US, as well as NATO, the Arab League, and the African Union; Morocco has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation
the FAR was created in May 1956; Moroccans were recruited for service in the Spahi and Tirailleur regiments of the French Army during the period of the French protectorate (1912-1956), and Moroccans fought under the French Army during both World Wars, as well as the First Indochina War (1946-1954); the Spanish Army recruited Moroccans from the Spanish Protectorate during both the Rif War (1921-26) and the Spanish Civil War (1936-39)
the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was established by Security Council resolution 690 in April 1991 in accordance with settlement proposals accepted in August 1988 by Morocco and the Polisario Front; MINURSO was unable to carry out all the original settlement proposals, but continues to monitor the cease-fire and reduce the threat of mines and unexploded ordnance, and has provided logistic support to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (2025)
Transnational Issues1
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: 256 (2024 est.)