Morocco

Kingdom of MoroccoAl Mamlakah al Maghribiyah

constitutional monarchyIndependence 2 March 1956 (from France)

Morocco as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 88 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalRabat

Position32 00 N, 5 00 W

Area446,550 sq km

LocationNorthern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and

Populationas each edition published it

29.78 million July 1996 est. · 25.65m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.05% 1996 est. · 2.16% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 23 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

69.52 years 1996 est. · 67.5 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.58 children per woman 1996 est. · 4 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

43.2 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 78 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$3,000 1995 est. · $1,060 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

-6.5% 1995 est. · 0% in 1993

Geography

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

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Land useshare of 446,550 sq km

arable land 18%permanent crops 1%meadows and pastures 28%forest and woodland 12%other 41%irrigated 12,650 sq km (1989 est.)

Area

446,550sq km

land area: 446,300 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than California

Coastline

1,835km

contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

2,002km

border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 kmnote: excludes the length of the boundary between the places of sovereignty and Morocco

Location

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

International disputes

claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a referendum on the issue;
the UN-administered cease-fire has been in effect since September 1991;
Spain controls five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla which Morocco contests as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas

Climate

Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior

Terrain

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

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

Natural resources

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

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
natural hazards:: northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts
international agreements:: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands;
signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

Geographic note

strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

People

15 fields

Population

29,779,156

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 2.05% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

27.39Death

5.77Net migration

-1.08

Male · female(1996 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years69.52

67.53 · 71.61

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy43.7%

56.6% · 31%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Arab-Berber 99.1%other 0.7%Jewish 0.2%

Religions

Muslim 98.7%Christian 1.1%Jewish 0.2%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 38% (male 5,696,731; female 5,522,077)
15-64 years:: 58% (male 8,577,918; female 8,700,521)
65 years and over:: 4% (male 613,712; female 668,197) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.92 male(s)/female
all ages:: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate

43.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Moroccan(s)
adjective:: Moroccan

Languages

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

Government

Constitutional monarchy; King HASSAN II (since 3 March 1961) is a hereditary monarch; Prime Minister Abdellatif FILALI (since 29 May 1994) was appointed by the king

21 fields

Legislature, 111 seatsone dot, one seat

(333 total, 111 indirectly elected) UC 27MP 18RNI 13MNP 11PND 10IP 7Party of Shura and Istiqlal 6USFP 4PPS 4CDT 4UTM 3UGTM 2SAP 2

Name of country

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

36 provinces and 5 wilayas*; Agadir, Al Hoceima, Assa-Zag, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Srarhna, Er Rachidia, Essaouira, Es Smara, Fes*, Figuig, Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech*, Meknes*, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat, Sidi Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan, Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit

Independence

2 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday

National Day, 3 March (1961) (anniversary of King HASSAN II's accession to the throne)

Constitution

10 March 1972, revised 4 September 1992

Legal system

based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: King HASSAN II (since 3 March 1961) is a hereditary monarch
head of government:: Prime Minister Abdellatif FILALI (since 29 May 1994) was appointed by the king
cabinet:: Council of Ministers was appointed by the king

Legislative branch

unicameral

Chamber of Representatives (Majlis Nawab)

two-thirds elected by direct, universal suffrage and one-third by an electoral college of government, professional, and labor representatives;
direct, popular elections last held 15 June 1993 (next to be held NA 1999);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (333 total, 222 directly elected) USFP 48, IP 43, MP 33, RNI 28, UC 27, PND 14, MNP 14, PPS 6, PDI 3, SAP 2, PA 2, OADP 2;
indirect, special interest elections last held 17 September 1993 (next to be held NA 1999);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (333 total, 111 indirectly elected) UC 27, MP 18, RNI 13, MNP 11, PND 10, IP 7, Party of Shura and Istiqlal 6, USFP 4, PPS 4, CDT 4, UTM 3, UGTM 2, SAP 2

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are appointed on the recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the king

Political parties and leaders

opposition:: Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), Mohammad al-YAZGHI;
Istiqlal Party (IP), M'Hamed BOUCETTA;
Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), Ali YATA;
Organization of Democratic and Popular Action (OADP), Mohamed Ben SAID
pro-government:: Constitutional Union (UC), Maati BOUABID;
Popular Movement (MP), Mohamed LAENSER;
National Democratic Party (PND), Mohamed Arsalane EL-JADIDI;
National Popular Movement (MNP), Mahjoubi AHARDANE
independents:: National Rally of Independents (RNI), Ahmed OSMAN;
Democracy and Istiqlal Party (PDI), leader NA;
Action Party (PA), Abdullah SENHAJI;
Non-Obedience Candidates (SAP), leader NA labor unions and community organizations (indirect elections: Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT), Nabir AMAOUI; General Union of Moroccan Workers (UGTM), Abderrazzak AFILAL; Moroccan Union of Workers (UTM), leader NA; Party of Shura and Istiqlal, leader NA

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Mohamed BENAISSA
chancery:: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:: [1] (202) 462-7979 through 7982

FAX

[1] (202) 265-0161; consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Marc C. GINSBERG
embassy:: 2 Avenue de Marrakech, Rabat
mailing address:: PSC 74, Box 003, APO AE 09718
telephone:: [212] (7) 76 22 65

FAX

[212] (7) 76 56 61; consulate(s) general: Casablanca

Flag

red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Solomon's seal in the center of the flag; green is the traditional color of Islam

Economy

Morocco faces the typical problems of | developing countries - restraining government spending, reducing | constraints on private activity and foreign trade, and keeping | inflation within bounds.

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GDP per capita, PPP

$3,000

(1995 est.)

Real growth rate

-6.5%

(1995 est.)industrial production growth: 0.1%

Inflation, consumer prices

5.4%

(1994)

Unemployment rate

16%

(1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector(1993 est.)

agriculture 14.3%industry 32.2%services 53.5% (1993 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$8.1 billionExpenditures

$8.9 billion (1994 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 2,620,000 kW

Electricity production

9.9 billionElectricity consumption per capita

361 (1993)

Economic overview

Morocco faces the typical problems of developing countries - restraining government spending, reducing constraints on private activity and foreign trade, and keeping inflation within bounds. Since the early 1980s the government has pursued an economic program toward these objectives with the support of the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club of creditors. The; economy has substantial assets to draw on: the world's largest phosphate reserves, diverse agricultural and fishing resources, a sizable tourist industry, a growing manufacturing sector, and remittances from Moroccans working abroad. A severe drought in 1992-93 depressed economic activity and held down exports. Real GDP contracted by 4.4% in 1992 and 1.1% in 1993. Despite these setbacks, initiatives to relax capital controls, strengthen the banking sector, and privatize state enterprises went forward in 1993-94. Favorable rainfall in 1994 boosted agricultural production by 40%. In 1995, Morocco suffered from a drought said to be the worst in 30 years. Servicing the large debt, high unemployment, and vulnerability to external economic forces remain long-term problems for Morocco.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $87.4 billion (1995 est.)

Labor force

7.4 million; by occupation: agriculture 50%, services 26%, industry 15%, other 9% (1985)

Industries

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

Agriculture

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

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of hashish;
trafficking on the increase for both domestic and international drug markets;
shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe;
transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe

Exports

$4 billion (f.o.b., 1994)

commodities:: food and beverages 30%, semiprocessed goods 23%, consumer goods 21%, phosphates 17%
partners:: EC 70%, Japan 5%, US 4%, Libya 3%, India 2% (1993)

Imports

$7.2 billion (c.i.f., 1994)

commodities:: capital goods 24%, semiprocessed goods 22%, raw materials 16%, fuel and lubricants 16%, food and beverages 13%, consumer goods 9%
partners:: EC 59%, US 8%, Saudi Arabia 5%, UAE 3%, Russia 2% (1993)

External debt

$20.5 billion (1994 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $297 million (1993) note: $2.8 billion debt canceled by Saudi Arabia (1991)

Currency

1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 8.607 (January 1996), 8.540 (1995), 9.203 (1994), 9.299 (1993), 8.538 (1992), 8.707 (1991)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 63 in all

over 3 047 m

2 438 to 3 047 m

1 524 to 2 437 m

914 to 1 523 m

under 914 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

59,474Railways

1,907

Highways: paved: 29,440 km (including 73 km of expressways) · unpaved: 30,034 km (1991 est.) · Railways: standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1003 km electrified; 246 km double track) (1994)

Railways

total:: 1,907 km
standard gauge:: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1003 km electrified; 246 km double track) (1994)

Highways

total:: 59,474 km
paved:: 29,440 km (including 73 km of expressways)
unpaved:: 30,034 km (1991 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 362 km;
petroleum products 491 km (abandoned);
natural gas 241 km

Ports

Agadir, Al Jadida, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar, Kenitra, Mohammedia, Nador, Rabat, Safi, Tangier; also Spanish-controlled Ceuta and Melilla

Merchant marine

total:: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 175,962 GRT/257,449 DWT
ships by type:: cargo 8, chemical tanker 7, container 2, oil tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 9, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea passenger 1 (1995 est.)

Heliports

1 (1995 est.)

Communications

Royal Moroccan Army, Royal Moroccan Navy, Royal Moroccan | Air Force, Royal Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces

9 fields

Fixed lines

270,100

(1987 est.)

Telephone system

domestic:: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links;
principal centers are Casablanca and Rabat;
secondary centers are Fes, Marrakech, Oujda, Tangier, and Tetouan
international:: 5 submarine cables;
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

males age 15-49:: 7,541,745
males fit for military service:: 4,782,028
males reach military age (18) annually:: 330,344 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $1.38 billion, 4.1% of GDP (1995)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Morocco.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/morocco/1996.

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