Morocco

Kingdom of MoroccoAl Mamlakah al Maghribiyah

constitutional monarchyIndependence 2 March 1956 (from France)

Morocco as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 106 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

29.66 million July 1999 est. · 25.65m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.84% 1999 est. · 2.16% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 23 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

68.87 years 1999 est. · 67.5 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.24 children per woman 1999 est. · 4 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

50.96 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 78 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$3,200 1998 est. · $1,060 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

6.8% 1998 est. · 0% in 1993

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 446,550 sq km

arable land 21%permanent crops 1%permanent pastures 47%forests and woodland 20%other 11% (1993 est.)irrigated 12,580 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

446,550sq km

land: 446,300 sq kmwater: 250 sq kmslightly 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

Highest point

4,165m

Jebel Toubkallowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m

Land boundaries

2,017.9km

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

Location

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

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

Natural resources

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

Natural hazards

northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

Geography--note

strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

People

15 fields

Population

29,661,636

(July 1999 est.)growth rate: 1.84% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth

25.78Death

6.12Net migration

-1.27

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1999 est.)68.87

66.85 · 70.99

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)43.7%

56.6% · 31%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

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:: 36% (male 5,409,322; female 5,208,742)
15-64 years:: 60% (male 8,773,625; female 8,922,976)
65 years and over:: 4% (male 619,164; female 727,807) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population:: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

50.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 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); Prime Minister Abderrahmane YOUSSOUFI (since 14 March 1998)

18 fields

Legislature, 325 seatsseats by party

-USFP 57UC 50RNI 46MP 40MDS 32IP 32MNP 19PND 10MPCD 9PPS 9FFD 9PSD 5OADP 4PA 2PDI 1

Country name

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

37 provinces and 2 wilayas*; Agadir, Al Hoceima, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Srarhna, Er Rachidia, Essaouira, 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

note: three additional provinces of Ad Dakhla (Oued Eddahab), Boujdour, and Es Smara as well as parts of Tan-Tan and Laayoune fall within Moroccan-claimed Western Sahara; decentralization/regionalization law passed by the legislature in March 1997 creating many new provinces/regions; specific details and scope of the reorganization not yet available

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, amended (to create bicameral legislature) September 1996

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)
head of government:: Prime Minister Abderrahmane YOUSSOUFI (since 14 March 1998)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections:: none;
the monarch is hereditary;
prime minister appointed by the monarch following legislative elections

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Chamber of Counselors (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates for nine-year terms; one-third of the members are renewed every three years) and a lower house or Chamber of Representatives (325 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)

elections:: Chamber of Counselors--last held 5 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 2000);
Chamber of Representatives--last held 14 November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2002)
election results:: Chamber of Counselors--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--RNI 42, MDS 33, UC 28, MP 27, PND 21, IP 21, USFP 16, MNP 15, UT 13, FFD 12, CDT 11, UTM 8, PPS 7, PSD 4, PDI 4, UGTM 3, UNMT 2, other 3;
Chamber of Representatives--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--USFP 57, UC 50, RNI 46, MP 40, MDS 32, IP 32, MNP 19, PND 10, MPCD 9, PPS 9, FFD 9, PSD 5, OADP 4, PA 2, PDI 1

Judicial branch

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

Political parties and leaders

ARCHANE] labor unions and community organizations (indirect elections only):

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, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Mohamed BENAISSA
chancery:: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general:: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Edward M. GABRIEL
embassy:: 2 Avenue de Marrakech, Rabat
mailing address:: PSC 74, Box 3, APO AE 09718
consulate(s) general:: Casablanca

Flag description

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

31 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$3,200

purchasing power parity? · (1998 est.)

Real growth rate

6.8%

(1998 est.)industrial production growth: 4.1% (1997 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

-3% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate

19%

(1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector(1997)

agriculture 14%industry 33%services 53% (1997)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

63%

57%

7.7%

Japan

6.6%

India

3.4%

6.6%

Saudi Arabia

5.3%

3.4%

Libya

Brazil

2.8%

Exports $7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)Imports $10 billion (c.i.f., 1997)(1996 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$8.4 billionExpenditures

$10 billion

expenditures including capital expenditures of $1.8 billion (FY97/98 est.)

Electricity

fossil fuel 95.65%hydro 4.35%nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

11.5 billion (1996)Electricity consumption

12.52 billion (1996)Electricity imports

1.02 billion (1996)

Economy--overview

Morocco faces the problems typical of developing countries--restraining government spending, reducing constraints on private activity and foreign trade, and keeping inflation within manageable 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 dirham is now fully convertible for current account transactions; reforms of the financial sector have been implemented; and state enterprises are slowly being privatized. Drought conditions in 1997 depressed activity in the key agricultural sector, holding down exports and contributing to a 2.2% contraction in real GDP. Favorable rainfalls in the fall of 1997 have led to 6.8% real GDP growth in 1998.

Growth is forecast to be about 4.0% in 1999. Formidable long-term challenges include: servicing the external debt; preparing the economy for freer trade with the EU; and improving education and attracting foreign investment to improve living standards and job propects for Morocco's youthful population.

GDP

purchasing power parity--$107 billion (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line

13.1% (1990-91 est.)

Labor force

11 million (1997 est.)

Labor force--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--products

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

Exports

$7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities

food and beverages 30%, semiprocessed goods 23%, consumer goods 21%, phosphates 17% (1995 est.)

Imports

$10 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities

semiprocessed goods 26%, capital goods 25%, food and beverages 18%, fuel and lubricants 15%, consumer goods 12%, raw materials 4% (1995 est.)

Debt--external

$20.9 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid--recipient

$565.6 million (1995)

Currency

1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1--9.320 (January 1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997), 8.716 (1996), 8.540 (1995), 9.203 (1994)

Fiscal year

July 1-June 30

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

1,312,596

(1999 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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 22, FM 7, shortwave 5 (1998 est.)

Radios

5.1 million (1998 est.)

Television broadcast stations

26 (in addition, there are 35 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

1.21 million (1998 est.)

Transportation

9 fields

Merchant marine, 40 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1998 est.)

cargo 8chemical tanker 6container 3oil tanker 3passenger 1refrigerated cargo 10roll-on/roll-off cargo 8short-sea passenger 1

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 2

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

total: 43 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 21

Networkskm

Highways

60,626Railways

1,907

Highways: paved: 30,556 km (including 219 km of expressways) · unpaved: 30,070 km (1996 est.) · Railways: standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified; 246 km double track) (1994)

Railways

total:: 1,907 km
standard gauge:: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified; 246 km double track) (1994)

Highways

total:: 60,626 km
paved:: 30,556 km (including 219 km of expressways)
unpaved:: 30,070 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines

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

Military

Royal Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air | Force), Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces

7 fields

Military expenditures--percent of GDP

3.8%

(FY97/98)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes--international

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

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

Central Intelligence Agency. “Morocco.” The World Factbook 1999. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/morocco/1999.

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