Morocco

Kingdom of MoroccoAl Mamlakah al Maghribiyah

constitutional monarchyIndependence 2 March 1956 (from France)

Morocco as the 2007 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 131 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, UTC
Position32 00 N, 5 00 W
Area446,550 sq km
LocationNorthern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
2007

Every edition of Morocco

Populationas each edition published it
33.76 million July 2007 est. · 25.65m in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.528% 2007 est. · 2.16% in 1993
Median ageyears
24.3 years 2007 est. · 23 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
71.22 years 2007 est. · 67.5 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.62 children per woman 2007 est. · 4 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
38.85 deaths per 1,000 live births 2007 est. · 78 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$4,600 2006 est. · $1,060 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
9.4% 2006 est. · 0% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, successive Moorish 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. 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. Morocco virtually 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. Lower house elections were last held in September 2002, while upper house elections were last held in September 2006.

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 19%permanent crops 2%other 79% (2005)irrigated 14,450 sq km (2003)
Area
446,550sq km
land: 446,300 sq kmwater: 250 sq kmslightly larger than California
Coastline
1,835km
territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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

Geographic coordinates

32 00 N, 5 00 W

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

Geography - note

strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

People

20 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2007 est.)

740,686
65 and over5.1%
970,567
10,750,240
15-6463.9%
10,815,470
5,339,730
0-1431%
5,140,482
MaleFemale
Population
33,757,175
(July 2007 est.)growth rate: 1.528% (2007 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2007 est.)

Birth
21.64Death
5.54Net migration
-0.82

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2007 est.)71.22
68.88 · 73.67Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)38.85
42.56 · 34.96
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2004 census)52.3%
65.7% · 39.6%Median age years (2007 est.)24.3
23.8 · 24.8
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%

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.039 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.994 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.763 male(s)/female
total population:
0.994 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.62 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk:
intermediate
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial diarrhea, and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases:
may be a significant risk in some locations during the transmission season (typically April through November) (2007)

Nationality

noun:
Moroccan(s)
adjective:
Moroccan

Languages

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

Government

Constitutional monarchy; King MOHAMED VI (since 30 July 1999); Prime Minister Abbas EL FASSI (since 19 September 2007)

18 fields

Chamber of Counselors, 325 seats, elected 6 October 2003seats by party

PI 52PJD 46MP 41RNI 41USFP 38UC 27PPS 17Al Ahd 14FFD 9MDS 9other 31

Country name

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

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Capital

name:
Rabat
geographic coordinates:
34 01 N, 6 49 W
time difference:
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 claims another region, Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, which falls entirely within Western Sahara

Independence

2 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday

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

Constitution

10 March 1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create bicameral legislature) September 1996

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003)

Executive branch

chief of state:
King MOHAMED VI (since 30 July 1999)
head of government:
Prime Minister Abbas EL FASSI (since 19 September 2007)
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 a Chamber of Counselors (or upper house) (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates for nine-year terms; one-third of the members are elected every three years) and Chamber of Representatives (or lower house) (325 seats; 295 members elected by multi-seat constituencies and 30 from national lists of women; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)

elections:
Chamber of Counselors - last held 6 October 2003 (election moved to 2007); Chamber of Representatives - last held 7 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results:
  • Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party - NA;
  • seats by party - RNI 42, MDS 33, UC 28, MP 27, PND 21, PI 21, USFP 16, MNP 15, PA 13, FFD 12, other 42;
  • Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PJD 10.9%, PI 10.7%, RNI 9.7%, MP 9.3%, USFP 8.9%, UC 7.3%, Al Ahd 5.5%, PPS 5.4%, FFD 4.5%, MDS 3.7%, other 24.1%;
  • seats by party - PI 52, PJD 46, MP 41, RNI 41, USFP 38, UC 27, PPS 17, Al Ahd 14, FFD 9, MDS 9, other 31

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

  • Action Party or PA [Muhammad EL IDRISSI];
  • Alliance of Liberties or ADL [Ali BELHAJ];
  • Annahj Addimocrati or Annahj [Abdellah EL HARIF];
  • Avant Garde Social Democratic Party or PADS [Ahmed BENJELLOUN];
  • Citizen Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI];
  • Citizen's Initiatives for Development [Mohamed BENHAMOU];
  • Constitutional Union or UC [Mohamed ABIED];
  • Democratic and Independence Party or PDI [Abdelwahed MAACH];
  • Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Mahmoud ARCHANE];
  • Democratic Forces Front or FFD;
  • Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI];
  • Democratic Society Party or PSD [Zhor CHEKKAFI];
  • Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN];
  • Environment and Development Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI];
  • Front of Democratic Forces or FFD [Thami EL KHYARI];
  • Independence Party (Istiqlal) or PI [Abbas el FASSI];
  • Justice and Development Party or PJD [Saad Eddine El OTHMANI];
  • Labor Party [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 [Ahmed OSMAN];
  • National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP [Abdellah IBRAHIM];
  • Parti Al Ahd or Al Ahd [Najib EL OUAZZANI];
  • Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI];
  • Party of Renewal and Equity or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR];
  • Party of the Unified Socialist Left or GSU [Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER];
  • Popular Movement or MP [Mohand LAENSER];
  • Popular Movement Union or UMP [Mohamed LAENSER];
  • Reform and Development Party or PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN];
  • Social Center Party or PSC [Lahcen MADIH];
  • Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Mohammed El-YAZGHI]

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]

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Thomas T. RILEY
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

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;
  • design dates to 1912

Economy

Moroccan economic policies brought macroeconomic stability to the country in the early 1990s but have not spurred growth sufficient to reduce unemployment that nears 20% in urban areas.

49 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$152.5billion
(2006 est.)official exchange rate: $58.13 billion (2006 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$4,600
(2006 est.)
Real growth rate
9.4%
(2006 est.)industrial production growth: 4% (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2006 est.)

agriculture 17.3%industry 37%services 45.7% (2006 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

21.1%
France
17.6%
20.2%
Spain
13.5%
Saudi Arabia
6.9%
China
6.9%
4.6%
Italy
6.4%
Germany
6%
4.8%
UK
4%
India
Exports $11.39 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)Imports $20.96 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)(2006)

Budget

Revenues
$16.45 billionExpenditures
$18.98 billion (2006 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production
21.37 billion (2005)Electricity consumption
20.67 billion (2005)Electricity imports
802 million (2005)

Economy - overview

Moroccan economic policies brought macroeconomic stability to the country in the early 1990s but have not spurred growth sufficient to reduce unemployment that nears 20% in urban areas. Poverty has increased due to the volatile nature of GDP, Morocco's continued dependence on foreign energy, and its inability to promote the growth of small and medium size enterprises.

However, GDP growth rebounded to 6.7% in 2006 due to high rainfall, which resulted in a strong second harvest. Despite structural adjustment programs supported by the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club, the dirham is only fully convertible for current account transactions and Morocco's financial sector is rudimentary.

Moroccan authorities understand that reducing poverty and providing jobs is key to domestic security and development. In 2004, Moroccan authorities instituted measures to boost foreign direct investment and trade by signing a free trade agreement with the US, which entered into force in January 2006, and sold government shares in the state telecommunications company and in the largest state-owned bank.

Long-term challenges include preparing the economy for freer trade with the US and European Union, improving education and job prospects for Morocco's youth, and raising living standards, which the government hopes to achieve by increasing tourist arrivals and boosting competitiveness in textiles.

Labor force

10.86 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
40%
industry:
15%
services:
45% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.7% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
2.6%
highest 10%:
30.9% (1999)

Investment (gross fixed)

24.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Public debt

67.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

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

Oil - production

300 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

170,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

21,890 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports

186,100 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

100 million bbl (1 January 2006)

Natural gas - production

47.95 million cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

47.95 million cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.629 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance

$229 million (2006 est.)

Exports

$11.39 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

clothing, fish, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, fruits, vegetables

Imports

$20.96 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $651.8 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$20.79 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$16.63 billion (2006 est.)

Currency (code)

Moroccan dirham (MAD)

Exchange rates

Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.7722 (2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.574 (2003), 11.021 (2002)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
16.005 million
(2006)
Internet users
137,187
(2007)
Fixed lines
1.266 million
(2006) · country code .ma

Telephone system

general assessment:
modern system with all important capabilities; however, density is low with only 4 main lines available for each 100 persons
domestic:
  • good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links;
  • Internet available but expensive;
  • principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat;
  • national network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links;
  • improved rural service employs microwave radio relay
international:
  • country code - 212;
  • 7 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;
  • fiber-optic cable link from Agadir to Algeria and Tunisia (1998)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

35 (plus 66 repeaters) (1995)

Internet users

6.1 million (2006)

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

11
over 3,047 m
6
2,438 to 3,047 m
2
7
1,524 to 2,437 m
9
1
914 to 1,523 m
11
2
under 914 m
11
Paved 27Unpaved 33

Networkskm

Roadways
57,493Railways
1,907
Roadways: paved: 32,716 km (includes 507 km of expressways) · unpaved: 24,777 km (2004) · Railways: standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified) (2006)

Airports

60 (2007)

Heliports

1 (2007)

Pipelines

gas 715 km; oil 285 km (2006)

Railways

total:
1,907 km
standard gauge:
1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways

total:
57,493 km
paved:
32,716 km (includes 507 km of expressways)
unpaved:
24,777 km (2004)

Merchant marine

total:
35 ships (1000 GRT or over) 344,445 GRT/252,341 DWT
by type:
cargo 3, chemical tanker 6, container 8, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned:
14 (France 13, Germany 1) (2007)

Ports and terminals

Agadir, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Nador, Safi, Tangier

Military

Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Navy (includes Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2007)

6 fields

Military branches

Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Navy (includes Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2007)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49:
7,908,864
females age 18-49:
7,882,879 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49:
6,484,787
females age 18-49:
6,675,729 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males age 18-49:
353,377
females age 18-49:
341,677 (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

  • claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals;
  • 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;
  • 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

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

Central Intelligence Agency. “Morocco.” The World Factbook 2007. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/morocco/2007.

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