Morocco
Kingdom of MoroccoAl Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
constitutional monarchyIndependence 2 March 1956 (from France)
Morocco as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 136 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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. Improvements in human rights have occurred and there is a largely free press. Despite the continuing reforms, ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch.
Geography
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
20 fieldsLand useshare of 446,550 sq km
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
Terrain
northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 12.6 cu km/yr (10%/3%/87%)
- per capita:
- 400 cu m/yr (2000)
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, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
- signed, but not ratified:
- Environmental Modification
People
21 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2008 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2008 est.)
Male · female
Government
Constitutional monarchy; King MOHAMED VI (since 30 July 1999); Prime Minister Abbas EL FASSI (since 19 September 2007)
18 fieldsChamber of Counselors, 325 seats, elected 8 September 2006seats by party
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Kingdom of Morocco
- conventional short form:
- Morocco
- local long form:
- Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
- local short form:
- Al Maghrib
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
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 systems;
- judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court;
- has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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:
- 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 8 September 2006 (next to be held in 2009); 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 - PI 17, MP 14, RNI 13, USFP 11, UC 6, PND 4, PPS 4, Al Ahd 4, other 17;
- Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - PI 52, PJD 46, MP 41, RNI 39, USFP 38, UC 27, PPS 17, FFD 9, MDS 9, Al Ahd 8, other 39
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 [Abdelilah BENKIRANE];
- 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 Rally of Independents or RNI [Mustapha EL MANSOURI];
- 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 [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
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, 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, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, 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
51 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2007 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
Moroccan economic policies brought macroeconomic stability to the country in the early 1990s but have not spurred growth sufficient to reduce unemployment - nearing 20% in urban areas - despite the Moroccan Government's ongoing efforts to diversify the economy. Morocco's GDP growth rate slowed to 2.1% in 2007 as a result of a draught that severely reduced agricultural output and necessitated wheat imports at rising world prices.
Continued dependence on foreign energy and Morocco's inability to develop small and medium size enterprises also contributed to the slowdown. Moroccan authorities understand that reducing poverty and providing jobs are key to domestic security and development. In 2005, Morocco launched the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), a $2 billion social development plan to address poverty and unemployment and to improve the living conditions of the country's urban slums.
Moroccan authorities are implementing reform efforts to open the economy to international investors. 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. In 2000, Morocco entered an Association Agreement with the EU and, in 2006, entered a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US. Long-term challenges include improving education and job prospects for Morocco's youth, and closing the income gap between the rich and the poor, which the government hopes to achieve by increasing tourist arrivals and boosting competitiveness in textiles.
Industries
phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism
Exports - commodities
clothing and textiles, electric components, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, citrus fruits, vegetables, fish
Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics
Exchange rates
Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - 8.3563 (2007), 8.7722 (2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.574 (2003)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- modern system with all important capabilities;
- however, density is low with only 7 fixed lines available for each 100 persons;
- mobile-cellular subscribership is approaching 60 per 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;
- landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe;
- 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 (2007)
Transportation
9 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
Networkskm
Merchant marine
- total:
- 35
- by type:
- cargo 3, chemical tanker 6, container 8, passenger/cargo 13, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 4
- foreign-owned:
- 16 (France 14, Germany 2)
- registered in other countries:
- 4 (Gibraltar 4) (2008)
Military
6 fieldsMilitary branches
Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Navy (includes Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al Malakiya Marakishiya; Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2008)
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 16-49:
- 9,152,580
- females age 16-49:
- 9,080,830 (2008 est.)
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsDisputes - 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
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Morocco.” The World Factbook 2008. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/morocco/2008.