{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "

In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, a series of Moroccan 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 what is today called 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 between Morocco and the Polisario Front - an organization advocating the territory’s independence - and restarted negotiations over the status of the territory in December 2018. On 10 December 2020, the US recognized Morocco's sovereignty over all of Western Sahara.

King MOHAMMED VI in early 2011 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 in July 2011, under which some new powers were extended to parliament and the prime minister, but ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch. In November 2011, the Justice and Development Party (PJD) - a moderate Islamist party - won the largest number of seats in parliamentary elections, becoming the first Islamist party to lead the Moroccan Government. In September 2015, Morocco held its first direct elections for regional councils, one of the reforms included in the 2011 constitution. The PJD again won the largest number of seats in nationwide parliamentary elections in October 2016. In December 2020, Morocco signed a normalization agreement with Israel, similar to those that Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Sudan had concluded with Israel earlier in 2020 .

" } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Mauritania" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "28 30 N, 10 00 W" }, "Map references": { "text": "Africa" }, "Area": { "total": { "text": "716,550 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "716,300 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "250 sq km" } }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "slightly larger than twice the size of California" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "3,523.5 km" }, "border countries": { "text": "Algeria 1941 km, Mauritania 1564 km, Spain (Ceuta) 8 km and Spain (Melilla) 10.5 km" }, "note": "

note: an additional 75-meter border segment exists between Morocco and the Spanish exclave of Penon de Velez de la Gomera

" }, "Coastline": { "text": "2,945 km" }, "Maritime claims": { "territorial sea": { "text": "12 nm" }, "contiguous zone": { "text": "24 nm" }, "exclusive economic zone": { "text": "200 nm" }, "continental shelf": { "text": "200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation" } }, "Climate": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "mean elevation": { "text": "909 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "Sebkha Tah -59 m" }, "highest point": { "text": "Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "67.5% (2011 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 17.5% (2011 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 2.9% (2011 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 47.1% (2011 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "11.5% (2011 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "21% (2011 est.)" }, "note": "

note: does not include the area of the former Western Sahara, which is almost exclusively desert" }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "14,850 sq km (2012)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "the highest population density is found along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts; a number of densely populated agglomerations are found scattered through the Atlas Mountains as shown in this population distribution map" }, "Natural hazards": { "text": "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" }, "Environment - current issues": { "text": "in the north, land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water and soil pollution due to dumping of industrial wastes into the ocean and inland water sources, and onto the land; in the south, desertification; overgrazing; sparse water and lack of arable land" }, "Environment - international agreements": { "party to": { "text": "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": { "text": "Environmental Modification" } }, "Geography - note": { "text": "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 and Society": { "Population": { "text": "35,892,951 (July 2021 est.)" }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Moroccan(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Moroccan" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "Arab-Berber 99%, other 1%", "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Languages": { "text": "Arabic (official), Berber languages (Tamazight (official), Tachelhit, Tarifit), French (often the language of business, government, and diplomacy)", "note": "

note:  the proportion of Berber speakers is disputed; does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Religions": { "text": "Muslim 99% (official; virtually all Sunni, <0.1% Shia), other 1% (includes Christian, Jewish, and Baha'i); note - Jewish about 6,000 (2010 est.)", "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Demographic profile": { "text": "

Morocco is undergoing a demographic transition. Its population is growing but at a declining rate, as people live longer and women have fewer children. Infant, child, and maternal mortality rates have been reduced through better health care, nutrition, hygiene, and vaccination coverage, although disparities between urban and rural and rich and poor households persist. Morocco’s shrinking child cohort reflects the decline of its total fertility rate from 5 in mid-1980s to 2.2 in 2010, which is a result of increased female educational attainment, higher contraceptive use, delayed marriage, and the desire for smaller families. Young adults (persons aged 15-29) make up almost 26% of the total population and represent a potential economic asset if they can be gainfully employed. Currently, however, many youths are unemployed because Morocco’s job creation rate has not kept pace with the growth of its working-age population. Most youths who have jobs work in the informal sector with little security or benefits.

During the second half of the 20th century, Morocco became one of the world’s top emigration countries, creating large, widely dispersed migrant communities in Western Europe. The Moroccan Government has encouraged emigration since its independence in 1956, both to secure remittances for funding national development and as an outlet to prevent unrest in rebellious (often Berber) areas. Although Moroccan labor migrants earlier targeted Algeria and France, the flood of Moroccan \"guest workers\" from the mid-1960s to the early 1970s spread widely across northwestern Europe to fill unskilled jobs in the booming manufacturing, mining, construction, and agriculture industries. Host societies and most Moroccan migrants expected this migration to be temporary, but deteriorating economic conditions in Morocco related to the 1973 oil crisis and tighter European immigration policies resulted in these stays becoming permanent.

A wave of family migration followed in the 1970s and 1980s, with a growing number of second generation Moroccans opting to become naturalized citizens of their host countries. Spain and Italy emerged as new destination countries in the mid-1980s, but their introduction of visa restrictions in the early 1990s pushed Moroccans increasingly to migrate either legally by marrying Moroccans already in Europe or illegally to work in the underground economy. Women began to make up a growing share of these labor migrants. At the same time, some higher-skilled Moroccans went to the US and Quebec, Canada.

In the mid-1990s, Morocco developed into a transit country for asylum seekers from Sub-Saharan Africa and illegal labor migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia trying to reach Europe via southern Spain, Spain’s Canary Islands, or Spain’s North African enclaves, Ceuta and Melilla. Forcible expulsions by Moroccan and Spanish security forces have not deterred these illegal migrants or calmed Europe’s security concerns. Rabat remains unlikely to adopt an EU agreement to take back third-country nationals who have entered the EU illegally via Morocco. Thousands of other illegal migrants have chosen to stay in Morocco until they earn enough money for further travel or permanently as a \"second-best\" option. The launching of a regularization program in 2014 legalized the status of some migrants and granted them equal access to education, health care, and work, but xenophobia and racism remain obstacles.

" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "27.04% (male 4,905,626/female 4,709,333)" }, "15-24 years": { "text": "16.55% (male 2,953,523/female 2,930,708)" }, "25-54 years": { "text": "40.64% (male 7,126,781/female 7,325,709)" }, "55-64 years": { "text": "8.67% (male 1,533,771/female 1,548,315)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "7.11% (male 1,225,307/female 1,302,581) (2020 est.)" }, "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "52.4" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "40.8" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "11.6" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "8.6 (2020 est.)" }, "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "29.1 years" }, "male": { "text": "28.7 years" }, "female": { "text": "29.6 years (2020 est.)" }, "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "0.92% (2021 est.)", "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "17.58 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)", "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Death rate": { "text": "6.53 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)", "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "-1.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)", "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "the highest population density is found along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts; a number of densely populated agglomerations are found scattered through the Atlas Mountains as shown in this population distribution map" }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "63.5% of total population (2020)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "2.14% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)" }, "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "3.752 million Casablanca, 1.885 million RABAT (capital), 1.224 million Fes, 1.198 million Tangier, 1.003 million Marrakech, 924,000 Agadir (2020)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.05 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.04 male(s)/female" }, "15-24 years": { "text": "1.01 male(s)/female" }, "25-54 years": { "text": "0.97 male(s)/female" }, "55-64 years": { "text": "0.99 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "0.94 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "1 male(s)/female (2020 est.)" }, "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Maternal mortality rate": { "text": "70 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)", "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "19 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "male": { "text": "21.27 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "16.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)" }, "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "73.56 years" }, "male": { "text": "71.87 years" }, "female": { "text": "75.34 years (2021 est.)" }, "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "2.29 children born/woman (2021 est.)", "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "70.8% (2018)", "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 98.3% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 79.1% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 91% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 1.7% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 20.9% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 9% of population (2017 est.)" }, "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Current Health Expenditure": { "text": "5.2% (2017)", "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Physicians density": { "text": "0.73 physicians/1,000 population (2017)", "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Hospital bed density": { "text": "1 beds/1,000 population (2017)", "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 99.1% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 81.1% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 92.2% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 0.9% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 18.9% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 7.3% of population (2017 est.)" }, "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "<.1% (2019 est.)", "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS": { "text": "21,000 (2019 est.)", "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "HIV/AIDS - deaths": { "text": "<500 (2019 est.)", "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Major infectious diseases": { "text": "note: clusters of cases of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) are occurring in Morocco; as of 8 December 2020, Morocco has reported a total of 376,738 cases of COVID-19 or 10,207 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 1 million population with 168 cumulative deaths per 1 million population" }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "26.1% (2016)", "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": { "text": "2.6% (2017/18)", "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "NA", "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Literacy": { "definition": { "text": "age 15 and over can read and write" }, "total population": { "text": "73.8%" }, "male": { "text": "83.3%" }, "female": { "text": "64.6% (2018)" }, "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": { "total": { "text": "14 years" }, "male": { "text": "14 years" }, "female": { "text": "14 years (2019)" }, "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" }, "Unemployment, youth ages 15-24": { "total": { "text": "22.2%" }, "male": { "text": "22%" }, "female": { "text": "22.8% (2016 est.)" }, "note": "

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara" } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "Kingdom of Morocco" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "Morocco" }, "local long form": { "text": "Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah" }, "local short form": { "text": "Al Maghrib" }, "former": { "text": "French Protectorate in Morocco, Spanish Protectorate in Morocco, Spanish Sahara, Western Sahara" }, "etymology": { "text": "the English name \"Morocco\" derives from, respectively, the Spanish and Portuguese names \"Marruecos\" and \"Marrocos,\" which stem from \"Marrakesh\" the Latin name for the former capital of ancient Morocco; the Arabic name \"Al Maghrib\" translates as \"The West\"" } }, "Government type": { "text": "parliamentary constitutional monarchy" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Rabat" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "34 01 N, 6 49 W" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "daylight saving time": { "text": "+1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October" }, "note": "

etymology: name derives from the Arabic title \"Ribat el-Fath,\" meaning \"stronghold of victory,\" applied to the newly constructed citadel in 1170" }, "Administrative divisions": { "text": "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", "note": "

note: effective 10 December 2020, the US Government recognizes the sovereignty of Morocco over all of the territory of former Western Sahara

" }, "Independence": { "text": "2 March 1956 (from France)" }, "National holiday": { "text": "Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "several previous; latest drafted 17 June 2011, approved by referendum 1 July 2011; note - sources disagree on whether the 2011 referendum was for a new constitution or for reforms to the previous constitution" }, "amendments": { "text": "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" } }, "Legal system": { "text": "mixed legal system of civil law based on French civil law and Islamic (sharia) law; judicial review of legislative acts by Constitutional Court" }, "International law organization participation": { "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "no" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "the father must be a citizen of Morocco; if the father is unknown or stateless, the mother must be a citizen" }, "dual citizenship recognized": { "text": "yes" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "5 years" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "18 years of age; universal" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "King MOHAMMED VI (since 30 July 1999)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime Minister Saad-Eddine al-OTHMANI (since 17 March 2017)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Council of Ministers chosen by the prime minister in consultation with Parliament and appointed by the monarch " }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from the majority party following legislative elections" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { "text": "bicameral Parliament consists of:
Chamber of Advisors (120 seats; members indirectly elected by an electoral college of local councils, professional organizations, and labor unions; members serve 6-year terms)
Chamber of Representatives (395 seats; 305 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 90 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms); note - in the national constituency, 60 seats are reserved for women and 30 reserved for those under age 40" }, "elections": { "text": "
Chamber of Advisors - last held on 2 October 2015 (next to be held in fall 2021)
Chamber of Representatives - last held on 7 October 2016 (next to be held in fall 2021)" }, "election results": { "text": "
Chamber of Advisors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 106, women 14, percent of women 11.7%
Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party NA; seats by party - PJD 125, PAM 102, PI 46, RNI 37, MP 27, USFP 20, UC 19, PPS 12, MDS 3, other 4; composition - men 314, women 81, percent of women 20.5%; note - total Parliament percent of women 18.4%" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest courts": { "text": "Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (consists of 5-judge panels organized into civil, family matters, commercial, administrative, social, and criminal sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 12 members)" }, "judge selection and term of office": { "text": "Supreme Court judges appointed by the Superior Council of Judicial Power, a 20-member body presided 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 of the Rights of Man, 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": { "text": "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 and leaders": { "text": "Action Party or PA [Mohammed EL IDRISSI]
Amal (hope) Party [Mohamed BANI]
An-Nahj Ad-Dimocrati or An-Nahj [Mustapha BRAHMA]
Authenticity and Modernity Party or PAM [Ilyas al-OMARI]
Constitutional Union Party or UC [Mohamed SAJID]
Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Abdessamad ARCHANE]
Democratic Forces Front or FFD [Mustapha BENALI]
Democratic Oath Party or SD
Democratic Socialist Vanguard Party or PADS [Abderrahman BENAMROU]
Democratic Society Party [Zhour CHAKKAFI]
Environment and Development Party or PED [Karim HRITAN]
Green Left Party [Mohamed FARES]
Istiqlal (Independence) Party or PI [Nizar BARAKA]
Ittihadi National Congress or CNI [Abdesalam EL AZIZ]
Labor Party or PT
Moroccan Liberal Party or PML [Mohammed ZIANE]
Moroccan Union for Democracy or UMD [Jamal MANDRI]
National Rally of Independents or RNI [Aziz AKHANNOUCH]
Neo-Democrats Party [Mohamed DARIF]
Party of Development Reform or PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOHEN]
Party of Justice and Development or PJD [Saad Eddine al-OTHMANI]
Party of Liberty and Social Justice [Miloud MOUSSAOUI]
Popular Movement or MP [Mohand LAENSER]
Progress and Socialism Party or PPS [Nabil BENABDELLAH]
Renaissance and Virtue Party [Mohamed KHALIDI]
Renaissance Party [Said EL GHENNIOUI]
Renewal and Equity Party or PRE [Chakir ACHEHABAR]
Shoura (consultation) and Istiqlal Party [Ahmed BELGHAZI]
Social Center Party or PCS [Lahcen MADIH]
Socialist Party [Abdelmajid BOUZOUBAA]
Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Driss LACHGAR]
Unified Socialist Party or GSU [Nabila MOUNIB]
Unity and Democracy Party [Ahmed FITRI]" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, 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, UNSC (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Lalla Joumala ALAOUI (since 24 April 2017)" }, "chancery": { "text": "3508 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (202) 462-7979" }, "FAX": { "text": "[1] (202) 462-7643" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "New York" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador David T. FISCHER (since 22 January 2020)" }, "telephone": { "text": "[212] 537 637 200" }, "embassy": { "text": "Km 5.7 Avenue Mohammed VI, Souissi, Rabat 10170" }, "mailing address": { "text": "Unit 9400, Box Front Office, DPO AE 09718" }, "FAX": { "text": "[212] 537 637 201" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "Casablanca" } }, "Flag description": { "text": "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; the pentacle represents the five pillars of Islam and signifies the association between God and the nation; design dates to 1912" }, "National symbol(s)": { "text": "pentacle symbol, lion; national colors: red, green" }, "National anthem": { "name": { "text": "\"Hymne Cherifien\" (Hymn of the Sharif)" }, "lyrics/music": { "text": "Ali Squalli HOUSSAINI/Leo MORGAN" }, "note": "

note: music adopted 1956, lyrics adopted 1970

" } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "

Morocco has capitalized on its proximity to Europe and relatively low labor costs to work towards building a diverse, open, market-oriented economy. Key sectors of the economy include agriculture, tourism, aerospace, automotive, phosphates, textiles, apparel, and subcomponents. Morocco has increased investment in its port, transportation, and industrial infrastructure to position itself as a center and broker for business throughout Africa. Industrial development strategies and infrastructure improvements - most visibly illustrated by a new port and free trade zone near Tangier - are improving Morocco's competitiveness.

In the 1980s, Morocco was a heavily indebted country before pursuing austerity measures and pro-market reforms, overseen by the IMF. Since taking the throne in 1999, King MOHAMMED VI has presided over a stable economy marked by steady growth, low inflation, and gradually falling unemployment, although poor harvests and economic difficulties in Europe contributed to an economic slowdown. To boost exports, Morocco entered into a bilateral Free Trade Agreement with the US in 2006 and an Advanced Status agreement with the EU in 2008. In late 2014, Morocco eliminated subsidies for gasoline, diesel, and fuel oil, dramatically reducing outlays that weighed on the country’s budget and current account. Subsidies on butane gas and certain food products remain in place. Morocco also seeks to expand its renewable energy capacity with a goal of making renewable more than 50% of installed electricity generation capacity by 2030.

Despite Morocco's economic progress, the country suffers from high unemployment, poverty, and illiteracy, particularly in rural areas. Key economic challenges for Morocco include reforming the education system and the judiciary.

" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2019": { "text": "2.5% (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2018": { "text": "2.96% (2018 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2017": { "text": "3.98% (2017 est.)" } }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": { "text": "0.2% (2019 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018": { "text": "2% (2018 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": { "text": "0.7% (2017 est.)" } }, "Credit ratings": { "Fitch rating": { "text": "BB+ (2020)" }, "Moody's rating": { "text": "Ba1 (1999)" }, "Standard & Poors rating": { "text": "BBB- (2010)" } }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": { "text": "$279.295 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018": { "text": "$272.531 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017": { "text": "$264.212 billion (2017 est.)" }, "note": "

note: data are in 2010 dollars

" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$118.858 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2019": { "text": "$7,515 (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2018": { "text": "$7,438 (2018 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2017": { "text": "$7,314 (2017 est.)" }, "note": "

note: data are in 2010 dollars

" }, "Gross national saving": { "Gross national saving 2017": { "text": "30.1% of GDP (2017 est.)" }, "Gross national saving 2016": { "text": "28.9% of GDP (2016 est.)" }, "Gross national saving 2015": { "text": "28.8% of GDP (2015 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "14% (2017 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "29.5% (2017 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "56.5% (2017 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "58% (2017 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "18.9% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "28.4% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "4.2% (2017 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "37.1% (2017 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-46.6% (2017 est.)" } }, "Ease of Doing Business Index scores": { "Overall Ease of Doing Business score 2020": { "text": "93.0 (2020)" } }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "wheat, sugar beet, milk, potatoes, olives, tangerines/mandarins, tomatoes, oranges, barley, onions" }, "Industries": { "text": "automotive parts, phosphate mining and processing, aerospace, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, energy, tourism" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "2.8% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { "text": "10.399 million (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { "text": "39.1%" }, "industry": { "text": "20.3%" }, "services": { "text": "40.5% (2014 est.)" } }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2019": { "text": "9.23% (2019 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2018": { "text": "9.65% (2018 est.)" } }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "15% (2007 est.)" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2013": { "text": "39.5 (2013 est.)" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 1999": { "text": "39.5 (1999 est.)" } }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "2.7%" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "33.2% (2007)" } }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "22.81 billion (2017 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "26.75 billion (2017 est.)" } }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "20.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": { "text": "-3.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2017": { "text": "65.1% of GDP (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt 2016": { "text": "64.9% of GDP (2016 est.)" } }, "Fiscal year": { "text": "calendar year" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2019": { "text": "-$5.075 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2018": { "text": "-$6.758 billion (2018 est.)" } }, "Exports": { "Exports 2019": { "text": "$48.565 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Exports 2018": { "text": "$46.608 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports 2017": { "text": "$44.033 billion (2017 est.)" } }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "Spain 23.2%, France 22.6%, Italy 4.5%, US 4.2% (2017)" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "clothing and textiles, automobiles, electric components, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, citrus fruits, vegetables, fish" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2019": { "text": "$64.12 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Imports 2018": { "text": "$61.535 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Imports 2017": { "text": "$57.257 billion (2017 est.)" } }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "Spain 16.7%, France 12.2%, China 9.2%, US 6.9%, Germany 6%, Italy 5.9%, Turkey 4.5% (2017)" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017": { "text": "$26.27 billion (31 December 2017 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016": { "text": "$25.37 billion (31 December 2016 est.)" } }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 31 December 2017": { "text": "$51.48 billion (31 December 2017 est.)" }, "Debt - external 31 December 2016": { "text": "$44.65 billion (31 December 2016 est.)" } }, "Exchange rates": { "currency": { "text": "Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "9.0065 (2020 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2019": { "text": "9.657 (2019 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2018": { "text": "9.48825 (2018 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2014": { "text": "9.7351 (2014 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2013": { "text": "8.3798 (2013 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { "text": "28.75 billion kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - consumption": { "text": "28.25 billion kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - exports": { "text": "165 million kWh (2015 est.)" }, "Electricity - imports": { "text": "5.289 billion kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - installed generating capacity": { "text": "8.303 million kW (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - from fossil fuels": { "text": "68% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - from nuclear fuels": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)" }, "Electricity - from hydroelectric plants": { "text": "16% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)" }, "Electricity - from other renewable sources": { "text": "15% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)" }, "Crude oil - production": { "text": "160 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "Crude oil - exports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Crude oil - imports": { "text": "61,160 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Crude oil - proved reserves": { "text": "684,000 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - production": { "text": "66,230 bbl/day (2017 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - consumption": { "text": "278,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - exports": { "text": "9,504 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - imports": { "text": "229,300 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Natural gas - production": { "text": "87.78 million cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - consumption": { "text": "1.218 billion cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - exports": { "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - imports": { "text": "1.133 billion cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - proved reserves": { "text": "1.444 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)" }, "Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy": { "text": "55.4 million Mt (2017 est.)" } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "1,982,934" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "5.63 (2019 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "45,065,083" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "127.95 (2019 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "national network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radio relay; one of the most state-of-the-art markets in Africa; high mobile penetration rates in the region with low cost for broadband Internet access; improvement in LTE and VoD (Video on Demand) reach and capabilities; some market limitations with lack of competition; mobile internet accounts for 93.2% of all Internet connections (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line teledensity is 6 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 128 per 100 persons; good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat (2019)" }, "international": { "text": "country code - 212; landing point for the Atlas Offshore, Estepona-Tetouan, Canalink and SEA-ME-WE-3 fiber-optic telecommunications undersea cables that provide connectivity to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Australia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara (2019)" }, "note": "

note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "2 TV broadcast networks with state-run Radio-Television Marocaine (RTM) operating one network and the state partially owning the other; foreign TV broadcasts are available via satellite dish; 3 radio broadcast networks with RTM operating one; the government-owned network includes 10 regional radio channels in addition to its national service (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".ma" }, "Internet users": { "total": { "text": "22,596,729" }, "percent of population": { "text": "64.8% (July 2018 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "1,552,599" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "4 (2018 est.)" } }, "Communications - note": { "text": "the University of al-Quarawiyyin Library in Fez is recognized as the oldest existing, continually operating library in the world, dating back to A.D. 859; among its holdings are approximately 4,000 ancient Islamic manuscripts (2018)" } }, "Transportation": { "National air transport system": { "number of registered air carriers": { "text": "3 (2020)" }, "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": { "text": "76" }, "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "8,132,917 (2018)" }, "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "97.71 million mt-km (2018)" } }, "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "CN (2016)" }, "Airports": { "total": { "text": "62 (2020)" } }, "Airports - with paved runways": { "total": { "text": "36 (2020)" }, "over 3,047 m": { "text": "13 (2020)" }, "2,438 to 3,047 m": { "text": "12 (2020)" }, "1,524 to 2,437 m": { "text": "6 (2020)" }, "914 to 1,523 m": { "text": "4 (2020)" }, "under 914 m": { "text": "1 (2020)" } }, "Airports - with unpaved runways": { "total": { "text": "26 (2020)" }, "2,438 to 3,047 m": { "text": "2 (2020)" }, "1,524 to 2,437 m": { "text": "6 (2020)" }, "914 to 1,523 m": { "text": "12 (2020)" }, "under 914 m": { "text": "6 (2020)" } }, "Heliports": { "text": "1 (2013)" }, "Pipelines": { "text": "944 km gas, 270 km oil, 175 km refined products (2013)" }, "Railways": { "total": { "text": "2,067 km (2014)" }, "standard gauge": { "text": "2,067 km 1.435-m gauge (1,022 km electrified) (2014)" } }, "Roadways": { "total": { "text": "57,300 km (2018)" } }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "88" }, "by type": { "text": "container ship 7, general cargo 4, oil tanker 2, other 75 (2020)" } }, "Ports and terminals": { "major seaport(s)": { "text": "Ad Dakhla, Casablanca, Jorf Lasfar, Laayoune (El Aaiun), Mohammedia, Safi, Tangier" }, "container port(s) (TEUs)": { "text": "Tangier (3,312,409) (2017)" }, "LNG terminal(s) (import)": { "text": "Jorf Lasfar" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "Royal Armed Forces: Royal Moroccan Army, Royal Moroccan Navy (includes Coast Guard, marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force, Royal Morroccan Gendarmerie, Morroccan Royal Guard (provides security for the royal family; officially part of the Royal Army); Force Auxiliaire (a paramilitary force under the Ministry of Interior that supplements the military and the police as needed) (2019)" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2019": { "text": "3.1% of GDP (2019)" }, "Military Expenditures 2018": { "text": "3.1% of GDP (2018)" }, "Military Expenditures 2017": { "text": "3.2% of GDP (2017)" }, "Military Expenditures 2016": { "text": "3.2% of GDP (2016)" }, "Military Expenditures 2015": { "text": "3.2% of GDP (2015)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "the Royal Armed Forces have approximately 197,000 active personnel (175,000 Army; 9,000 Navy; 13,000 Air Force); est. 25,000 Gendarmerie (2019 est.)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the Moroccan military's inventory is comprised of mostly older French and US equipment; since 2010, France and the US are the leading suppliers of weapons to Morocco, followed by China and the Netherlands (2019 est.)" }, "Military deployments": { "text": "750 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 960 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "19 years of age for compulsory military service (reintroduced in 2019); both sexes are obligated to military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2019)" } }, "Terrorism": { "Terrorist group(s)": { "text": "Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) (2020)", "note": "

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { "text": "

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; both countries claim Isla Perejil (Leila Island); 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; Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations, each nation accusing the other of harboring militants and arms smuggling; the National Liberation Front's assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco is a dormant dispute

" }, "Illicit drugs": { "text": "the world's largest producer and exporter of cannabis; total production for 2015-2016 growing season estimated to be 700 metric tons; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; significant consumer of cannabis" } } }