1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 446,550 km2 land area: 446,300 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than California
Climate
Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
Coastline
1,835 km
Environment
northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; desertification
International disputes
claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty is unresolved; the UN is attempting to hold a referendum; the UN-administered cease-fire has been currently 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
Irrigated land
12,650 km2 (1989 est.)
Land boundaries
total 2,002 km, Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km
Land use
arable land: 18% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 28% forest and woodland: 12% other: 41%
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
Map references
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Note
strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar
Terrain
mostly mountains with rich coastal plains
People and Society
Birth rate
29.23 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate
6.56 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Ethnic divisions
Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
Infant mortality rate
53.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Labor force
7.4 million by occupation: agriculture 50%, services 26%, industry 15%, other 9% (1985)
Languages
Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 67.5 years male: 65.7 years female: 69.4 years (1993 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 50% male: 61% female: 38%
Nationality
noun: Moroccan(s) adjective: Moroccan
Net migration rate
-1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Population
27,955,090 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate
2.16% (1993 est.)
Religions
Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
Total fertility rate
3.96 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
37 provinces and 5 municipalities* (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Agadir, Al, Hoceima, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen,, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Srarhna, Er Rachidia, Essaouira, Fes, Fes*, Figuig,, Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech, Marrakech*, Meknes, Meknes*, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda,, Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat,, Sidi Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan, Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit
Capital
Rabat
Chamber of Representatives
last held on 14 September 1984 (were scheduled for September 1990, but postponed until June 1993 when 27 new seats will be added); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (306 total, 206 elected) UC 83, RNI 61, MP 47, Istiqlal 41, USFP 36, PND 24, other 14
Chief of State
King HASSAN II (since 3 March 1961)
Constitution
10 March 1972, revised in September 1992
Digraph
MO
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed BELKHAYAT chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone: (202) 462-7979 consulate general: New York
Executive branch
monarch, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
FAX
[212] (7) 76-56-61 consulate general: Casablanca
Flag
red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Solomon's seal in the center of the flag; green is the traditional color of Islam
Head of Government
Prime Minister Mohamed KARIM-LAMRANI (since October 1992)
Independence
2 March 1956 (from France)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Legal system
based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court
Legislative branch
unicameral Chamber of Representatives (Majlis Nawab)
Member of
ABEDA, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, OAS (observer), NAM, OIC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Names
conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco conventional short form: Morocco local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah local short form: Al Maghrib
National holiday
National Day, 3 March (1961) (anniversary of King Hassan II's accession to the throne)
Political parties and leaders
Morocco has 15 political parties; the major ones are Constitutional Union (UC), Maati BOUABID; National Assembly of Independents (RNI), Ahmed OSMAN; Popular Movement (MP), Mohamed LAENSER; National Popular Movement (MPN), Mahjoubi AHARDANE; Istiqlal, M'Hamed BOUCETTA; Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP); National Democratic Party (PND), Mohamed Arsalane EL-JADIDI; Party for Progress and Socialism (PPS), Ali YATA
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
Type
constitutional monarchy
US diplomatic representation
chief of mission: (vacant) embassy: 2 Avenue de Marrakech, Rabat mailing address: P. O. Box 120, Rabat, or PSC 74, APO AE 09718 telephone: [212] (7) 76-22-65
Economy
Agriculture
accounts for 16% of GDP, 50% of employment, and 30% of export value; not self-sufficient in food; cereal farming and livestock raising predominate; barley, wheat, citrus fruit, wine, vegetables, olives; fish catch of 491,000 metric tons in 1987
Budget
revenues $7.5 billion; expenditures $7.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.9 billion (1992)
Currency
1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes
Economic aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.3 billion and an additional $123.6 million for 1992; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $7.5 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $4.8 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $2.5 billion; $2.8 billion debt canceled by Saudi Arabia (1991); IMF standby agreement worth $13 million; World Bank, $450 million (1991)
Electricity
2,384,000 kW capacity; 8,864 million kWh produced, 317 kWh per capita (1992)
Exchange rates
Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 9.207 (February 1993), 8.538 (1992), 8.707 (1991), 8.242 (1990), 8.488 (1989), 8.209 (1988)
Exports
$4.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: food and beverages 30%, semiprocessed goods 23%, consumer goods 21%, phosphates 17% partners: EC 58%, India 7%, Japan 5%, former USSR 3%, US 2%
External debt
$20 billion (1991)
Fiscal year
calendar year
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; occasional transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe.
Imports
$7.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: capital goods 24%, semiprocessed goods 22%, raw materials 16%, fuel and lubricants 16%, food and beverages 13%, consumer goods 9% partners: EC 53%, US 11%, Canada 4%, Iraq 3%, former USSR 3%, Japan 2%
Industrial production
growth rate 8.4%; accounts for 27% of GDP (1990)
Industries
phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
6% (1992 est.)
National product
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $28.1 billion (1992 est.)
National product per capita
$1,060 (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate
0% (1992 est.)
Overview
The economy had recovered moderately in 1990 because of: the resolution of a trade dispute with India over phosphoric acid sales, a rebound in textile sales to the EC, lower prices for food imports, a sharp increase in worker remittances, increased Arab donor aid, and generous debt rescheduling agreements. Economic performance in 1991 was mixed. A record harvest helped real GDP advance by 4.2%. Inflation accelerated slightly as easier financial policies triggered rapid credit and monetary growth. Despite recovery of domestic demand, import volume growth slowed while export volume was adversely affected by phosphate marketing difficulties. In January 1992, Morocco reached a new 12-month standby arrangement for $129 million with the IMF. In February 1992, the Paris Club rescheduled $1.4 billion of Morocco's commercial debt. This is thought to be Morocco's last rescheduling. By 1993 the Moroccan authorities hope to be in a position to meet all debt service obligations without additional rescheduling. Servicing this large debt, high unemployment, and Morocco's vulnerability to external economic forces remain severe long-term problems. In 1992 Morocco embarked on a program to privatize 112 state-owned companies. A severe winter drought in 1991/92 cut back agricultural output in 1992.
Unemployment rate
19% (1992 est.)
Communications
Airports
total: 73 usable: 65 with permanent-surface runways: 26 with runways over 3,659 m: 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 13 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 26
Highways
59,198 km total; 27,740 km paved, 31,458 km gravel, crushed stone, improved earth, and unimproved earth
Merchant marine
50 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 305,758 GRT/484,825 DWT; 10 cargo, 2 container, 11 refrigerated cargo, 6 roll-on/roll-off, 4 oil tanker, 11 chemical tanker, 4 bulk, 2 short-sea passenger
Pipelines
crude oil 362 km; petroleum products (abandoned) 491 km; natural gas 241 km
Ports
Agadir, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar, Kenitra, Mohammedia, Nador, Safi, Tangier; also Spanish-controlled Ceuta and Melilla
Railroads
1,893 km 1.435-meter standard gauge (246 km double track, 974 km electrified)
Telecommunications
good system composed of wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; principal centers are Casablanca and Rabat; secondary centers are Fes, Marrakech, Oujda, Tangier, and Tetouan; 280,000 telephones (10.5 telephones per 1,000 persons); broadcast stations - 20 AM, 7 FM, 26 TV and 26 repeaters; 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara; coaxial cable and microwave to Algeria; microwave radio relay network linking Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco
Military and Security
Branches
Royal Moroccan Army, Royal Moroccan Navy, Royal Moroccan Air Force, Royal Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces
Defense expenditures
exchange rate conversion - $1.1 billion, 3.8% of GDP (1993 budget)
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 6,852,698; fit for military service 4,355,670; reach military age (18) annually 309,666 (1993 est.); limited conscription