1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 446,550 sq km land: 446,300 sq km water: 250 sq km
Area--comparative
slightly larger than California
Climate
Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
Coastline
1,835 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m
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
Geographic coordinates
32 00 N, 5 00 W
Geography--note
strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar
Irrigated land
12,580 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 2,017.9 km border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km
Land use
arable land: 21% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 47% forests and woodland: 20% other: 11% (1993 est.)
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
Map references
Africa
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts
Natural resources
phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Terrain
northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains
People and Society
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.)
Birth rate
25.78 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
6.12 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
Infant mortality rate
50.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 68.87 years male: 66.85 years female: 70.99 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 43.7% male: 56.6% female: 31% (1995 est.)
Nationality
noun: Moroccan(s) adjective: Moroccan
Net migration rate
-1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
29,661,636 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
1.84% (1999 est.)
Religions
Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
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.)
Total fertility rate
3.24 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
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
Capital
Rabat
Constitution
10 March 1972, revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create bicameral legislature) September 1996
Country name
conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco conventional short form: Morocco local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah local short form: Al Maghrib
Data code
MO
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
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
Government type
constitutional monarchy
Independence
2 March 1956 (from France)
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
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):
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
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
National holiday
National Day, 3 March (1961) (anniversary of King HASSAN II's accession to the throne)
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock
Budget
revenues: $8.4 billion expenditures: $10 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8 billion (FY97/98 est.)
Currency
1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes
Debt--external
$20.9 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient
$565.6 million (1995)
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.
Electricity--consumption
12.52 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
1.02 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
11.5 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 95.65% hydro: 4.35% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
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)
Exports
$7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities
food and beverages 30%, semiprocessed goods 23%, consumer goods 21%, phosphates 17% (1995 est.)
Exports--partners
EU 63%, Japan 7.7%, India 6.6%, US 3.4%, Libya 3.4% (1996 est.)
Fiscal year
July 1-June 30
GDP
purchasing power parity--$107 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 14% industry: 33% services: 53% (1997)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$3,200 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
6.8% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 30.5% (1990-91)
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.)
Imports--partners
EU 57%, US 6.6%, Saudi Arabia 5.3%, Brazil 2.8% (1996 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
4.1% (1997 est.)
Industries
phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2%-3% (1998 est.)
Labor force
11 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation
agriculture 50%, services 26%, industry 15%, other 9% (1985)
Population below poverty line
13.1% (1990-91 est.)
Unemployment rate
19% (1998 est.)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 22, FM 7, shortwave 5 (1998 est.)
Radios
5.1 million (1998 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
Telephones
1,312,596 (1999 est.)
Television broadcast stations
26 (in addition, there are 35 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions
1.21 million (1998 est.)
Transportation
Airports
69 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 26 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 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 43 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 21 under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)
Heliports
1 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 60,626 km paved: 30,556 km (including 219 km of expressways) unpaved: 30,070 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 217,869 GRT/263,033 DWT ships by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 6, container 3, oil tanker 3, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8, short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)
Pipelines
crude oil 362 km; petroleum products 491 km (abandoned); natural gas 241 km Ports and harbors: Agadir, El Jadida, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar, Kenitra, Mohammedia, Nador, Rabat, Safi, Tangier; also Spanish-controlled Ceuta and Melilla
Railways
total: 1,907 km standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified; 246 km double track) (1994)
Military and Security
Military branches
Royal Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$1.3611 billion (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
3.8% (FY97/98)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 7,735,597 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 4,888,595 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
18 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 320,040 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
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