2000 Edition

Background

Morocco's long struggle for independence from France ended in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier was 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 in 1997.

Area

land

446,300 sq km

total

446,550 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

highest point

Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m

lowest point

Sebkha Tah -55 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

border countries

Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km

total

2,017.9 km

Land use

arable land

21%

forests and woodland

20%

other

11% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

1%

permanent pastures

47%

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 35% (male 5,372,393; female 5,175,114) 15-64 years: 60% (male 9,021,259; female 9,163,548) 65 years and over: 5% (male 632,698; female 757,338) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

24.6 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

6.02 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%

Infant mortality rate

49.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

71.44 years (2000 est.)

male

66.92 years

total population

69.13 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

31% (1995 est.)

male

56.6%

total population

43.7%

Nationality

adjective

Moroccan

noun

Moroccan(s)

Net migration rate

-1.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

30,122,350 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.74% (2000 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: 0.84 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.13 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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

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

telephone

(7) 76 22 65

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant)

telephone

(202) 462-7979 through 7982

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch

chief of state

King MOHAMED VI (since 23 July 1999)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch following legislative elections

head of government

Prime Minister Abderrahmane YOUSSOUFI (since 14 March 1998)

FAX

(202) 265-0161

(7) 76 56 61

consulate(s) general

New York

consulate(s) general

Casablanca

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, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are appointed on the recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the monarch

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)

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

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)

note

CDT, UTM, UGTM, UNMT are all labor unions listed under Political pressure groups and leaders; see explanation in the description of Parliament

National holiday

Throne Day or Sete de Throne 30 July (1999) (anniversary of King MOHAMED VI's accession to the throne)

Political parties and leaders

Action Party or PA ; Constitutional Union or UC ; Democratic Forces Front or FFD ; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Issa al-OUARDIGHI]; Democratic Party for Independence or PDI [Thami el-OUAZZANI, Said BOUACHRINE]; Istiqlal Party or IP ; Labor Party or UT ; National Democratic Party or PND ; National Popular Movement or MNP ; National Rally of Independents or RNI [Ahmed OSMAN]; Organization of Democratic and Popular Action or OADP [Mohamed BENSAID]; Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS [Moulay Ismail al ALAOUI]; Popular Constitutional and Democratic Movement or MPCD [Dr. Abdelkarim al-KHATIB]; Popular Movement or MP ; Social Democratic Movement or MDS ; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP

Political pressure groups and leaders

Association of Popular Trade Unions or ADP ; Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT ; Democratic National Trade Union or USND ; Democratic Trade Union or SD ; General Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM ; Labor Union Commissions or CS ; Moroccan National Workers Union or UNMT ; Moroccan Union of Workers or UTM ; Party of Shura and Istiqla ;

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$10 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7 billion (FY98/99 est.)

revenues

$9.1 billion

Currency

1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes

Debt - external

$19.1 billion (1999 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 achieving sustainable economic growth. 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 being privatized. Drought conditions depressed activity in the key agricultural sector, and contributed to an economic slowdown in 1999. Favorable rainfalls have led Morocco to predict a growth of 6% for 2000. 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 prospects for Morocco's youthful population.

Electricity - consumption

12.363 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

124 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

13.16 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

83.59%

hydro

16.41%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 10.051 (January 2000), 9.804 (1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997), 8.716 (1996), 8.540 (1995)

Exports

$7.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities

phosphates and fertilizers, food and beverages, minerals (1998)

Exports - partners

France 27%, Spain 11%, India 7%, Japan 6%, Italy 5% (1998)

Fiscal year

July 1 - June 30

GDP

purchasing power parity - $108 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

16%

industry

30%

services

54% (1998 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,600 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 30.5% (1990-91)

Imports

$9.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports - commodities

semiprocessed goods, machinery and equipment, food and beverages, consumer goods, fuel (1998)

Imports - partners

France 22%, Spain 10%, US 7%, Germany 6%, Italy 6% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

2% (1998 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.9% (1999 est.)

Labor force

11 million (1997 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 50%, services 35%, industry 15% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

13.1% (1990-91 est.)

Unemployment rate

19% (1998 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

27 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998)

Radios

6.64 million (1997)

Telephone system

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

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

Telephones - main lines in use

1.391 million (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

116,645 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

26 (plus 35 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

3.1 million (1997)

Airports

70 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

26 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

44 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 11 (1999 est.)

Heliports

1 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

30,254 km (including 327 km of expressways)

total

57,847 km

unpaved

27,593 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 9, chemical tanker 6, container 3, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 9, roll-on/roll-off 8, short-sea passenger 1 (1999 est.)

total

40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 218,987 GRT/263,191 DWT

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

standard gauge

1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified; 540 km double track)

total

1,907 km

Military branches

Royal Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1.361 billion (FY97/98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.8% (FY97/98)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 7,961,552 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 5,026,210 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

335,264 (2000 est.)

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

MOZAMBIQUE