2007 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 31.6% (male 5,343,976/female 5,145,019) 15-64 years: 63.4% (male 10,505,018/female 10,580,599) 65 years and over: 5% (male 725,116/female 941,531) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

60 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1

total

26

under 914 m

2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

34 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 12

under 914 m

11 (2006)

Area

land

446,300 sq km

total

446,550 sq km

water

250 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than California

Background

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. Lower house elections were last held held in September 2002 and upper house elections were last held in September 2006. Geography Morocco

Birth rate

21.98 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$20.39 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.19 billion (2006 est.)

revenues

$15.85 billion

Capital

geographic coordinates

34 02 N, 6 51 W

name

Rabat

time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior

Coastline

1,835 km

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

Currency (code)

Moroccan dirham (MAD)

Currency code

MAD

Current account balance

$389 million (2006 est.)

Death rate

5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$17.9 billion (2006 est.)

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR

telephone

[1] (202) 462-7979

Disputes - 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

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40 (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $706 million (2004)

Economy - overview

Moroccan economic policies brought macroeconomic stability to the country in the early 1990s but have not spurred growth sufficient to reduce unemployment that nears 20% in urban areas. Poverty has increased due to the volatile nature of GDP, Morocco's continued dependence on foreign energy, and its inability to promote the growth of small and medium size enterprises. However, GDP growth rebounded to 6.7% in 2006 due to high rainfall, which resulted in a strong second harvest. 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 and Morocco's financial sector is rudimentary. Moroccan authorities understand that reducing poverty and providing jobs is key to domestic security and development. In 2004, Moroccan authorities instituted measures to boost foreign direct investment and trade by signing a free trade agreement with the US, which entered into force in January 2006, and sold government shares in the state telecommunications company and in the largest state-owned bank. Long-term challenges include preparing the economy for freer trade with the US and European Union, improving education and job prospects for Morocco's youth, and raising living standards, which the government hopes to achieve by increasing tourist arrivals and boosting competitiveness in textiles.

Electricity - consumption

18.89 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

1.7 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

18.48 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

95.4%

hydro

4.6%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.77508 (2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.574 (2003), 11.021 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch

chief of state

King MOHAMED VI (since 30 July 1999)

elections

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

head of government

Prime Minister Driss JETTOU (since 9 October 2002)

Exports

$11.72 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

clothing, fish, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, fruits, vegetables

Exports - partners

France 30.3%, Spain 18%, UK 6.2%, Italy 5.2%, India 4.1% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 265-0161

[212] (37) 76 56 61

consulate(s) general

New York

consulate(s) general

Casablanca

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Morocco

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 Morocco

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

13.3%

industry

31.2%

services

55.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.7% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$56.72 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$147 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

32 00 N, 5 00 W

Geography - note

strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar People Morocco

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Heliports

1 (2006)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

15,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

30.9% (1998-99)

lowest 10%

2.6%

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of hashish; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$21.22 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics

Imports - partners

France 18.2%, Spain 11%, Saudi Arabia 6.8%, Russia 6.8%, Italy 6.1%, China 5.2%, Germany 4.7% (2005)

Independence

2 March 1956 (from France)

Industrial production growth rate

4% (2004 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

36.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

43.99 deaths/1,000 live births

total

40.24 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.ma

Internet hosts

3,218 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

8 (2000)

Internet users

4.6 million (2005) Transportation Morocco

Investment (gross fixed)

21.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

14,450 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

11.25 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

40%

industry

15%

services

45% (2003 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

19%

other

79% (2005)

permanent crops

2%

Languages

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

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; 295 by multi-seat constituencies and 30 from national lists of women; 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, PI 21, USFP 16, MNP 15, PA 13, FFD 12, other 42; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - USFP 50, PI 48, PJD 42, RNI 41, MP 27, MNP 18, UC 16, PND 12, PPS 11, UD 10, other 50

elections

Chamber of Counselors - last held 6 October 2003 (next to be held in 2006); Chamber of Representatives - last held 27 September 2002 (next to be held in 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

73.37 years (2006 est.)

male

68.62 years

total population

70.94 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

39.4% (2003 est.) Government Morocco

male

64.1%

total population

51.7%

Location

Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

intermediate

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, and hepatitis A

vectorborne diseases

may be a significant risk in some locations during the transmission season (typically April through November) (2007)

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

7,882,879 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

7,908,864

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

6,675,729 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

6,484,787

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

341,677 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

353,377

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

Median age

female

24.5 years (2006 est.)

male

23.4 years

total

23.9 years

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 5, chemical tanker 6, container 9, passenger/cargo 13, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 5

foreign-owned

5 (France 1, Germany 2, Switzerland 1, UK 1)

registered in other countries

1 (Panama 1) (2006)

total

41 ships (1000 GRT or over) 382,781 GRT/285,435 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$2.31 billion (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

5% (2003 est.) Transnational Issues Morocco

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)

National holiday

Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)

Nationality

adjective

Moroccan

noun

Moroccan(s)

Natural gas - consumption

50 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m

Natural gas - production

50 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.218 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Natural hazards

northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts

Natural resources

phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt

Net migration rate

-0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

170,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2000 est.)

Oil - imports

147,800 bbl/day (2000 est.)

Oil - production

300 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

100 million bbl (2006 est.)

Pipelines

gas 715 km; oil 285 km (2006)

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 (interim)]; Democratic and Independence Party or PDI [Abdelwahed MAACH]; Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Mahmoud ARCHANE]; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI]; Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and Development Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Front of Democratic Forces or FFD [Thami EL KHYARI]; Istiqlal Party (Independence Party) or PI [Abbas El FASSI]; Justice and Development Party or PJD [Saad Eddine El OTHMANI]; Moroccan Liberal Party or PML [Mohamed ZIANE]; National Democratic Party or PND [Abdallah KADIRI]; National Ittihadi Congress Party or CNI [Abdelmajid BOUZOUBAA]; National Popular Movement or MNP [Mahjoubi AHERDANE]; National Rally of Independents or RNI [Ahmed OSMAN]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP [Abdellah IBRAHIM]; Parti Al Ahd or Al Ahd [Najib EL OUAZZANI, chairman]; 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 Union or UMP [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 [Mohammed El-YAZGHI]

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]

Population

33,241,259 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

19% (2005 est.)

Population growth rate

1.55% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Agadir, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Nador, Safi, Tangier Military Morocco

Public debt

70.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998)

Radios

6.64 million (1997)

Railways

standard gauge

1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified) (2005)

total

1,907 km

Religions

Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$18.21 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

32,716 km (including 507 km of expressways)

total

57,493 km

unpaved

24,777 km (2004)

Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR)

Royal Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Navy (includes Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003)

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

general assessment

modern system with all important capabilities; however, density is low with only 4 main lines available for each 100 persons

international

country code - 212; 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 (1998)

Telephones - main lines in use

1,341,200 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

12.393 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

35 (plus 66 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions

3.1 million (1997)

Terrain

northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains

Total fertility rate

2.68 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.7% (2006 est.)