2015 Edition

Background

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 80% 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 - Western Sahara's liberation movement - and leads ongoing negotiations over the status of the territory. King MOHAMMED VI in early 2011 responded to the spread of pro-democracy protests in the 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 - a moderate Islamist party - won the largest number of seats in parliamentary elections, becoming the first Islamist party to lead the Moroccan Government.

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, 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

Environmental Modification

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

428.1 cu m/yr (2005)

total

12.61 cu km/yr (12%/4%/84%)

Geographic coordinates

32 00 N, 5 00 W

Geography - note

strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

Irrigated land

14,850 sq km (2004)

Land boundaries

border countries (3)

Algeria 1,900 km, Western Sahara 444 km, Spain (Ceuta) 8 km, Spain (Melilla) 10.5 km

note

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

total

2,362.5 km

Land use

arable land 17.5%; permanent crops 2.9%; permanent pasture 47.1%

agricultural land

67.5%

forest

11.5%

other

21% (2011 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

mountainous northern coast and interior bordered by large plateaus with intermontane valleys, and fertile coastal plains

Total renewable water resources

29 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

26.41% (male 4,469,461/female 4,330,904)

15-24 years

17.42% (male 2,886,637/female 2,919,324)

25-54 years

42.13% (male 6,788,601/female 7,249,887)

55-64 years

7.6% (male 1,262,634/female 1,271,492)

65 years and over

6.43% (male 964,900/female 1,178,859) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

18.2 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

8% (2007 est.)

total number

500,960

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.1% (2011)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

67.4% (2010/11)

Death rate

4.81 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

9.3%

potential support ratio

10.8% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

50.1%

youth dependency ratio

40.9%

Drinking water source

urban: 98.7% of population

rural: 65.3% of population

total: 85.4% of population

urban: 1.3% of population

rural: 34.7% of population

total: 14.6% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

6.6% of GDP (2013)

Ethnic groups

Arab-Berber 99%, other 1%

Health expenditures

6% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.16% (2013 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,400 (2013 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

30,600 (2013 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.9 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

19.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

27.92 deaths/1,000 live births

total

23.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic (official), Berber languages (Tamazight (official), Tachelhit, Tarifit), French (often the language of business, government, and diplomacy)

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.94 years (2015 est.)

male

73.64 years

total population

76.71 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

58.8% (2015 est.)

male

78.6%

total population

68.5%

Major urban areas - population

Casablanca 3.515 million; RABAT (capital) 1.967 million; Fes 1.172 million; Marrakech 1.134 million; Tangier 982,000 (2015)

Median age

female

28.7 years (2014 est.)

male

27.5 years

total

28.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Moroccan

noun

Moroccan(s)

Net migration rate

-3.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.7% (2014)

Physicians density

0.62 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

33,322,699 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1% (2015 est.)

Religions

Muslim 99% (official; virtually all Sunni,

Sanitation facility access

urban: 84.1% of population

rural: 65.5% of population

total: 76.7% of population

urban: 15.9% of population

rural: 34.5% of population

total: 23.3% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

11 years (2010)

male

12 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.99 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.94 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.82 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.13 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

19.2% (2012 est.)

male

18.4%

total

18.6%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.26% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

60.2% of total population (2015)

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 also claims Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, another region that falls entirely within Western Sahara; as of April 2015, Morocco’s parliament was examining legislation to reduce the number of regions from 16 to 12 under its “advanced regionalization” plan

Capital

daylight saving time

+1 hr, begins last Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in September

geographic coordinates

34 01 N, 6 49 W

name

Rabat

time difference

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

Constitution

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 (2011)

Country name

conventional long form

Kingdom of Morocco

conventional short form

Morocco

local long form

Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah

local short form

Al Maghrib

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Dwight L. BUSH, Sr. (since 8 April 2014)

consulate(s) general

Casablanca

embassy

Km 5.7 Avenue Mohammed VI, Souissi, Rabat

FAX

[212] 537 63 7201

mailing address

Unit 9400, Box Front Office, DPO, AE 09718

telephone

[212] 537 63 7777

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Mohammed Rachad BOUHLAL (since 22 December 2011)

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 462-7643

telephone

[1] (202) 462-7980

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers chosen by the prime minister in consultation with Parliament and appointed by the monarch

chief of state

King MOHAMMED VI (since 30 July 1999)

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from the majority party following legislative elections

head of government

Prime Minister Abdelillah BENKIRANE (since 29 November 2011)

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; the pentacle represents the five pillars of Islam and signifies the association between God and the nation; design dates to 1912

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

2 March 1956 (from France)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

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

Supreme Court judges appointed by the Superior Council of Judicial Power, a 20-member body presided by the monarch and including 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 non-renewable terms

subordinate courts

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

Legal system

mixed legal system of civil law based on French law and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts by Constitutional Court

Legislative branch

description

bicameral Parliament consists of the Chamber of Advisors (90-120 seats; members indirectly elected by an electoral college of local councils, professional organizations, and labor unions; members serve 6-year terms) and the 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 young people

election results

Chamber of Advisors- percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PJD 107, PI 60, RNI 52, PAM 47, USFP 39, MP 32, UC 23, PPS 18, other 17

elections

Chamber of Advisors- last held on 3 October 2009 (next scheduled for fall 2015); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 25 November 2011 (next to be held in 2016)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Ali Squalli HOUSSAINI/Leo MORGAN

name

"Hymne Cherifien" (Hymn of the Sharif)

note

music adopted 1956, lyrics adopted 1970

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

pentacle symbol, lion; national colors: red, green

Political parties and leaders

Action Party or PA [Mohammed EL IDRISSI]

Al Ahd (The Covenant) Party [Najib EL OUAZZANI]

An-Nahj Ad-Dimocrati or An-Nahj [Abdellah EL HARIF]

Authenticity and Modernity Party or PAM [Mustapha BAKKOURY]

Choura et Istiqlal (Consultation and Independence) Party or PCI [Abdelwahed MAACH]

Citizens' Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]

Constitutional Union Party or UC [Mohammed ABIED]

Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Mahmoud ARCHANE]

Democratic Forces Front or FFD [Touhami EL KHIARI]

Democratic Socialist Vanguard Party or PADS [Ahmed BENJELLOUN]

Democratic Society Party or PSD [Zhor CHEKKAFI]

Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]

Environment and Development Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]

Istiqlal (Independence) Party or PI [Hamid CHABAT]

Labor Party or LP [Abdelkrim BENATIK]

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 [Salaheddine MEZOUAR]

Neo-Democrats Party [Mohamed DARIF]

Party of Justice and Development or PJD [Abdelillah BENKIRANE]

Popular Movement or MP [Mohamed LAENSER]

Progress and Socialism Party or PPS [Nabil BENABDELLAH]

Reform and Development Party or PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]

Renaissance and Virtue Party or PRV [Mohamed KHALIDI]

Renewal and Equity Party or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR]

Social Center Party or PSC [Lahcen MADIH]

Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Driss LACHGAR]

Unified Socialist Party or GSU [Nabila MOUNIB]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir EL AMAOUI]

General Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Mohamed KAFI CHERRAT]

Justice and Charity Organization or JCO [Mohammed ben Abdesslam ABBADI]

Moroccan Employers Association or CGEM [Miriem BENSALAH-CHAQROUN]

National Labor Union of Morocco or UNMT [Mohamed YATIM]

Union of Moroccan Workers or UMT [Miloudi EL MOUKHARIK]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$34.99 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$29.4 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2010)

3.31% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

6% (31 December 2014 est.)

6.23% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$6.384 billion (2014 est.)

-$8.692 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$35.54 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$34.93 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.9 (2007 est.)

39.5 (1999 est.)

Economy - overview

Morocco has capitalized on its proximity to Europe and relatively low labor costs to build a diverse, open, market-oriented economy. 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. Industrial development strategies and infrastructure improvements - most visibly illustrated by a new port and free trade zone near Tangier - are improving Morocco's competitiveness. Morocco also seeks to expand its renewable energy capacity with a goal of making renewable more than 40% of electricity output by 2020. Key sectors of the economy include agriculture, tourism, aerospace, phosphates, textiles, apparel, and subcomponents. To boost exports, Morocco entered into a bilateral Free Trade Agreement with the United States in 2006 and an Advanced Status agreement with the European Union in 2008. Despite Morocco's economic progress, the country suffers from high unemployment, poverty, and illiteracy, particularly in rural areas. In 2011 and 2012, high prices on fuel - which is subsidized and almost entirely imported - strained the government's budget and widened the country's current account deficit. In 2014, Morocco ended subsidies on diesel, gasoline, and fuel oil which have improved its budget deficit. Subsidies on sugar, butane gas, and flour remain. Morocco’s current account deficit has also benefit from the fall in oil prices. Key economic challenges for Morocco include reforming the education system and the judiciary, while increasing the competitiveness of the private sector.

Exchange rates

Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar -

8.24 (2014 est.)

8.3803 (2013 est.)

8.6 (2012 est.)

8.0899 (2011 est.)

8.4172 (2010 est.)

Exports

$19.56 billion (2014 est.)

$18.26 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

clothing and textiles, automobiles, electric components, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, citrus fruits, vegetables, fish

Exports - partners

France 20.9%, Spain 19.9%, Brazil 5.8%, US 4% (2013)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

33.7%

government consumption

19%

household consumption

60.6%

imports of goods and services

-47.3%

investment in fixed capital

30%

investment in inventories

4%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

14%

industry

24.9%

services

61.1% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$7,600 (2014 est.)

$7,400 (2013 est.)

$7,100 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.9% (2014 est.)

4.4% (2013 est.)

2.7% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$109.2 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$252.4 billion (2014 est.)

$245.2 billion (2013 est.)

$234.9 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

28.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

26.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

25.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

33.2% (2007)

lowest 10%

2.7%

Imports

$40.04 billion (2014 est.)

$39.85 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Spain 14%, France 12.7%, China 7.1%, US 6.9%, Saudi Arabia 6.5%, Italy 5.3%, Germany 4.7%, Russia 4.5% (2013)

Industrial production growth rate

2.7% (2014 est.)

Industries

automotive parts, phosphate mining and processing, aerospace, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, energy, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.4% (2014 est.)

1.9% (2013 est.)

Labor force

12 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

39.1%

industry

20.3%

services

40.5% (2014 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$52.63 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$60.09 billion (31 December 2011)

$69.15 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

15% (2007 est.)

Public debt

76.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

73.1% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$20.97 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$19.26 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$92.72 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$92.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$1.219 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.731 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$49.26 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$45.62 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$122.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$124.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$77.75 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$77.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

26.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

9.1% (2014 est.)

9.2% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

39.35 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

122,900 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

5,500 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

680,000 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

25.14 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

818 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

73.2% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

22% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

4.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

5.66 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

6.413 million kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

23.65 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

1.084 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.022 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

62.03 million cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.444 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

209,400 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

20,830 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

143,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

131,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

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 (2007)

Internet country code

.ma

Internet users

percent of population

60.3% (2014 est.)

total

19.9 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM NA, FM 15, shortwave NA (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed-line teledensity is roughly 10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 100 per 100 persons

general assessment

good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; national network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radio relay; Internet available but expensive

international

country code - 212; landing point for the Atlas Offshore, Estepona-Tetouan, Euroafrica, Spain-Morocco, and SEA-ME-WE-3 fiber-optic telecommunications undersea cables that provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; 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 (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

8 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

2.49 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

134 (2014 est.)

total

44.1 million

Television broadcast stations

8 (2009)

Airports

55 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

7

2,438 to 3,047 m

9

914 to 1,523 m

4 (2013)

over 3,047 m

11

total

31

Airports - with unpaved runways

5 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

7

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

11

total

24

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 1, chemical tanker 3, container 6, passenger/cargo 14, roll on/roll off 2

foreign-owned

14 (France 3, Germany 1, Italy 1, Spain 9)

registered in other countries

4 (Gibraltar 4) (2010)

total

26

Pipelines

gas 944 km; oil 270 km; refined products 175 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Tangier (2,093,408)

LNG terminal(s) (import)

Jorf Lasfar

major seaport(s)

Casablanca, Jorf Lasfar, Mohammedia, Safi, Tangier

Railways

standard gauge

2,067 km 1.435-m gauge (1,022 km electrified) (2014)

total

2,067 km

Roadways

paved

41,116 km (includes 1,080 km of expressways)

total

58,395 km

unpaved

17,279 km (2010)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

8,691,419 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

8,252,682

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

7,377,045 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

7,026,016

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

298,366 (2010 est.)

male

300,327

Military branches

Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Royal Moroccan Navy (includes Coast Guard, Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al Malakiya Marakishiya; Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2010)

Military expenditures

3.55% of GDP (2012)

3.37% of GDP (2011)

3.55% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

20 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; service obligation - 18 months (2012)

Disputes - international

claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains unresolved; 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

one of the world's largest producers of illicit hashish; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; significant consumer of cannabis

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Morocco is a source, destination, and transit country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Moroccan adults and children are exploited for forced labor and forced prostitution in the Middle East and Europe; some Moroccan girls recruited to work as maids experience conditions of forced labor, while some Moroccan boys experience forced labor when working as apprentices in the artisan and construction industries and in mechanic shops; women and children from sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia who voluntarily enter Morocco are subsequently coerced into prostitution or, less frequently, forced domestic service

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Morocco does not comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; nevertheless, in 2013, the government did not demonstrate progress in investigating, prosecuting, convicting, and adequately punishing trafficking offenders and provided limited law enforcement data; the government did not develop or employ systematic procedures to proactively identify trafficking victims and provided limited to no social or protective services, relying heavily on NGOs to supply care ; Morocco continues to lack a single comprehensive anti-trafficking law (2014)