2019 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 75% 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 - an organization advocating the territory’s independence - and restarted negotiations over the status of the territory in December 2018. 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 (PJD) - a moderate Islamist party - won the largest number of seats in parliamentary elections, becoming the first Islamist party to lead the Moroccan Government. In September 2015, Morocco held its first direct elections for regional councils, one of the reforms included in the 2011 constitution. The PJD again won the largest number of seats in nationwide parliamentary elections in October 2016.

Area

Land

446,300 sq km

Total

446,550 sq km

Water

250 sq km

Area Comparative

slightly more than three times the size of New York; slightly larger than California

Climate

Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior

Coastline

1,835 km

Elevation

Highest Point

Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m

Lowest Point

Sebkha Tah -59 m

Mean Elevation

909 m

Environment Current Issues

land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water and soil pollution due to dumping of industrial wastes into the ocean and inland water sources, and onto the land

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

Geographic Coordinates

32 00 N, 5 00 W

Geography Note

strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar; the only African nation to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines

Irrigated Land

14,850 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

Border Countries

Algeria 1900 km, Western Sahara 444 km, Spain (Ceuta) 8 km, Spain (Melilla) 10.5 km

Total

2,362.5 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

67.5% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

17.5% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

2.9% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

47.1% (2011 est.)

Forest

11.5% (2011 est.)

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; windstorms; flash floods; landslides

Natural Resources

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

Population Distribution

the highest population density is found along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts; a number of densely populated agglomerations are found scattered through the Atlas Mountains

Terrain

mountainous northern coast (Rif Mountains) and interior (Atlas Mountains) bordered by large plateaus with intermontane valleys, and fertile coastal plains

Age Structure

0 14 Years

25.47% (male 4,441,554 /female 4,298,715)

15 24 Years

16.83% (male 2,873,939 /female 2,902,206)

25 54 Years

42.41% (male 7,039,912 /female 7,513,651)

55 64 Years

8.33% (male 1,404,527 /female 1,454,304)

65 Years And Over

6.95% (male 1,081,035 /female 1,304,287) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

17.5 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

2.9% (2011)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

70.8% (2018)

Current Health Expenditure

5.8% (2016)

Death Rate

4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Demographic Profile

Morocco is undergoing a demographic transition. Its population is growing but at a declining rate, as people live longer and women have fewer children. Infant, child, and maternal mortality rates have been reduced through better health care, nutrition, hygiene, and vaccination coverage, although disparities between urban and rural and rich and poor households persist. Morocco’s shrinking child cohort reflects the decline of its total fertility rate from 5 in mid-1980s to 2.2 in 2010, which is a result of increased female educational attainment, higher contraceptive use, delayed marriage, and the desire for smaller families. Young adults (persons aged 15-29) make up almost 26% of the total population and represent a potential economic asset if they can be gainfully employed. Currently, however, many youths are unemployed because Morocco’s job creation rate has not kept pace with the growth of its working-age population. Most youths who have jobs work in the informal sector with little security or benefits.During the second half of the 20th century, Morocco became one of the world’s top emigration countries, creating large, widely dispersed migrant communities in Western Europe. The Moroccan Government has encouraged emigration since its independence in 1956, both to secure remittances for funding national development and as an outlet to prevent unrest in rebellious (often Berber) areas. Although Moroccan labor migrants earlier targeted Algeria and France, the flood of Moroccan "guest workers" from the mid-1960s to the early 1970s spread widely across northwestern Europe to fill unskilled jobs in the booming manufacturing, mining, construction, and agriculture industries. Host societies and most Moroccan migrants expected this migration to be temporary, but deteriorating economic conditions in Morocco related to the 1973 oil crisis and tighter European immigration policies resulted in these stays becoming permanent.A wave of family migration followed in the 1970s and 1980s, with a growing number of second generation Moroccans opting to become naturalized citizens of their host countries. Spain and Italy emerged as new destination countries in the mid-1980s, but their introduction of visa restrictions in the early 1990s pushed Moroccans increasingly to migrate either legally by marrying Moroccans already in Europe or illegally to work in the underground economy. Women began to make up a growing share of these labor migrants. At the same time, some higher-skilled Moroccans went to the US and Quebec, Canada.In the mid-1990s, Morocco developed into a transit country for asylum seekers from sub-Saharan Africa and illegal labor migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia trying to reach Europe via southern Spain, Spain’s Canary Islands, or Spain’s North African enclaves, Ceuta and Melilla. Forcible expulsions by Moroccan and Spanish security forces have not deterred these illegal migrants or calmed Europe’s security concerns. Rabat remains unlikely to adopt an EU agreement to take back third-country nationals who have entered the EU illegally via Morocco. Thousands of other illegal migrants have chosen to stay in Morocco until they earn enough money for further travel or permanently as a "second-best" option. The launching of a regularization program in 2014 legalized the status of some migrants and granted them equal access to education, health care, and work, but xenophobia and racism remain obstacles.

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

9.7 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

10.3 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

51.6 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

41.9 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

65.3% of population

Improved Total

85.4% of population

Improved Urban

98.7% of population

Unimproved Rural

34.7% of population

Unimproved Total

14.6% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

1.3% of population

Education Expenditures

5.3% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic Groups

Arab-Berber 99%, other 1%

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

<.1% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

<500 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

21,000 (2018 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

16.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

25 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

21.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

80.5 years

Male

74.2 years

Total Population

77.3 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

58.8% (2015)

Male

78.6%

Total Population

68.5%

Major Urban Areas Population

3.716 million Casablanca, 1.865 million RABAT (capital), 1.204 million Fes, 1.157 million Tangier, 989,000 Marrakech, 906,000 Agadir (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

70 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

30.3 years

Male

29 years

Total

29.7 years (2018 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Moroccan

Noun

Moroccan(s)

Net Migration Rate

-3.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

26.1% (2016)

Physicians Density

0.73 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

34,314,130 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

0.95% (2018 est.)

Religions

Muslim 99% (official; virtually all Sunni, <0.1% Shia), other 1% (includes Christian, Jewish, and Baha'i); note - Jewish about 6,000 (2010 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

65.5% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

76.7% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

84.1% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

34.5% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

23.3% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

15.9% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

13 years (2017)

Male

14 years

Total

13 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

0.97 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.83 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total Population

0.96 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.09 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

22.8% (2016 est.)

Male

20%

Total

22.2%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

2.14% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

63% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

11 regions (recognized); Beni Mellal-Khenifra, Casablanca-Settat, Draa-Tafilalet, Fes-Meknes, Guelmim-Oued Noun, Laayoune-Sakia al Hamra, Oriental, Marrakech-Safi, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, Souss-Massa, Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima

Capital

Daylight Saving Time

+1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Geographic Coordinates

34 01 N, 6 49 W

Name

Rabat

Time Difference

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

Citizenship

Citizenship By Birth

no

Citizenship By Descent Only

the father must be a citizen of Morocco; if the father is unknown or stateless, the mother must be a citizen

Dual Citizenship Recognized

yes

Residency Requirement For Naturalization

5 years

Constitution

Amendments

proposed by the king, by the prime minister, or by members in either chamber of Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by both chambers and approval in a referendum; the king can opt to submit self-initiated proposals directly to a referendum (2016)

History

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

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

Kingdom of Morocco

Conventional Short Form

Morocco

Etymology

the English name "Morocco" derives from, respectively, the Spanish and Portuguese names "Marruecos" and "Marrocos," which stem from "Marrakesh" the Latin name for the former capital of ancient Morocco; the Arabic name "Al Maghrib" translates as "The West"

Former

French Protectorate in Morocco, Spanish Protectorate in Morocco

Local Long Form

Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah

Local Short Form

Al Maghrib

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador David GREENE (since 5 August 2019)

Consulate's General

Casablanca

Embassy

Km 5.7 Avenue Mohammed VI, Souissi, Rabat 10170

Fax

[212] 537 637 201

Mailing Address

Unit 9400, Box Front Office, DPO AE 09718

Telephone

[212] 537 637 200

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

Chancery

3508 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Lalla Joumala ALAOUI (since 24 April 2017)

Consulate's General

New York

Fax

[1] (202) 462-7643

Telephone

[1] (202) 462-7979

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 Saad-Eddine al-OTHMANI (since 17 March 2017)

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

parliamentary 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 Courts

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, which includes 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 nonrenewable 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 civil law and Islamic (sharia) law; judicial review of legislative acts by Constitutional Court

Legislative Branch

Description

bicameral Parliament consists of: Chamber of Advisors (120 seats; members indirectly elected by an electoral college of local councils, professional organizations, and labor unions; members serve 6-year terms) 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 those under age 40

Election Results

Chamber of Advisors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 106, women 14, percent of women 11.7% Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party NA; seats by party - PJD 125, PAM 102, PI 46, RNI 37, MP 27, USFP 20, UC 19, PPS 12, MDS 3, other 4; composition - men 314, women 81, percent of women 20.5%; note - total Parliament percent of women 18.4%

Elections

Chamber of Advisors - last held on 2 October 2015 (next to be held in fall 2021) Chamber of Representatives - last held on 7 October 2016 (next to be held in fall 2021)

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Ali Squalli HOUSSAINI/Leo MORGAN

Name

"Hymne Cherifien" (Hymn of the Sharif)

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] Amal (hope) Party [Mohamed BANI] An-Nahj Ad-Dimocrati or An-Nahj [Mustapha BRAHMA] Authenticity and Modernity Party or PAM [Ilyas al-OMARI] Constitutional Union Party or UC [Mohamed SAJID] Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Abdessamad ARCHANE] Democratic Forces Front or FFD [Mustapha BENALI] Democratic Oath Party or SD Democratic Socialist Vanguard Party or PADS [Abderrahman BENAMROU] Democratic Society Party [Zhour CHAKKAFI] Environment and Development Party or PED [Karim HRITAN] Green Left Party [Mohamed FARES] Istiqlal (Independence) Party or PI [Nizar BARAKA] Ittihadi National Congress or CNI [Abdesalam EL AZIZ] Labor Party or PT Moroccan Liberal Party or PML [Mohammed ZIANE] Moroccan Union for Democracy or UMD [Jamal MANDRI] National Rally of Independents or RNI [Aziz AKHANNOUCH] Neo-Democrats Party [Mohamed DARIF] Party of Development Reform or PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOHEN] Party of Justice and Development or PJD [Saad Eddine al-OTHMANI] Party of Liberty and Social Justice [Miloud MOUSSAOUI] Popular Movement or MP [Mohand LAENSER] Progress and Socialism Party or PPS [Nabil BENABDELLAH] Renaissance and Virtue Party [Mohamed KHALIDI] Renaissance Party [Said EL GHENNIOUI] Renewal and Equity Party or PRE [Chakir ACHEHABAR] Shoura (consultation) and Istiqlal Party [Ahmed BELGHAZI] Social Center Party or PCS [Lahcen MADIH] Socialist Party [Abdelmajid BOUZOUBAA] Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Driss LACHGAR] Unified Socialist Party or GSU [Nabila MOUNIB] Unity and Democracy Party [Ahmed FITRI]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

Expenditures

26.75 billion (2017 est.)

Revenues

22.81 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-3.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

31 December 2009

3.31%

31 December 2010

6.5%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

5.73%

31 December 2017

5.6%

Current Account Balance

2016

-$4.363 billion

2017

-$3.92 billion

Debt External

31 December 2016

$44.65 billion

31 December 2017

$51.48 billion

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

1999

39.5

2007

40.9

Economy Overview

Morocco has capitalized on its proximity to Europe and relatively low labor costs to work towards building a diverse, open, market-oriented economy. Key sectors of the economy include agriculture, tourism, aerospace, automotive, phosphates, textiles, apparel, and subcomponents. Morocco has increased investment in its port, transportation, and industrial infrastructure to position itself as a center and broker for business throughout Africa. Industrial development strategies and infrastructure improvements - most visibly illustrated by a new port and free trade zone near Tangier - are improving Morocco's competitiveness.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. To boost exports, Morocco entered into a bilateral Free Trade Agreement with the US in 2006 and an Advanced Status agreement with the EU in 2008. In late 2014, Morocco eliminated subsidies for gasoline, diesel, and fuel oil, dramatically reducing outlays that weighed on the country’s budget and current account. Subsidies on butane gas and certain food products remain in place. Morocco also seeks to expand its renewable energy capacity with a goal of making renewable more than 50% of installed electricity generation capacity by 2030.Despite Morocco's economic progress, the country suffers from high unemployment, poverty, and illiteracy, particularly in rural areas. Key economic challenges for Morocco include reforming the education system and the judiciary.

Exchange Rates

2013

8.3798

2014

9.7351

2015

9.7787

2016

9.7787

2017

9.639

Currency

Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$22.66 billion

2017

$21.48 billion

Exports Commodities

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

Exports Partners

Spain 23.2%, France 22.6%, Italy 4.5%, US 4.2% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

37.1% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

18.9% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

58% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-46.6% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

28.4% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

4.2% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

14% (2017 est.)

Industry

29.5% (2017 est.)

Services

56.5% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$109.3 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$8,300

2016

$8,300

2017

$8,600

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$283.6 billion

2016

$286.8 billion

2017

$298.6 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

4.6%

2016

1.1%

2017

4.1%

Gross National Saving

2015

28.8% of GDP

2016

28.9% of GDP

2017

30.1% of GDP

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

Highest 10

33.2% (2007)

Lowest 10

2.7%

Imports

2016

$36.59 billion

2017

$39.64 billion

Imports Commodities

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

Imports Partners

Spain 16.7%, France 12.2%, China 9.2%, US 6.9%, Germany 6%, Italy 5.9%, Turkey 4.5% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

2.8% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

1.6%

2017

0.8%

Labor Force

12 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

39.1%

Industry

20.3%

Services

40.5% (2014 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

31 December 2013

$53.83 billion

31 December 2014

$52.75 billion

31 December 2015

$45.93 billion

Population Below Poverty Line

15% (2007 est.)

Public Debt

2016

64.9% of GDP

2017

65.1% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$25.37 billion

31 December 2017

$26.27 billion

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$74.7 billion

31 December 2017

$87.13 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

31 December 2016

$5.203 billion

31 December 2017

$5.351 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

31 December 2016

$54.78 billion

31 December 2017

$63.17 billion

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$109.3 billion

31 December 2017

$124.4 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$74.7 billion

31 December 2017

$87.13 billion

Taxes And Other Revenues

20.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2016

9.9%

2017

10.2%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

55.4 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

61,160 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

160 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

684,000 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

28.25 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

165 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

68% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

16% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

15% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

5.289 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

8.303 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

28.75 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

1.218 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

1.133 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

87.78 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

1.444 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

278,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

9,504 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

229,300 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

66,230 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

4 (2017 est.)

Total

1,378,867

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 (2019)

Communications Note

the University of al-Quarawiyyin Library in Fez is recognized as the oldest existing, continually operating library in the world, dating back to A.D. 859; among its holdings are approximately 4,000 ancient Islamic manuscripts (2018)

Internet Country Code

.ma

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

58.3% (July 2016 est.)

Total

19,611,643

Telephone System

Domestic

fixed-line teledensity is 6 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 129 per 100 persons (2018)

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; one of the most state-of-the-art markets in Africa; high mobile penetration rates in the region with low cost for broadband Internet access; LTE and VoD (Video on Demand) launched (2018)

International

country code - 212; landing point for the Atlas Offshore, Estepona-Tetouan, Canalink and SEA-ME-WE-3 fiber-optic telecommunications undersea cables that provide connectivity to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Australia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

6 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

2,046,390

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

129 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

43,916,066

Airports

55 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

7 (2017)

2 438 To 3 047 M

9 (2017)

914 To 1 523 M

4 (2017)

Over 3 047 M

11 (2017)

Total

31 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

7 (2013)

2 438 To 3 047 M

1 (2013)

914 To 1 523 M

11 (2013)

Total

24 (2013)

Under 914 M

5 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

CN (2016)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant Marine

By Type

container ship 7, general cargo 6, oil tanker 3, other 71 (2018)

Total

87

National Air Transport System

Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

47,828,227 mt-km (2015)

Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

6,786,850 (2015)

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

65 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

4 (2015)

Pipelines

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

Ports And Terminals

Container Port's Teus

Tangier (3,312,409) (2017)

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 (2014)

Roadways

57,300 km (2018)

Military And Security Forces

Royal Armed Forces: Royal Moroccan Army, Royal Moroccan Navy (includes Coast Guard, marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force, Royal Morroccan Gendarmerie, Morroccan Royal Guard (provides security for the royal family; officially part of the Royal Army); Force Auxiliaire (a paramilitary force under the Ministry of Interior that supplements the military and the police as needed) (2019)

Military Expenditures

2014

3.68% of GDP

2015

3.23% of GDP

2016

3.21% of GDP

2017

3.19% of GDP

2018

3.1% of GDP

Military Service Age And Obligation

19 years of age for compulsory military service; both sexes are obligated to military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2019)

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

the world's largest producer and exporter of cannabis; total production for 2015-2016 growing season estimated to be 700 metric tons; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; significant consumer of cannabis