Statistical information Morocco 1993

Morocco in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation:
Northern Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the
Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the WorldAreaTotal: 446,550 km²
Land: 446,300 km²
Land boundaries: total 2,002 km, Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km
Coastline: 1,835 km
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Continental shelf: 200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claimsClimateTerrain: mostly mountains with rich coastal plains
ElevationNatural resources: phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Land useArable land: 18%
Permanent crops: 1%
Meadows and pastures: 28%
Forest and woodland: 12%
Other: 41%
Irrigated land: 12,650 km² (1989 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 27,955,090 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 2.16% (1993 est.)
NationalityNoun: Moroccan(s)
Adjective: Moroccan
Ethnic groups: Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
Languages: Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language
Religions: Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.16% (1993 est.)
Birth rate: 29.23 births/1000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate: 6.56 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.13 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; desertification
Current issues note: strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 53.4 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 67.5 years
Male: 65.7 years
Female: 69.4 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.96 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
Total population: 50%
Male: 61%
Female: 38%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco
Conventional short form: Morocco
Local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
Local short form: Al Maghrib
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Rabat
Administrative divisions:
37 provinces and 5 municipalities* (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Agadir, Al Hoceima, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane,
Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Srarhna, Er Rachidia,
Essaouira, Fes, Fes*, Figuig, Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra,
Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech, Marrakech*, Meknes, Meknes*, Nador,
Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat, Sidi Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan,
Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit
Dependent areasIndependence: 2 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday:
National Day, 3 March (1961) (anniversary of King Hassan
II's accession to the throne)
Constitution: 10 March 1972, revised in September 1992
Legal system:
based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of
Supreme Court
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Chamber of Representatives: last held on 14 September 1984 (were scheduled for September 1990, but postponed until June 1993 when 27 new seats will be added); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (306 total, 206 elected) UC 83, RNI 61, MP 47, Istiqlal 41, USFP 36, PND 24, other 14
Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Representatives (Majlis Nawab)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation:
ABEDA, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, EBRD,
ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, OAS (observer), NAM, OIC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOSOM,
UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed BELKHAYAT
In the us chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20,009;
In the us telephone: (202) 462-7,979
In the us consulate general: New York
From the us chief of mission: (vacant)
From the us embassy: 2 Avenue de Marrakech, Rabat
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 120, Rabat, or PSC 74, APO AE 9,718
From the us telephone: 212 (7) 76-22-65
From the us fax: 212 (7) 76-56-61
From the us consulate 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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The economy had recovered moderately in 1990 because of: the resolution of a trade dispute with India over phosphoric acid sales, a rebound in textile sales to the EC, lower prices for food imports, a sharp increase in worker remittances, increased Arab donor aid, and generous debt rescheduling agreements. Economic performance in 1991 was mixed. A record harvest helped domestic demand, import volume growth slowed while export volume was adversely affected by phosphate marketing difficulties. In January 1992, Morocco reached a new 12-month standby arrangement for $129 million with the IMF. In February 1992, the Paris Club rescheduled $1.4 billion of Morocco's commercial debt. This is thought to be Morocco's last rescheduling. By 1993 the Moroccan authorities hope to be in a position to meet all debt service obligations without additional rescheduling. Servicing this large debt, high unemployment, and Morocco's vulnerability to external economic forces remain severe long-term problems. In 1992 Morocco embarked on a program to privatize 112 state-owned companies. A severe winter drought in 1991/92 cut back agricultural output in 1992.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 0% (1992 est.)
Real gdp per capita: $1,060 (1992 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for 16% of GDP, 50% of employment, and 30% of export value; not self-sufficient in food; cereal farming and livestock raising predominate; barley, wheat, citrus fruit, wine, vegetables, olives; fish catch of 491,000 metric tons in 1987
Industries: phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: growth rate 8.4%; accounts for 27% of GDP (1990)
Labor force: 7.4 million
By occupation agriculture: 50%
By occupation services: 26%
By occupation industry: 15%
By occupation other: 9% (1985)
Unemployment rate: 19% (1992 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $7.5 billion; expenditures $7.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.9 billion (1992)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $4.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
Commodoties: food and beverages 30%, semiprocessed goods 23%, consumer goods 21%, phosphates 17%
Partners: EC 58%, India 7%, Japan 5%, former USSR 3%, US 2%
Imports: $7.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
Commodoties: capital goods 24%, semiprocessed goods 22%, raw materials 16%, fuel and lubricants 16%, food and beverages 13%, consumer goods 9%
Partners: EC 53%, US 11%, Canada 4%, Iraq 3%, former USSR 3%, Japan 2%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 9.207 (February 1993), 8.538 (1992), 8.707 (1991), 8.242 (1990), 8.488 (1989), 8.209 (1988)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 2,384,000 kW capacity; 8,864 million kWh produced, 317 kWh per capita (1992)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $1.1 billion, 3.8% of GDP (1993 budget)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 73
Usable: 65
With permanentsurface runways: 26
With runways over 3659 m: 2
With runways 2440-3659 m: 13
With runways 1220-2439 m: 26
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil 362 km; petroleum products (abandoned) 491 km; natural gas 241 km
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine:
50 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 305,758 GRT/484,825
DWT; 10 cargo, 2 container, 11 refrigerated cargo, 6 roll-on/roll-off, 4 oil tanker, 11 chemical tanker, 4 bulk, 2 short-sea passenger
Ports and terminalsMorocco - Transnational issues 1993
top of pageDisputes international:
claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty is unresolved; the UN is attempting to hold a referendum; the
UN-administered cease-fire has been currently 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
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: illicit producer of hashish; trafficking on the increase for both domestic and international drug markets; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; occasional transit point for cocaine from South