Map of Morocco | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | More stats

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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.


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

Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 5 00 W

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 446,550 km²
Land: 446,300 km²
Water: 250 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than California

Land boundaries
Total: 2,017.9 km
Border countries: (3) Algeria 1,559 km; , Western Sahara 443 km; , Spain (Ceuta) 6.3 km; , Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km

Coastline: 1,835 km

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

Climate: Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior

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

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m
Extremes highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m

Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt

Land use
Arable land: 21%
Permanent crops: 1%
Permanent pastures: 47%
Forests and woodland: 20%
Other: 11% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 12,580 km² (1993 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts

Geography
Note: strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar


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Population: 29,114,497 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 1.89% (1998 est.)

Nationality
Noun: 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 of business, government, and diplomacy

Religions: Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 36% (male 5,398,692; female 5,200,660)
15-64 years: 59% (male 8,525,344; female 8,682,277)
65 years and over: 5% (male 606,203; female 701,321) (July 1998 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 1.89% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: 26.37 births/1000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate: 6.24 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.28 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

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
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

Air pollutants

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: 0.86 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 52.99 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 68.51 years
Male: 66.49 years
Female: 70.64 years (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.35 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 43.7%
Male: 56.6%
Female: 31% (1995 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional 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 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

Dependent areas

Independence: 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 4 September 1992, amended (to create bicameral legislature) September 1996

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 participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: King HASSAN II (since 3 March 1961): ead of
Government: Prime Minister Abderrahmane YOUSSOUFI (since 14 March 1998)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the king
Elections: none; the king is a hereditary monarch; prime minister appointed by the king

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)
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)
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, SD 1, ADP 1, SND 1, CS 1; 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

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed on the recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the king

Political parties and leaders

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed BENAISSA
In the us chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20,009
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 462-7,979 through 7,982
In the us fax: [1] (202) 265-0161
In the us consulates general: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Edward M. GABRIEL
From the us embassy: 2 Avenue de Marrakech, Rabat
From the us mailing address: PSC 74, Box 003, 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 consulates 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 symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Morocco faces the problems typical of developing countries_restraining government spending, reducing constraints on private activity and foreign trade, and keeping inflation within manageable bounds. 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 slowly being privatized. Drought conditions in 1997 depressed activity in the key agricultural sector, holding down exports and contributing to a 2.2% contraction in real GDP. Favorable rainfalls in the fall of 1997 have led to forecasts of robust, 8%-9% real GDP growth in 1998. Servicing the external debt, preparing the economy for freer trade with the European Union, improving education and living standards, and finding jobs for Morocco's youthful population remain long-term challenges.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: -2.2% (1997 est.)

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 14%
Industry: 33%
Services: 53% (1997)

Agriculture products: barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock

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

Industrial production growth rate: 4.5% (1996 est.)

Labor force
Total: 7.4 million
By occupation agriculture: 50%
By occupation services: 26%
By occupation industry: 15%
By occupation other: 9% (1985)

Unemployment rate: 16% (1997 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $10.4 billion
Expenditures: $10.75 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.9 billion (1996 est.)

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: July 1-June 30

Current account balance

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: total value:$6.9 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Commodoties: food and beverages 30%, semiprocessed goods 23%, consumer goods 21%, phosphates 17% (1995 est.)
Partners: EU 63%, Japan 7.7%, India 6.6%, US 3.4%, Libya 3.4% (1996 est.)

Imports: total value:$9.7 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
Commodoties: semiprocessed goods 26%, capital goods 25%, food and beverages 18%, fuel and lubricants 15%, consumer goods 12%, raw materials 4% (1995 est.)
Partners: EU 57%, US 6.6%, Saudi Arabia 5.3%, Brazil 2.8% (1996 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $23.4 billion (1996 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1_9.822 (January 1998), 9.527 (1997), 8.716 (1996), 8.540 (1995), 9.203 (1994), 9.299 (1993)


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Electricity access

Electricity production: 10.8 billion kWh (1995)

Electricity consumption
Per capita: 411 kWh (1995)

Electricity exports

Electricity imports

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system
Domestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; principal centers are Casablanca and Rabat; secondary centers are Fes, Marrakech, Oujda, Tangier, and Tetouan
International: 5 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

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $1.313 billion (1996)
Percent of gdp: 3.7% (1996)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 70 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 26
With paved runways over 3047 m: 11
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 4
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 7
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 44
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 11
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 21
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 11 (1997 est.)

Airports with paved runways
Total: 26
Over 3047 m: 11
2438 to 3047 m: 4
15-24 to 2437 m: 7
914 to 1523 m: 3
Under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Airports with unpaved runways
Total: 44
2438 to 3047 m: 1
15-24 to 2437 m: 11
914 to 1523 m: 21
Under 914 m: 11 (1997 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1997 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 362 km; petroleum products 491 km (abandoned; natural gas 241 km

Railways
Total: 1,907 km
Standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1003 km electrified; 246 km double track) (1994)

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 205,053 GRT/259,339 DWT
Ships by type: cargo 9, chemical tanker 6, container 2, oil tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 11, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8, short-sea passenger 1 (1997 est.)

Ports and terminals


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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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

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