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 in September 2002 while upper house elections were last held in September 2006.

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: 1835 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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: 19%
Permanent crops: 2%
Other: 79% (2005)

Irrigated land: 14,450 km² (2003)

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

Geography
Note: strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

Population: 33,757,175 (July 2007 est.)
Growth rate: 1.528% (2007 est.)
Below poverty line: 19% (2005 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Moroccan
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%

Age structure
0-14 years: 31% (male 5,339,730/female 5,140,482)
15-64 years: 63.9% (male 10,750,240/female 10,815,470)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 740,686/female 970,567) (2007 est.)

Median age
Total: 24.3 years
Male: 23.8 years
Female: 24.8 years (2007 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.528% (2007 est.)

Birth rate: 21.64 births/1000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate: 5.54 deaths/1000 population (2007 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.82 migrant(s)/1000 population (2007 est.)

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.039 male/female
15-64 years: 0.994 male/female
65 years and over: 0.763 male/female
Total population: 0.994 male/female (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 38.85 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 42.56 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 34.96 deaths/1000 live births (2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 71.22 years
Male: 68.88 years
Female: 73.67 years (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.62 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2001 est.)
People living with hivaids: 15,000 (2001 est.)
Deaths: NA

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)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 52.3%
Male: 65.7%
Female: 39.6% (2004 census)

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
Name: Rabat
Geographic coordinates: 34 01 N, 6 49 W
Time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions
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

Independence: 2 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday: Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMED VI to the throne) 30 July (1999)

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 systems; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

Executive branch
Chief of state: King MOHAMED VI (since 30 July 1999)
Head of government: Prime Minister Abbas EL FASSI (since 19 September 2007)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
Elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch following legislative elections

Legislative branch
Elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held 6 October 2003 (election moved to 2007); Chamber of Representatives - last held 7 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
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 - PJD 10.9%, PI 10.7%, RNI 9.7%, MP 9.3%, USFP 8.9%, UC 7.3%, Al Ahd 5.5%, PPS 5.4%, FFD 4.5%, MDS 3.7%, other 24.1%; seats by party - PI 52, PJD 46, MP 41, RNI 41, USFP 38, UC 27, PPS 17, Al Ahd 14, FFD 9, MDS 9, other 31

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

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]; Democratic and Independence Party or PDI [Abdelwahed MAACH]; Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Mahmoud ARCHANE]; Democratic Forces Front or FFD; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI]; Democratic Society Party or PSD [Zhor CHEKKAFI]; Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and Development Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Front of Democratic Forces or FFD [Thami EL KHYARI]; Independence Party (Istiqlal) or PI [Abbas el FASSI]; Justice and Development Party or PJD [Saad Eddine El OTHMANI]; Labor Party [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 [Ahmed OSMAN]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP [Abdellah IBRAHIM]; Parti Al Ahd or Al Ahd [Najib EL OUAZZANI]; 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 or MP [Mohand LAENSER]; 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]

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 IMSO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITSO 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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR
In the us chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20,009
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 462-7,979
In the us fax: [1] (202) 265-0161
In the us consulates general: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas T. RILEY
From the us embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat
From the us mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 9,718
From the us telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65
From the us fax: [212] (37) 76 56 61
From the us consulates general: Casablanca

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 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $152.5 billion (2006 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: 9.4% (2006 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $4,600 (2006 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 17.3%
Industry: 37%
Services: 45.7% (2006 est.)

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% (2004 est.)

Labor force: 10.86 million (2006 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 40%
By occupation industry: 15%
By occupation services: 45% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate: 7.7% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line: 19% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 2.6%
Highest 10: 30.9% (1999)

Distribution of family income gini index: 40 (2005 est.)

Budget
Revenues: $16.45 billion
Expenditures: $18.98 billion (2006 est.)

Public debt: 67.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3.4% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares: $49.36 billion (2006)

Current account balance: $229 million (2006 est.)

Exports: $11.39 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Commodities: clothing fish inorganic chemicals transistors crude minerals fertilizers (including phosphates) petroleum products fruits vegetables
Partners: France 21.1% Spain 20.2% UK 4.8% Italy 4.6% India 4% (2006)

Imports: $20.96 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Commodities: crude petroleum textile fabric telecommunications equipment wheat gas and electricity transistors plastics
Partners: France 17.6% Spain 13.5% Saudi Arabia 6.9% China 6.9% Italy 6.4% Germany 6% (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $20.79 billion (2006 est.)

Debt external: $16.63 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $23.5 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $567 million (2006 est.)

Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.7722 (2006) 8.865 (2005) 8.868 (2004) 9.574 (2003) 11.021 (2002)

Electricity
Production: 21.37 billion kWh (2005)
Consumption: 20.67 billion kWh (2005)
Exports: 0 kWh (2005)
Imports: 802 million kWh (2005)

Natural gas
Production: 47.95 million m³ (2005 est.)
Consumption: 47.95 million m³ (2005 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2005 est.)
Imports: 0 m³ (2005)
Proven reserves: 1.629 billion m³ (1 January 2006 est.)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 1.266 million (2006)
Mobile cellular: 16.005 million (2006)

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

Internet
Country code: .ma
Hosts: 137,187 (2007)
Users: 6.1 million (2006)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: 5% (2003 est.)

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

Airports: 60 (2007)
With paved runways total: 27
With paved runways over 3047 m: 11
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 6
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 7
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 2 (2007)
With unpaved runways total: 33
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 9
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 11
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 11 (2007)

Heliports: 1 (2007)

Pipelines: gas 715 km; oil 285 km (2006)

Railways
Total: 1,907 km
Standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways
Total: 57,493 km
Paved: 32,716 km (includes 507 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 24,777 km (2004)

Merchant marine
Total: 35 ships (1000 GRT or over) 344,445 GRT/252,341 DWT
By type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 6, container 8, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 4
Foreign owned: 14 (France 13, Germany 1) (2007)

Ports and terminals: Agadir Casablanca Mohammedia Nador Safi Tangier

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

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