Background: In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, a series of 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 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, which broke down in late 2020, between Morocco and the Polisario Front -- an organization advocating the territory’s independence -- and restarted negotiations over the status of the territory in 2018. In 2020, the US recognized Morocco's sovereignty over all of Western Sahara. In 2011, King MOHAMMED VI responded to the spread of pro-democracy protests in the North Africa region by implementing a reform program that included a new constitution, passed by popular referendum, under which some new powers were extended to parliament and the prime minister, but ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch. Later that year, the Justice and Development Party (PJD) -- a moderate Islamist democratic party -- won the largest number of seats in parliamentary elections, becoming the first Islamist party to lead the Moroccan Government. In 2015, Morocco held its first direct elections for regional councils, which was one of the reforms included in the 2011 constitution. The PJD again won the largest number of seats in nationwide parliamentary elections in 2016, but it lost its plurality to the probusiness National Rally of Independents (RNI) in 2021. In 2020, Morocco signed a normalization agreement with Israel, similar to those that Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Sudan had concluded with Israel earlier that year.

Area
Total: 716,550 km²
Land: 716,300 km²
Water: 250 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than twice the size of California

Land boundaries
Total: 3,523.5 km
Border countries (3): (3) Algeria 1,941 km; Mauritania 1,564 km; Spain (Ceuta) 8 km; and 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

Coastline: 2,945 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 in the north, becoming more extreme in the interior; in the south, hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
Note: data does not include former Western Sahara

Terrain: mountainous northern coast (Rif Mountains) and interior (Atlas Mountains) bordered by large plateaus with intermontane valleys, and fertile coastal plains; the south is mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces

Elevation
Highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m
Lowest point: Sebkha Tah -59 m
Mean elevation: 909 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 66.7% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 15.4% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 47.1% (2023 est.)
Forest: 12.8% (2023 est.)
Other: 20.3% (2023 est.)
Note: does not include the area of the former Western Sahara, which is almost exclusively desert

Irrigated land: 17,645 km² (2019)

Major rivers: Draa - 1,100 km

Natural hazards: in the north, the mountains are geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts; windstorms; flash floods; landslides; in the south, a hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility

Geography
Note: strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar; the only African nation to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines; the waters off the Atlantic coast are particularly rich fishing areas

Population
Total: 37,387,585 (2024 est.)
Male: 18,664,263
Female: 18,723,322
Distribution: the highest population density is found along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts; a number of densely populated agglomerations are scattered through the Atlas Mountains, as shown in this population distribution map
Growth rate: 0.84% (2024 est.)

Languages: Arabic (official), Tamazight languages (Tamazight (official), Tachelhit, Tarifit), French (often the language of business, government, and diplomacy)
Major-language sample(s): ; كتاب ديال لحقائق متاع العالم، احسن مصدر متاع المعلومات الأساسية (Arabic); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Note: the proportion of Tamazight speakers is disputed

Religions: Muslim 99% (official; virtually all Sunni, <0.1% Shia), other 1% (includes Christian, Jewish, and Baha'i); note - Jewish about 3,000-3,500 (2020 est.)
Note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara

Age structure
0-14 years: 25.7% (male 4,898,154/female 4,701,786)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 12,236,752/female 12,410,567)
65 years and over: 8.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,529,357/female 1,610,969)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 51.7 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 38.9 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 12.7 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 7.8 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 30.6 years (2024 est.)
Male: 30.1 years
Female: 31 years

Population growth rate: 0.84% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 16.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 6.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: the highest population density is found along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts; a number of densely populated agglomerations are scattered through the Atlas Mountains, as shown in this population distribution map

Urbanization
Urban population: 65.1% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Note: data does not include former Western Sahara

Major urban areas
Population: 3.893 million Casablanca, 1.959 million RABAT (capital), 1.290 million Fes, 1.314 million Tangier, 1.050 million Marrakech, 979,000 Agadir (2023)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 70 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 18.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 20.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 16 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 74.2 years (2024 est.)
Male: 72.5 years
Female: 76 years

Total fertility rate: 2.25 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 34.4% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 13% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 27.6% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 10.9% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3% (2019 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 9% (2024 est.); 9.1% (2023 est.); 9.5% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Rabat
Geographic coordinates: 34 01 N, 6 49 W
Time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: derives from the Arabic name Ribat el-Fath, from the words ribat (fortified monastery) and fath (conquest); the third Almohad sultan, Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Manṣur, gave the name to a fort on the site in the 12th century

Administrative divisions: 12 regions; Beni Mellal-Khenifra, Casablanca-Settat, Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, Draa-Tafilalet, Fes-Meknes, Guelmim-Oued Noun, Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Safi, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, Souss-Massa, Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima
Note: effective 10 December 2020, the US government recognizes Morocco's sovereignty over the territory of former Western Sahara

Legal system: mixed system of civil law based on French civil law and Islamic (sharia) law; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Executive branch
Chief of state: King MOHAMMED VI (since 30 July 1999)
Head of government: Prime Minister Aziz AKHANNOUCH (since 7 October 2021)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the prime minister in consultation with Parliament and appointed by the monarch; the monarch chooses the ministers of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Islamic Affairs, and National Defense Administration
Election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; monarch appoints the prime minister from the majority party following legislative elections

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Parliament (Barlaman)
Legislative structure: bicameral

Flag description: red with a green pentacle (five-pointed linear star) known as Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag

National anthem
Title: 'Hymne Cherifien' (Hymn of the Sharif)
Lyrics/music: Ali Squalli HOUSSAINI/Leo MORGAN
History: music adopted 1956, lyrics adopted 1970

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 9 (all cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 3.2% (2024 est.); 3.4% (2023 est.); 1.5% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 3.2% (2024 est.); 3.4% (2023 est.); 1.5% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 61.3% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 18% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 26.1% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 3.8% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 43.3% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -52.5% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 10.1% (2024 est.)
Industry: 24.1% (2024 est.)
Services: 54.1% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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

Industrial production growth rate: 5% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 12.475 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 9% (2024 est.); 9.1% (2023 est.); 9.5% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 9% (2024 est.); 9.1% (2023 est.); 9.5% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $38.458 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $44.819 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 21% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $61.746 billion (2023 est.); $58.575 billion (2022 est.); $47.09 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: fertilizers, cars, garments, insulated wire, tomatoes (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $73.759 billion (2023 est.); $73.81 billion (2022 est.); $60.215 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, cars, vehicle parts/accessories, natural gas, coal (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 14.615 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 36.379 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 462 million kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 2.311 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 7.781 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 78.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 15.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 10.304 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 25 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 10.344 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 96 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 25 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 296,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 684,000 barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 55.473 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 912.277 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 861.38 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 1.444 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 64.173 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 23.024 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 39.329 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 1.82 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 23.52 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 2.874 million (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 55.9 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 137 (2021 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 91% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 2.42 million (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2022 est.)

Military expenditures: 4% of GDP (2024 est.); 4% of GDP (2023 est.); 4.5% of GDP (2022 est.); 4.5% of GDP (2021 est.); 4.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Airports: 48 (2025)

Heliports: 17 (2025)

Railways
Total: 2,067 km (2014)
Standard gauge: 2,067 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (1,022 km electrified)

Merchant marine
Total: 94 (2023)
By type: container ship 6, general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 81