2010 Edition

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. The Alaouite dynasty, to which the current Moroccan royal family belongs, established a sultanate in Morocco beginning in 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. Morocco 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. Under King MOHAMMED VI - who in 1999 succeeded his father to the throne - human rights have improved. Morocco enjoys a moderately free press, but the government occasionally takes action against journalists who report on three

broad subjects considered to be taboo

the monarchy, Islam, and the status of Western Sahara. Despite the continuing reforms, ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch.

Area

land

446,300 sq km

total

446,550 sq km

water

250 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than California

Climate

Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior

Coastline

1,835 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m

lowest point

Sebkha Tah -55 m

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

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

400 cu m/yr (2000)

total

12.6 cu km/yr (10%/3%/87%)

Geographic coordinates

32 00 N, 5 00 W

Geography - note

strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

Irrigated land

14,450 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km

total

2,017.9 km

Land use

arable land

19%

other

79% (2005)

permanent crops

2%

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

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

29 cu km (2003)

Age structure

0-14 years: 28.7% (male 4,548,808/female 4,418,768) 15-64 years: 65.4% (male 10,009,928/female 10,437,103) 65 years and over: 6% (male 851,190/female 1,019,377) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

19.4 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

4.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

5.7% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

21,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

23.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

33.52 deaths/1,000 live births

total

28.61 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.9 years (2010 est.)

male

72.63 years

total population

75.69 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

39.6% (2004 census)

male

65.7%

total population

52.3%

Median age

female

27 years (2010 est.)

male

25.9 years

total

26.5 years

Nationality

adjective

Moroccan

noun

Moroccan(s)

Net migration rate

-3.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

31,627,428 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

1.077% (2010 est.)

Religions

Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

9 years (2006)

male

11 years

total

10 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.23 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

56% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

15 regions; Grand Casablanca, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Doukkala-Abda, Fes-Boulemane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara, Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal, Tanger-Tetouan, Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate 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 also claims Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, another region that falls entirely within Western Sahara

Capital

geographic coordinates

34 01 N, 6 49 W

name

Rabat

time difference

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

Constitution

10 March 1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended September 1996 note: the amendment of September 1996 was to create a bicameral legislature

Country name

conventional long form

Kingdom of Morocco

conventional short form

Morocco

local long form

Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah

local short form

Al Maghrib

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Samuel L. KAPLAN

consulate(s) general

Casablanca

embassy

2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat

FAX

[212] (37) 76 56 61

mailing address

PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 09718

telephone

[212] (37) 76 22 65

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 265-0161

telephone

[1] (202) 462-7979

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

King MOHAMMED VI (since 30 July 1999)

elections

the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch following legislative elections

head of government

Prime Minister Abbas EL FASSI (since 19 September 2007)

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

constitutional monarchy

Independence

2 March 1956 (from France)

International organization participation

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club (associate), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

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

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

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the Chamber of Counselors (or upper house) (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates to serve nine-year terms; one-third of the members are elected every three years) and Chamber of Representatives (or lower house) (325 seats; 295 members elected by multi-seat constituencies and 30 from national lists of women; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PI 52, PJD 46, MP 41, RNI 39, USFP 38, UC 27, PPS 17, FFD 9, MDS 9, Al Ahd 8, other 39

elections

Chamber of Counselors - last held on 3 October 2009 (next to be held in 2012); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 7 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Ali Squalli HOUSSAINI/Leo MORGAN note: music adopted 1956, lyrics adopted 1970

name

"Hymne Cherifien" (Hymn of the Sharif)

National holiday

Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)

Political parties and leaders

Action Party or PA [Mohammed EL IDRISSI]; Al Ahd (The Covenant) Party [Najib EL OUAZZANI]; Alliance des Libert'es (Alliance of Liberty) or ADL [Ali BELHAJ]; An-Nahj Ad-Dimocrati or An-Nahj [Abdellah EL HARIF]; Authenticity and Modernity Party or PAM [Mohamed Cheikh BIADILLAH, Secretary General]; Choura et Istiqlal (Consultation and Independence) Party or PCI [Abdelwahed MAACH]; Citizens' Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]; Citizenship and Development Initiative or ICD [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Constitutional Union Party or UC [Mohammed ABIED]; Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Mahmoud ARCHANE]; Democratic Forces Front or FFD [Touhami EL KHIARI]; Democratic Socialist Vanguard Party or PADS [Ahmed BENJELLOUN]; Democratic Society Party or PSD [Zhor CHEKKAFI]; Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and Development Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Istiqlal (Independence) Party or PI [Abbas EL FASSI]; Justice and Development Party or PJD [Abdelilah BENKIRANE]; Labor Party or PT [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 [Mustapha EL MANSOURI]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP [Abdellah IBRAHIM]; Popular Movement or MP [Mohamed LAENSER]; Progress and Socialism Party or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI]; Reform and Development Party or PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]; Renaissance and Virtue Party or PRV [Mohamed KHALIDI]; Renewal and Equity Party or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR]; Social Center Party or PSC [Lahcen MADIH]; Socialist Democratic Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Abdelwahed RADI]; Unified Socialist Left Party or PGSU [Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir AMAOUI]; General Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Abderrazzak AFILAL]; Moroccan Employers Association or CGEM [Hassan CHAMI]; National Labor Union of Morocco or UNMT [Abdelslam MAATI]; Union of Moroccan Workers or UMT [Mahjoub BENSEDDIK]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

3.31% (31 December 2009) 3.32% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

6.5% (31 December 2008)

Current account balance

-$7.922 billion (2010 est.) -$4.958 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$22.69 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $21.12 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.9 (2005 est.) 39.5 (1999 est.)

Economy - overview

Morocco's market economy benefits from the country's relatively low labor costs and proximity to Europe, which aid key areas of the economy such as agriculture, light manufacturing, tourism, and remittances. Morocco is also the world's largest exporter of phosphate, which has long provided a source of export earnings and economic stability. Economic policies pursued since 2003 by King MOHAMMED VI have brought macroeconomic stability to the country with generally low inflation, improved financial performance, and steady progress in developing the service and industrial sectors. In 2006, Morocco entered a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US, and in 2008 entered into an advanced status in its 2000 Association Agreement with the EU. However, poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment rates remain high. In response to these challenges, King MOHAMMED in 2005 launched a National Initiative for Human Development, a $2 billion program aimed at alleviating poverty and underdevelopment by expanding electricity to rural areas and replacing urban slums with public and subsidized housing, among other policies. Morocco's trade and budget deficits widened in 2010, and reducing govenment spending and adapting to sluggish economic growth in Europe will be challenges in 2011. Morocco's long-term challenges include improving education and job prospects for young Moroccans, closing the disparity in wealth between the rich and the poor, confronting corruption, and expanding and diversifying exports beyond phosphates and low-value-added products.

Electricity - consumption

20.78 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

3.429 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

19.78 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - 8.3619 (2010), 8.0571 (2009), 7.526 (2008), 8.3563 (2007), 8.7722 (2006)

Exports

$14.49 billion (2010 est.) $13.92 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Spain 22.02%, France 20.22%, India 4.91%, Italy 4% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

17.1%

industry

31.6%

services

51.4% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,900 (2010 est.) $4,700 (2009 est.) $4,500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.2% (2010 est.) 4.9% (2009 est.) 5.6% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$91.7 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$153.8 billion (2010 est.) $147.6 billion (2009 est.) $140.6 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 33.2% (2007)

Imports

$34.19 billion (2010 est.) $30.55 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

France 16.95%, Spain 14.72%, China 7.1%, Italy 6.76%, Germany 6.28%, US 5.66%, Saudi Arabia 5.11% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

4.4% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.5% (2010 est.) 1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

30.2% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

11.63 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

44.6%

industry

19.8%

services

35.5% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$62.91 billion (31 December 2009) $65.75 billion (31 December 2008) $75.49 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

560 million cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

500 million cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

60 million cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.501 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

187,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

17,420 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

195,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

4,053 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

100 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

15% (2007 est.)

Public debt

58.2% of GDP (2010 est.) 56.9% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$24.57 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $23.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$108.7 billion (31 December 2009) $99.5 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$1.047 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.333 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$42.19 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $40.72 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$93.21 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $91.83 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$67.33 billion (31 December 2010 est) $64.58 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

9.8% (2010 est.) 9.1% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

2 television 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 (2007)

Internet country code

.ma

Internet hosts

277,793 (2010)

Internet users

13.213 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed-line teledensity is roughly 10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership approached 75 per 100 persons in 2009

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; Internet available but expensive

international

country code - 212; landing point for the Atlas Offshore, Estepona-Tetouan, Euroafrica, Spain-Morocco, and SEA-ME-WE-3 fiber-optical telecommunications undersea cables that provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; 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 (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

3.516 million (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

25.311 million (2009)

Airports

58 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

32 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

26 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 8 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 2, chemical tanker 2, container 7, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 3

foreign-owned

6 (France 4, Germany 2)

registered in other countries

5 (Gibraltar 4, Panama 1) (2010)

total

30

Pipelines

gas 830 km; oil 439 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Casablanca, Jorf Lasfar, Mohammedia, Safi, Tangier

Railways

standard gauge

1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,022 km electrified) (2008)

total

1,907 km

Roadways

paved

35,664 km (includes 639 km of expressways)

total

57,625 km

unpaved

21,961 km (2006)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 8,167,760 females age 16-49: 8,599,418 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 6,960,026 females age 16-49: 7,307,491 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

298,227 (2010 est.)

male

300,262

Military branches

Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Royal Moroccan Navy (includes Coast Guard, Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al Malakiya Marakishiya; Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2010)

Military expenditures

5% of GDP (2003 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; service obligation - 18 months (2010)

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; 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

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 page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================