Morocco
Top Sights & Landmarks
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.
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Mauritania
Area
Elevation
Detailed Geography Information
Coastline
2,945 km
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
Irrigated land
17,645 sq km (2019)
Land boundaries
Major rivers (by length in km)
Draa - 1,100 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
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
Natural resources
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
Population & Growth
Age Distribution
Demographic Longevity
Vital Dynamics
Detailed People & Society Information
Alcohol consumption per capita
0.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
3% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
58% (2018 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 51.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 38.4 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 13.3 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 7.5 (2025 est.)
Education expenditure
6% of GDP (2023 est.) 23.3% national budget (2024 est.)
Ethnic groups
Gross reproduction rate
1.09 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure
5.7% of GDP (2021) 6.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Hospital bed density
0.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara
Infant mortality rate
total: 17.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 20.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16 deaths/1,000 live births
Languages
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)
Maternal mortality ratio
70 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Nationality
noun: Moroccan(s) adjective: Moroccan
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
26.1% (2016)
Physician density
0.74 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
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
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Religions
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 15 years (2023 est.) male: 15 years (2023 est.) female: 15 years (2023 est.)
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.)
Tobacco use
total: 12.3% (2025 est.) male: 23.7% (2025 est.) female: 0.9% (2025 est.)
Climate & Issues
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
Land Cover
Air & Carbon Emissions
Water Resources & Use
Detailed Environmental Information
Geoparks
total global geoparks and regional networks: 1 global geoparks and regional networks: M'Goun (2023)
International environmental agreements
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
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 6.852 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 25.4% (2022 est.) note: data does not include former Western Sahara
Capital & State Profile
Executive Branch
Legislative Branch
National Identity & Symbols
red with a green pentacle (five-pointed linear star) known as Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag
Detailed Government Information
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
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Morocco; if the father is unknown or stateless, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Constitution
history: several previous; latest drafted 17 June 2011, approved by referendum 1 July 2011 amendment process: proposed by the king, by the prime minister, or by members in either chamber of Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by both chambers and approval in a referendum; the king can opt to submit self-initiated proposals directly to a referendum
Country name
conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco conventional short form: Morocco local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah local short form: Al Maghrib former: French Protectorate in Morocco, Spanish Protectorate in Morocco, Ifni, Spanish Sahara, Western Sahara etymology: the English name of Morocco derives from, respectively, the Spanish and Portuguese names Marruecos and Marrocos, which stem from Marrakesh, the Latin name for the former capital of ancient Morocco; the Arabic name, Al Maghrib, translates as "The West"
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
International organization participation
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (consists of 5-judge panels organized into civil, family matters, commercial, administrative, social, and criminal sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 12 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the Superior Council of Judicial Power, a 20-member body presided over by the monarch, which includes the Supreme Court president, the prosecutor general, representatives of the appeals and first instance courts (among them 1 woman magistrate), the president of the National Council for Human Rights (CNDH), and 5 "notable persons" appointed by the monarch; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court members - 6 designated by the monarch and 6 elected by Parliament; court president appointed by the monarch from among the court members; members serve 9-year nonrenewable terms subordinate courts: courts of appeal; High Court of Justice; administrative and commercial courts; regional and Sadad courts (for religious, civil and administrative, and penal adjudication); first instance courts
Legal system
mixed system of civil law based on French civil law and Islamic (sharia) law; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 9 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Medina of Fez; Medina of Marrakesh; Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou; Historic City of Meknes; Archaeological Site of Volubilis; Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin); Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador); Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida); Historic and Modern Rabat
Political parties
Action Party or PA Amal (hope) Party An-Nahj Ad-Dimocrati or An-Nahj or Democratic Way Authenticity and Modernity Party or PAM Constitutional Union Party or UC Democratic and Social Movement or MDS Democratic Forces Front or FFD Environment and Sustainable Development Party or PEDD Federation of the Democratic Left or FGD Green Left Party or PGV Istiqlal (Independence) Party or PI Moroccan Liberal Party or PML Moroccan Union for Democracy or UMD National Democratic Party National Rally of Independents or RNI Neo-Democrats Party Party of Development Reform or PRD Party of Justice and Development or PJD Party of Liberty and Social Justice or PLJS Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS Popular Movement or MP Renaissance and Virtue Party or PRV Renaissance Party Renewal and Equity Party or PRE Shoura (consultation) and Istiqlal Party Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP Unified Socialist Party or GSU Unity and Democracy Party
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economic Overview
lower middle-income North African economy; ongoing recovery from recent drought and earthquake; rebounding via tourism, manufacturing, and raw materials processing; significant trade and investment with EU; reform programs include fiscal rebalancing, state enterprise governance and private sector investments
Size & Performance
GDP Sector Breakdown
Trade Balance
Budget Balance
Export Profile
Top Export Partners
Major Export Commodities
Labor & Employment
Income Inequality
Detailed Economic Data
Agricultural products
Current account balance
-$891.222 million (2023 est.) -$4.8 billion (2022 est.) -$3.349 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Debt - external
$42.262 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Exchange rates
Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 9.942 (2024 est.) 10.131 (2023 est.) 10.161 (2022 est.) 8.988 (2021 est.) 9.497 (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
Industrial production growth rate
5% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Industries
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1% (2024 est.) 6.1% (2023 est.) 6.7% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Remittances
8.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 8.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 7.7% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$37.134 billion (2024 est.) $36.328 billion (2023 est.) $32.314 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Taxes and other revenues
21% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Grid Infrastructure
Generation Mix
Fossil Fuels Production
Intensity & Nuclear
Digital Access
Active internet users as a percentage of the total population.
Fixed Broadband
Mobile Cellular
Broadcast Media
Aviation
Railways
Ports & Harbors
Merchant Marine
Military Expenditures
Active Duty Strengths
estimated 220,000 active Armed Forces (175,000 Army; 10,000 Navy; 15,000 Air Force, 20,000 Gendarmerie) (2025)
Service & Defense Details
Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes the Moroccan Royal Guard), Royal Moroccan Navy (includes Coast Guard, marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force, Moroccan Royal Guard, Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie Ministry of Interior: General Directorate for National Security (DGSN; aka National Police), Auxiliary Forces (2025) note 1: the Royal Guard is officially part of the Army but is under the direct operational control of the Royal Military Household of His Majesty the King; it provides for the security and safety of the King and royal family; it was established in the 11th century and is considered one of the world's oldest active units still in military service note 2: the DGSN manages internal law enforcement in cities; the Gendarmerie is responsible for law enforcement in rural regions and on national highways and has a counterterrorism role; the Auxiliary Forces provide support to the Gendarmerie and DGSN
775 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 890 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2025)
the Moroccan military's inventory is mostly a mix of older and some more modern armaments from France and the US (2025)
the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) are responsible for protecting Morocco’s national interests, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; key areas of concern for the FAR include international terrorism, maritime security, and regional challenges such as the Polisario Front in Western Sahara and Algeria; the Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), an organization that seeks the independence of Western Sahara, disputes Morocco’s claim of sovereignty over the territory; Moroccan and Polisario forces fought intermittently from 1975, when Spain relinquished colonial authority over the territory, until a 1991 cease-fire and the establishment of a UN peacekeeping mission; the Polisario withdrew from the cease-fire in November 2020, and since then there have been reports of low-intensity hostilities between Morocco and the Polisario Front across the 2,500-kilometer-long berm built in 1987 that separates the two sides; Algeria is seen as a regional rival and has openly backed the Polisario Front the FAR participates in international peacekeeping operations, as well as both bilateral and multinational training exercises; it has relations with a variety of partners including the militaries of France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and the US, as well as NATO, the Arab League, and the African Union; Morocco has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation the FAR was created in May 1956; Moroccans were recruited for service in the Spahi and Tirailleur regiments of the French Army during the period of the French protectorate (1912-1956), and Moroccans fought under the French Army during both World Wars, as well as the First Indochina War (1946-1954); the Spanish Army recruited Moroccans from the Spanish Protectorate during both the Rif War (1921-26) and the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was established by Security Council resolution 690 in April 1991 in accordance with settlement proposals accepted in August 1988 by Morocco and the Polisario Front; MINURSO was unable to carry out all the original settlement proposals, but continues to monitor the cease-fire and reduce the threat of mines and unexploded ordnance, and has provided logistic support to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (2025)
19-25 years of age for 12-month compulsory and voluntary military service for men and women (2025)