Country Profile: Morocco
Morocco, located in Northern Africa, boasts a diverse geography characterized by mountainous regions, coastal plains, and arid desert areas. With a population of approximately 37.4 million, it practices a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, currently led by King Mohammed VI. The economy is classified as lower middle-income, recovering from recent environmental challenges, with key sectors including tourism, manufacturing, and agriculture. Morocco's strategic position along the Strait of Gibraltar enhances its trade potential, especially with European nations.
Geography
Morocco is situated in Northern Africa, bordered by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, lying between Algeria and Mauritania. The country encompasses an area of 716,550 square kilometers, featuring a diverse landscape that includes the Rif and Atlas Mountains, fertile coastal plains, and expansive desert regions.
- 2,945 km of coastline along Atlantic and Mediterranean
- 716,550 sq km total area, slightly larger than twice the size of California
- Highest point: Jebel Toubkal at 4,165 m
- Natural resources: phosophates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc
- 66.7% of land is used for agricultural purposes (2023 est.)
People and Society
Morocco has an estimated population of around 37.4 million people, predominantly Arab-Amazigh (99%). Arabic and Tamazight languages are official, with French widely used in business and government. The country is primarily Muslim, with about 99% of the population adhering to Islam.
- Population (2024 est.): 37,387,585
- Urbanization: 65.1% of the population lives in urban areas (2023)
- Life expectancy (2024 est.): 74.2 years
- Median age: 30.9 years (2025 est.)
- Birth rate: 16.5 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Economy
Morocco's economy is classified as lower middle-income and exhibits ongoing recovery driven by sectors such as tourism, manufacturing, and agriculture. The government is focused on reforming fiscal policies and attracting private sector investments.
- GDP (2024 est.): $350.594 billion (PPP)
- Unemployment rate (2024 est.): 9%
- Inflation rate (2024 est.): 1%
- Exports (2023 est.): $61.746 billion
- Public debt (2023 est.): 64.9% of GDP (2016)
Government
Morocco is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, with a complex legal and political structure. The king holds significant authority, while recent reforms have included the establishment of a new constitution that provides more power to parliament and the prime minister.
- Capital: Rabat
- Government type: Parliamentary constitutional monarchy
- Last constitution drafted: June 17, 2011
- Suffrage age: 18 years
- Legislature: Bicameral Parliament
Military and Security
Morocco maintains a robust military structure known as the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, tasked with ensuring national security and territorial integrity. The country is also involved in international peacekeeping operations.
- Active military personnel: Approximately 220,000
- Military expenditure (2024 est.): 4% of GDP
- Compulsory military service age: 19-25 years
- Military deployments: 775 in Central African Republic (2025)
Energy
Morocco's energy landscape is evolving, with a push towards renewable sources while still relying heavily on fossil fuels. The sector is characterized by a commitment to reaching 100% electrification for its population.
- Electricity access: 100% of the population (2022 est.)
- Installed capacity: 14.615 million kW (2023 est.)
- Fossil fuels account for: 78.6% of total energy capacity (2023 est.)
- Energy consumption per capita: 23.52 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Environment
Morocco faces several environmental challenges, including land degradation and desertification, particularly exacerbated by agricultural practices. The country is a signatory to multiple international environmental agreements aimed at addressing these challenges.
- Percentage of land used for agriculture: 66.7% (2023 est.)
- Total water withdrawal: 1.063 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
- Municipal solid waste generated annually: 6.852 million tons (2024 est.)
- Rate of urbanization: 1.88% annual change (2020-2025 est.)
Transportation
Morocco has a developing transportation infrastructure, with numerous airports, ports, and railways facilitating domestic and international connectivity.
- Airports: 48 (2025)
- Total railway length: 2,067 km (2014)
- Major ports: Agadir, Casablanca, Tangier
- Merchant marine fleet: 94 vessels (2023)
Communications
The communications sector in Morocco is expanding, with a significant percentage of the population using mobile and internet services.
- Fixed-line subscriptions: 2.874 million (2023 est.)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions: 55.9 million (2023 est.)
- Internet users: Approximately 91% of the population (2023 est.)
- Broadband subscriptions: 2.42 million (2022 est.)
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 37,387,585 | 2024 estimate |
| Area | 716,550 sq km | Total area |
| GDP | $350.594 billion | 2024 estimate (PPP) |
| Unemployment Rate | 9% | 2024 estimate |
| Birth Rate | 16.5 births/1,000 | 2025 estimate |
| Life Expectancy | 74.2 years | 2024 estimate |
| Electricity Access | 100% | 2022 estimate |
| Military Expenditure | 4% of GDP | 2024 estimate |
| Urban Population | 65.1% | 2023 estimate |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 29 billion cubic meters | 2022 estimate |
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