Morocco Population: 31,968,361
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| Background | |
| In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, a series of Moroccan 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. 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. Influenced by protests elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa, thousands of Moroccans in February and March 2011 rallied in Rabat and several other major cities to demand constitutional reform and more democracy and to protest government corruption and high food prices. Police response to most of the protests was subdued compared to the violence elsewhere in the region. In early March, King MOHAMMED VI agreed to establish a commission to reform the country's constitution; a popular referendum held in early July 2011 overwhelmingly approved the new constitution. In late July, the King urged swift implementation of constitutional amendments, starting with the holding of parliamentary elections in 2011 instead of in 2012. Following August negotiations between election heads and nearly 20 political parties, the government settled on an election date of 25 November. |
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| Geography | |
| Strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar | |
| Location: | Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara |
| Geographic coordinates: | 32 00 N, 5 00 W |
| Area: | total: 446,550 sq km land: 446,300 sq km water: 250 sq km Size comparison: slightly larger than California |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 2,017.9 km border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km |
| Coastline: | 1,835 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 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: | 14,570 sq km (2008) |
| Natural hazards: | northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts |
| Current Environment 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 Environment 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 |
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| People | |
| Population: | 31,968,361 (July 2011 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 27.8% (male 4,514,623/female 4,382,487) 15-64 years: 66.1% (male 10,335,931/female 10,785,380) 65 years and over: 6.1% (male 881,622/female 1,068,318) (2011 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 26.9 years male: 26.3 years female: 27.4 years (2011 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 1.067% (2011 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 19.19 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Death rate: | 4.75 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -3.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| 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 (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 27.53 deaths/1,000 live births male: 32.32 deaths/1,000 live births female: 22.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 75.9 years male: 72.84 years female: 79.11 years (2011 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 2.21 children born/woman (2011 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.1% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 26,000 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 1,200 (2009 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Moroccan(s) adjective: Moroccan |
| Ethnic groups: | Arab-Berber 99%, other 1% |
| Religions: | Muslim 99%, Christian 1%, Jewish about 6,000 (2010 est.) |
| Languages: | Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French (often the language of business, government, and diplomacy) |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 52.3% male: 65.7% female: 39.6% (2004 census) |
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| Government | |
| 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) daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in July |
| 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 |
| Independence: | 2 March 1956 (from France) |
| National holiday: | Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999) |
| Constitution: | 10 March 1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended September 1996 note: the amendment of September 1996 created a bicameral legislature |
| Legal system: | mixed legal system of civil law based on French law and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts by Supreme Court |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: King MOHAMMED 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 (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch following legislative elections |
| 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) 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) 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 |
| 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 [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] |
| 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 |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161 consulate(s) general: New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel L. KAPLAN embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 09718 telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65 FAX: [212] (37) 76 56 61 consulate(s) general: Casablanca |
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| Economy | |
| 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 government 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. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $151.4 billion (2010 est.) $146.8 billion (2009 est.) $139.9 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $103.5 billion (2010 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 3.2% (2010 est.) 4.9% (2009 est.) 5.6% (2008 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $4,800 (2010 est.) $4,700 (2009 est.) $4,500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 17.1% industry: 31.6% services: 51.4% (2010 est.) |
| Labor force: | 11.63 million (2010 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 44.6% industry: 19.8% services: 35.5% (2006 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 9.1% (2010 est.) 9.1% (2009 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 15% (2007 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 33.2% (2007) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 40.9 (2007 est.) 39.5 (1999 est.) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (2010 est.) 1% (2009 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 30.3% of GDP (2010 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $22.92 billion expenditures: $27.21 billion (2010 est.) |
| Public debt: | 60.9% of GDP (2010 est.) 56.9% of GDP (2009 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | barley, wheat, citrus fruits, grapes, vegetables, olives; livestock; wine |
| Industries: | phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, energy, tourism |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 4.4% (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 19.49 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 21.47 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 3.429 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Oil - production: | 3,938 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 209,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 25,090 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 221,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 680,000 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 60 million cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 560 million cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 500 million cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 1.444 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Current account balance: | -$4.625 billion (2010 est.) -$5.362 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports: | $17.67 billion (2010 est.) $14.05 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 19.7%, France 17.8%, India 5.8%, US 4.2%, Brazil 4.1% (2010) |
| Imports: | $33.88 billion (2010 est.) $30.41 billion (2009 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics |
| Imports - partners: | France 16.9%, Spain 14.2%, China 7.9%, US 6.2%, Saudi Arabia 6.1%, Italy 5.9%, Germany 5.4% (2010) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $23.61 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $23.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $27.06 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $23.75 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $44.75 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $42.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $1.575 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.861 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $69.15 billion (31 December 2010) $62.91 billion (31 December 2009) $65.75 billion (31 December 2008) |
| Exchange rates: | Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - 8.3619 (2010) 8.0571 (2009) 7.526 (2008) 8.3563 (2007) 8.7722 (2006) |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 3.516 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 46 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 25.311 million (2009) |
| Telephone system: | 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 domestic: fixed-line teledensity is roughly 10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership approached 75 per 100 persons in 2009 international: country code - 212; landing point for the Atlas Offshore, Estepona-Tetouan, Euroafrica, Spain-Morocco, and SEA-ME-WE-3 fiber-optic 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) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .ma |
| Internet hosts: | 277,793 (2010) |
| Internet users: | 13.213 million (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 58 (2010) country comparison to the world: 82 |
| Airports (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 (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) |
| Pipelines: | gas 830 km; oil 439 km (2010) |
| Railways: | total: 2,067 km standard gauge: 2,067 km 1.435-m gauge (1,022 km electrified) (2010) |
| Roadways: | total: 58,256 km paved: 39,480 km (includes 866 km of expressways) unpaved: 18,776 km (2008) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 30 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) |
| Ports and terminals: | Casablanca, Jorf Lasfar, Mohammedia, Safi, Tangier |
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| Military | |
| 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 service age and obligation: | 20 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; service obligation - 18 months (2011) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 8,252,682 females age 16-49: 8,691,419 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 7,026,016 females age 16-49: 7,377,045 (2010 est.) |
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