Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco (Al-Maghrib), is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy located in the northwest of Africa. The country is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its neighboring countries are Algeria in the northeast and Western Sahara in the south. The Spanish exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla are also located on the Mediterranean coast.
Here's a detailed look at the key statistics and data that define Morocco's current state.
General Information
In 2023, Morocco had a population of approximately 38.08 million people. The surface area of Morocco is 446,550 km² (without Western Sahara).
- Population: Approximately 38.08 million
- Surface Area: 446,550 km² (excluding Western Sahara)
- Capital: Rabat
- Region: Northern Africa
The population density is only 85.3 per km², making it one of the most sparsely populated countries in Africa. However, around 65.6% of the population lives in urban areas such as Casablanca and Rabat. Large parts of the desert areas are considered uninhabitable.
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Demographics
The population distribution by sex is nearly balanced:
- Males: 50.4%
- Females: 49.6%
Life expectancy is an important indicator of a nation's health and well-being:
- Life expectancy (females): Ø 77.6 years
Language
The official languages of Morocco are Arabic and Berber. The distribution of mother tongues is as follows:
- Arabic: 64.0%
- Berber: 33.0%
- French: 1.0%
- Spanish: 1.0%
- Other: 1.0%
Time
The countrywide time in Morocco is West Africa Time (WAT), which is currently 6 hours ahead of New York. As in many countries far away from the equator, there is a daylight savings time in the summer. Related to GMT, the time difference is usually +1 hours in summer and +2 hours in winter.
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Climate
The climate in Morocco is subtropical, characterized by dry and warm conditions. Average daytime temperatures range between 19 and 33 degrees Celsius, with highs reaching 39 °C in some regions. In the colder months, temperatures can drop to an average of 8 °C depending on the region.
You can find detailed climate data for Morocco and its 14 individual regions.
Economy
Morocco has been able to use its location to its economic advantage. Important trade partners include Spain and France for both exports and imports. Additionally, low labor costs and the country’s market-oriented approach to its economy seem to have a positive effect on its economic growth which, after a drop in 2020, is expected to stabilize over the next few years. Presently, the industrial sector composes over 24 percent of the GDP, yet Morocco maintains a trade deficit , meaning it imports more goods than it exports.
GDP per capita is quite low, but still higher than Sub-Saharan Africa's. Furthermore, unemployment in Morocco remains relatively high but stable, and poverty and illiteracy continue to be a problem.
Key Economic Indicators:
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- GDP Growth Rate (2023): [Specific percentage to be inserted here once available]
- GDP per Capita: [Specific amount in US$ to be inserted here once available]
- Current Account Balance: [Percentage of GDP to be inserted here once available]
Navigating global pressures: Morocco’s economic outlook with Nadia Fettah Alaoui
Trade
Morocco's international trade includes both merchandise and services.
- Merchandise Exports Growth Rate (2023): [Specific percentage to be inserted here once available]
Trade Balance Indicators:
- Trade Balance: [Specific amount in millions of US$ to be inserted here once available]
- Trade in Goods and Services: (Sum of imports and exports as % of GDP) [Specific percentage to be inserted here once available]
Export Structure by Product Group (2023):
(Exports, millions of US$) [Detailed data on specific product groups to be inserted here once available]
Health
Understanding the reasons why people die helps with the understanding of how they lived, in order to improve health services and reduce preventable deaths in every country, responding effectively to changing circumstances.
The WHO Triple Billion targets measure impact on people's health to ensure that more people are enjoying better health and wellbeing, are benefitting from Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and are better protected from health emergencies.
Transport
- Roadways: 57,334 km
- Railways: 2,109 km
Morocco and Western Sahara
Morocco is located in North Africa. Its coastline borders on both the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea, and neighbors include Algeria and Mauritania. The Western Sahara, located to the south of Morocco on the Atlantic coast, remains a disputed territory between Morocco and the Algerian-backed Polisario Front. While Morocco controls and administers a large part of the region, the UN does not recognize this. The Western Sahara is valuable because it is home to some of the world’s largest reserves of phosphate and it is believed that off-shore oil deposits also exist.
While there were some concerns over the country’s first Islamist party which was elected in 2011, the party has maintained its multi-party democracy and keeps religion and politics largely separate - serving as an example of Islamic democracy. Morocco is also looking to overcome its dependence on foreign oil and gas by deploying renewable energy technologies around the country - notably solar technology to harness the solar capacity of the Sahara Desert region.
Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of the material do not imply any opinion whatsoever on the part of the secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
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