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Introduction | Morocco

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. 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. Morocco virtually 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. Parliamentary elections were held for the second time in September 2002 and municipal elections were held in September 2003.

Geography | Morocco

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
Map references: | Africa
Area: | total: 446,550 sq km land: 446,300 sq km water: 250 sq km
Area - comparative: | 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: | 12,910 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: | northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts
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, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: | strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

People | Morocco

Population: | 33,241,259 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 31.6% (male 5,343,976/female 5,145,019) 15-64 years: 63.4% (male 10,505,018/female 10,580,599) 65 years and over: 5% (male 725,116/female 941,531) (2006 est.)
Median age: | total: 23.9 years male: 23.4 years female: 24.5 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate: | 1.55% (2006 est.)
Birth rate: | 21.98 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: | 5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate: | -0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 40.24 deaths/1,000 live births male: 43.99 deaths/1,000 live births female: 36.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 70.94 years male: 68.62 years female: 73.37 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 2.68 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 15,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA
Major infectious diseases: | degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: may be a significant risk in some locations during the transmission season (typically April through November) (2005)
Nationality: | noun: Moroccan(s) adjective: Moroccan
Ethnic groups: | Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
Religions: | Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
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: 51.7% male: 64.1% female: 39.4% (2003 est.)

Government | Morocco

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: | Rabat

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 claims another region, Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, which falls entirely within Western Sahara

Independence: | 2 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday: | Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)
Constitution: | 10 March 1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create bicameral legislature) September 1996
Legal system: | based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court
Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003)
Executive branch: | chief of state: King MOHAMED VI (since 30 July 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Driss JETTOU (since 9 October 2002) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch following legislative elections

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Chamber of Counselors (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates for nine-year terms; one-third of the members are renewed every three years) and a lower house or Chamber of Representatives (325 seats; 295 by multi-seat constituencies and 30 from national lists of women; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held 6 October 2003 (next to be held in 2006); Chamber of Representatives - last held 27 September 2002 (next to be held in 2007)
election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RNI 42, MDS 33, UC 28, MP 27, PND 21, PI 21, USFP 16, MNP 15, PA 13, FFD 12, other 42; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - USFP 50, PI 48, PJD 42, RNI 41, MP 27, MNP 18, UC 16, PND 12, PPS 11, UD 10, other 50

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 [Muhammad EL IDRISSI]; Alliance of Liberties or ADL [Ali BELHAJ]; Annahj Addimocrati or Annahj [Abdellah EL HARIF]; Avant Garde Social Democratic Party or PADS [Ahmed BENJELLOUN]; Citizen Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]; Citizen's Initiatives for Development [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Constitutional Union or UC [Mohamed ABIED (interim)]; Democratic and Independence Party or PDI [Abdelwahed MAACH]; Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Mahmoud ARCHANE]; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI]; Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and Development Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Front of Democratic Forces or FFD [Thami EL KHYARI]; Istiqlal Party (Independence Party) or PI [Abbas El FASSI]; Justice and Development Party or PJD [Saad Eddine OTHMANI]; 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 [Ahmed OSMAN]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP [Abdellah IBRAHIM]; Parti Al Ahd or Al Ahd [Najib EL OUAZZANI, chairman]; Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI]; Party of Renewal and Equity or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR]; Party of the Unified Socialist Left or GSU [Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]; Popular Movement or MP [Mohamed LAENSER]; Reform and Development Party or PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]; Social Center Party or PSC [Lahcen MADIH]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Mohammed El-YAZGHI]

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, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, 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 through 7982 FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas T. RILEY 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
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; design dates to 1912

Economy | Morocco

Economy - overview:

Moroccan economic policies brought macroeconomic stability to the country in the early 1990s but have not spurred growth sufficient to reduce unemployment that nears 20% in urban areas. Poverty has actually increased due to the volatile nature of GDP, Morocco's continued dependence on foreign energy, and its inability to promote the growth of small and medium size enterprises. Despite structural adjustment programs supported by the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club, the dirham is only fully convertible for current account transactions and Morocco's financial sector is rudimentary. Moroccan authorities understand that reducing poverty and providing jobs is key to domestic security and development. In 2004, Moroccan authorities instituted measures to boost foreign direct investment and trade by signing a free trade agreement with the US and selling government shares in the state telecommunications company and in the largest state-owned bank. The Free Trade agreement went into effect in January 2006. In 2005, GDP growth slipped to 1.2% and the budget deficit rose sharply - to 7.5% of GDP - because of substantial increases in wages and oil subsidies. Long-term challenges include preparing the economy for freer trade with the US and European Union, improving education and job prospects for Morocco's youth, and raising living standards, which the government hopes to achieve by increasing tourist arrivals and boosting competitiveness in textiles.

GDP (purchasing power parity): | $140.9 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): | $51.56 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 1.2% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): | $4,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 21.7% industry: 35.7% services: 42.6% (2004 est.)
Labor force: | 11.19 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture 40%, industry 15%, services 45% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate: | 10.5% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line: | 19% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 30.9% (1998-99)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 40 (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 2.1% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): | 23.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget: | revenues: $12.94 billion expenditures: $16.77 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.19 billion (2005 est.)
Public debt: | 72.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products: | barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock
Industries: | phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: | NA%
Electricity - production: | 17.35 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 95.4% hydro: 4.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption: | 17.58 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports: | 1.45 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production: | 300 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption: | 158,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports: | NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: | NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves: | 100 million bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production: | 5 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: | 650 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports: | NA cu m
Natural gas - imports: | NA cu m
Natural gas - proved reserves: | 1.218 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance: | $-607.5 million (2005 est.)
Exports: | $9.472 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities: | clothing, fish, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, fruits, vegetables
Exports - partners: | France 33.6%, Spain 17.4%, UK 7.7%, Italy 4.7%, US 4.1% (2004)
Imports: | $18.15 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities: | crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics
Imports - partners: | France 18.2%, Spain 12.1%, Italy 6.6%, Germany 6%, Russia 5.7%, Saudi Arabia 5.4%, China 4.2%, US 4.1% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $16.2 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external: | $15.6 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: | ODA, $218 million (2002)
Currency (code): | Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Currency code: | MAD
Exchange rates: | Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.574 (2003), 11.021 (2002), 11.303 (2001)
Fiscal year: | calendar year

Communications | Morocco

Telephones - main lines in use: | 1,308,600 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 9,336,900 (2004)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system with all important capabilities; however, density is low with only 4.6 main lines available for each 100 persons
domestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; Internet available but expensive; principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; national network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radio relay
international: country code - 212; 7 submarine cables; 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 (1998)

Radio broadcast stations: | AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios: | 6.64 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: | 35 (plus 66 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions: | 3.1 million (1997)
Internet country code: | .ma
Internet hosts: | 2,538 (2005)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 8 (2000)
Internet users: | 3.5 million (2005)

Transportation | Morocco

Airports: | 60 (2005)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 25 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2005)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 35 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 11 (2005)
Heliports: | 1 (2005)
Pipelines: | gas 695 km; oil 285 km (2004)
Railways: | total: 1,907 km standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified) (2004)
Roadways: | total: 57,694 km paved: 32,551 km (including 417 km of expressways) unpaved: 25,143 km (2002)
Merchant marine: | total: 41 ships (1000 GRT or over) 382,994 GRT/285,435 DWT by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 6, container 9, passenger/cargo 13, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 5 foreign-owned: 5 (France 1, Germany 2, Switzerland 1, UK 1) (2005)
Ports and terminals: | Agadir, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Nador, Safi, Tangier

Military | Morocco

Military branches: | Royal Armed Forces: includes Army, Navy, Air Force (Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine)
Military service age and obligation: | 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service: | males age 18-49: 7,908,864 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: | males age 18-49: 6,484,787 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually: | males: 353,377 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $2.31 billion (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 5% (2003 est.)

Transnational Issues | Morocco

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; discussions have not progressed on a comprehensive maritime delimitation setting limits on 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: | illicit producer of hashish; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe

This page was last updated on 29 March, 2006