|
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. Improvements in human
rights have occurred and there is a largely free press.
Despite the continuing reforms, ultimate authority remains
in the hands of the monarch. |
|
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:
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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:
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phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
|
|
Land use:
|
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 2%
other: 79% (2005)
|
|
Irrigated land:
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14,450 sq km (2003)
|
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Total renewable water resources:
|
29 cu km (2003)
|
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Freshwater withdrawal
(domestic/industrial/agricultural):
|
total: 12.6 cu km/yr (10%/3%/87%)
per capita: 400 cu m/yr (2000)
|
|
Natural hazards:
|
northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to
earthquakes; periodic droughts
|
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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, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
|
|
Geography - note:
|
strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar
|
|
Population:
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34,343,219 (July 2008 est.)
|
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Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 30.5% (male 5,337,322/female 5,136,156)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 11,015,409/female
11,069,038)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 765,882/female
1,019,412) (2008 est.)
|
|
Median age:
|
total: 24.7 years
male: 24.1 years
female: 25.2 years (2008 est.)
|
|
Population growth rate:
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1.505% (2008 est.)
|
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Birth rate:
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21.31 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
|
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Death rate:
|
5.49 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
|
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Net migration rate:
|
-0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
|
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Sex ratio:
|
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
|
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total: 38.22 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 41.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 34.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
|
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Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 71.52 years
male: 69.16 years
female: 74 years (2008 est.)
|
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Total fertility rate:
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2.57 children born/woman (2008 est.)
|
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
0.1% (2001 est.)
|
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
15,000 (2001 est.)
|
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA
|
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Nationality:
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noun: Moroccan(s)
adjective: Moroccan
|
|
Ethnic groups:
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Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
|
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Religions:
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Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
|
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Languages:
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Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the
language of business, government, and diplomacy
|
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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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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
|
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 9 years (2005)
|
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Education expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
NA
|
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco
conventional short form: Morocco
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
local short form: Al Maghrib
|
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Government type:
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constitutional monarchy
|
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Capital:
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name: Rabat
geographic coordinates: 34 01 N, 6 49 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington,
DC during Standard Time)
|
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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)
|
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Constitution:
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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
systems; judicial review of legislative acts in
Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
|
Suffrage:
|
18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003)
|
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: King MOHAMED 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
elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister
appointed by the monarch following legislative elections
|
|
Legislative branch:
|
bicameral Parliament consists of a Chamber of Counselors (or
upper house) (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local
councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates
for 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 for five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held 8
September 2006 (next to be held in 2009); Chamber of
Representatives - last held 7 September 2007 (next to be
held in 2012)
election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of
vote by party - NA; seats by party - PI 17, MP 14, RNI 13,
USFP 11, UC 6, PND 4, PPS 4, Al Ahd 4, other 17; 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 [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];
Democratic and Independence Party or PDI [Abdelwahed MAACH];
Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Mahmoud ARCHANE];
Democratic Forces Front or FFD; Democratic Socialist Party
or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI]; Democratic Society Party or PSD [Zhor
CHEKKAFI]; Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN];
Environment and Development Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI];
Front of Democratic Forces or FFD [Thami EL KHYARI];
Independence Party (Istiqlal) or PI [Abbas EL FASSI];
Justice and Development Party or PJD [Abdelilah BENKIRANE];
Labor Party [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 Rally of Independents or RNI [Mustapha
EL MANSOURI]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP [Abdellah
IBRAHIM]; Parti Al Ahd or Al Ahd [Najib EL OUAZZANI]; 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 |
|
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, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer),
OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, 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 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 - overview:
|
Moroccan economic policies brought macroeconomic stability
to the country in the early 1990s but have not spurred
growth sufficient to reduce unemployment - nearing 20% in
urban areas - despite the Moroccan Government's ongoing
efforts to diversify the economy. Morocco's GDP growth rate
slowed to 2.1% in 2007 as a result of a draught that
severely reduced agricultural output and necessitated wheat
imports at rising world prices. Continued dependence on
foreign energy and Morocco's inability to develop small and
medium size enterprises also contributed to the slowdown.
Moroccan authorities understand that reducing poverty and
providing jobs are key to domestic security and development.
In 2005, Morocco launched the National Initiative for Human
Development (INDH), a $2 billion social development plan to
address poverty and unemployment and to improve the living
conditions of the country's urban slums. Moroccan
authorities are implementing reform efforts to open the
economy to international investors. 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. In 2000, Morocco entered an
Association Agreement with the EU and, in 2006, entered a
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US. Long-term challenges
include improving education and job prospects for Morocco's
youth, and closing the income gap between the rich and the
poor, which the government hopes to achieve by increasing
tourist arrivals and boosting competitiveness in textiles.
|
|
GDP (purchasing power parity):
|
$125.3 billion (2007 est.)
|
|
GDP (official exchange rate):
|
$73.43 billion (2007 est.)
|
|
GDP - real growth rate:
|
2.1% (2007 est.)
|
|
GDP - per capita (PPP):
|
$4,100 (2007 est.)
|
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 14.5%
industry: 37.9%
services: 47.7% (2007 est.)
|
|
Labor force:
|
11.05 million (2007 est.)
|
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture: 40%
industry: 15%
services: 45% (2003 est.)
|
|
Unemployment rate:
|
10.2% (2007 est.)
|
|
Population below poverty line:
|
15% (2007 est.)
|
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
|
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 30.9% (1999)
|
|
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
|
40 (2005 est.)
|
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
2% (2007 est.)
|
|
Investment (gross fixed):
|
25.8% of GDP (2007 est.)
|
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $20.58 billion
expenditures: $21.71 billion (2007 est.)
|
|
Public debt:
|
72.4% of GDP (2007 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:
|
4% (2007 est.)
|
|
Electricity - production:
|
21.37 billion kWh (2005)
|
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
20.67 billion kWh (2005)
|
|
Electricity - exports:
|
0 kWh (2005)
|
|
Electricity - imports:
|
802 million kWh (2005)
|
|
Oil - production:
|
3,746 bbl/day (2005 est.)
|
|
Oil - consumption:
|
176,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
|
|
Oil - exports:
|
21,890 bbl/day (2004 est.)
|
|
Oil - imports:
|
186,100 bbl/day (2004 est.)
|
|
Oil - proved reserves:
|
100 million bbl (2007 est.)
|
|
Natural gas - production:
|
47.95 million cu m (2005 est.)
|
|
Natural gas - consumption:
|
47.95 million cu m (2005 est.)
|
|
Natural gas - exports:
|
0 cu m (2005 est.)
|
|
Natural gas - imports:
|
0 cu m (2005)
|
|
Natural gas - proved reserves:
|
1.629 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
|
|
Current account balance:
|
-$71 million (2007 est.)
|
|
Exports:
|
$12.75 billion f.o.b. (2007 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 21.2%, France 19%, UK 4.9%, Italy 4.9%, India 4.2%
(2006)
|
|
Imports:
|
$27.14 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
|
|
Imports - commodities:
|
crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications
equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics
|
|
Imports - partners:
|
France 16.3%, Spain 13.7%, China 7.3%, Italy 6.8%, Saudi
Arabia 6.5%, Germany 6%, US 4.6%, Netherlands 4.1% (2006)
|
|
Economic aid - recipient:
|
ODA, $651.8 million (2005)
|
|
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
|
$24.29 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
|
|
Debt - external:
|
$19.91 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
|
|
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
|
$26.52 billion (2007 est.)
|
|
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
|
$567 million (2006 est.)
|
|
Market value of publicly traded shares:
|
$49.6 billion (2006)
|
|
Currency (code):
|
Moroccan dirham (MAD)
|
|
Exchange rates:
|
Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.3563 (2007), 8.7722
(2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.574 (2003)
|
|
Fiscal year:
|
calendar year
|
|
Telephones - main lines in use:
|
1.266 million (2006)
|
|
Telephones - mobile cellular:
|
20.029 million (2007)
|
|
Telephone system:
|
general assessment: modern system with all important
capabilities; however, density is low with only 4 fixed
lines available for each 100 persons; mobile-cellular
subscribership is approaching 50 per 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; landing point for
the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable
that provides 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 |
|
Radio broadcast stations:
|
AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998)
|
|
Television broadcast stations:
|
35 (plus 66 repeaters) (1995)
|
|
Internet country code:
|
.ma
|
|
Internet hosts:
|
137,187 (2007)
|
|
Internet users:
|
6.1 million (2006)
|
|
Airports:
|
60 (2007)
|
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
total: 27
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2007)
|
|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total: 33
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 11 (2007)
|
|
Heliports:
|
1 (2007)
|
|
Pipelines:
|
gas 720 km; oil 439 km (2007)
|
|
Railways:
|
total: 1,907 km
standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km
electrified) (2006)
|
|
Roadways:
|
total: 57,626 km
paved: 35,665 km (includes 639 km of expressways)
unpaved: 21,961 km (2005)
|
|
Merchant marine:
|
total: 33 ships (1000 GRT or over) 326,342 GRT/230,546
DWT
by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 6, container 7,
passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 15 (France 14, Germany 1)
registered in other countries: 4 (Gibraltar 4) (2008)
|
|
Ports and terminals:
|
Agadir, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Safi
|
|
Military branches:
|
Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal
Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Navy (includes
Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al
Malakiya Marakishiya; Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine)
(2008) |
|
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
16-49: 9,152,580
females age 16-49: 9,080,830 (2008 est.)
|
|
Manpower fit for military service:
|
males age 16-49: 7,627,988
females age 16-49: 7,754,873 (2008 est.)
|
|
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
|
males age 16-49: 355,479
females age 16-49: 343,016 (2008 est.)
|
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
5% (2003 est.)
|
|
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 resource 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:
|
one of the world's largest producers of illicit hashish;
shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe;
transit point for cocaine from South America destined for
Western Europe; significant consumer of cannabis |
This page was last updated on 21 August
2008
|
