Morocco
Country Guide

Explore Morocco

Morocco with its capital Rabat is located in Africa (Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea). It covers some 446,551 square kilometers (slightly more than three times the size of New York) with a population of 33,986,700. Arabic and French are the languages spoken by people in Morocco. Algeria, Spain and Western Sahara are bordering countries.

Morocco is a North African country that has a coastline on both the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. At just a few hours from the main European cities, Morocco has everything to overwhelm you with the amazing colors, smells and sounds of Islamic Africa. Imagine bustling souqs and spice markets, stunning mosques, white-washed sea side towns and medieval city centres. With panoramic views varying from snow-covered peaks in the High Atlas to the endless sand dunes of the Sahara, no-one ever has to be bored in this beautiful country.

Popular Destinations in Morocco

Administrative regions of Morocco

• Beni Mellal-Khenifra
• Casablanca-Settat
• Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab
• Draa-Tafilalet
• Fes-Meknes
• Guelmim-Oued Noun
• Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra
• Marrakesh-Safi
• Oriental
• Rabat-Sale-Kenitra
• Souss-Massa
• Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima

About the country

The terrain is mountainous northern coast (Rif Mountains) and interior (Atlas Mountains) bordered by large plateaus with intermontane valleys, and fertile coastal plains. The average density of population is about 76 per km². The climate in Morocco can be described as Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior. Possible natural disasters include flash floods, landslides, northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes, periodic droughts and windstorms.

To reach someone Morocco dial +212 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".ma". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 220 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, E). The sign for the locally used currency Dirham is MAD.

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; the pentacle represents the five pillars of Islam and signifies the association between God and the nation; design dates to 1912.

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. Since Spain's 1976 withdrawal from what is today called Western Sahara, Morocco has extended its de facto administrative control to roughly 80% of this territory; however, the UN does not recognize Morocco as the administering power for Western Sahara. The UN since 1991 has monitored a cease-fire between Morocco and the Polisario Front - Western Sahara's liberation movement - and leads ongoing negotiations over the status of the territory. King MOHAMMED VI in early 2011 responded to the spread of pro-democracy protests in the region by implementing a reform program that included a new constitution, passed by popular referendum in July 2011, under which some new powers were extended to parliament and the prime minister but ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch. In November 2011, the Justice and Development Party (PJD) - a moderate Islamist party - won the largest number of seats in parliamentary elections, becoming the first Islamist party to lead the Moroccan Government. In September 2015, Morocco held its first ever direct elections for regional councils, one of the reforms included in the 2011 constitution. The PJD again won the largest number of seats in nationwide parliamentary elections in October 2016.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 59)	446,550	sq km
Land (World Rank: 55)	446,300	sq km
Water (World Rank: 132)	250	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 23)	47.10	%
Comparative	slightly more than three times the size of New York; slightly larger than California
Coastline
1835
Landborder
2362.5
Elevation
Lowest point (World Rank: 62)	-59	m
Highest point (World Rank: 41)	4,165	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 29)	67.50	%
Arable (World Rank: 65)	17.50	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 76)	2.90	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 23)	47.10	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 36)	14,850	sq km
Map reference
Africa
Environment
Issues	- destruction of vegetation) - land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas - oil pollution of coastal waters - overgrazing - siltation of reservoirs - water supplies contaminated by raw sewage
Agreement party	- 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
Agreement signed	Environmental Modification
Hazzards	- flash floods - landslides - northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes - periodic droughts - windstorms
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
Climate
Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
Terrain
mountainous northern coast (Rif Mountains) and interior (Atlas Mountains) bordered by large plateaus with intermontane valleys, and fertile coastal plains

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 40)	33,986,700
Deathrate (World Rank: 195)	0.49	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 103)	1.77	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 116)	0.97	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 142)	-0.32	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 103)	2.11	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 124)	28.60
Female (World Rank: 115)	29.90
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 45)	4,450,360
0 14 female (World Rank: 44)	4,308,960
15 24 male (World Rank: 38)	2,879,830
15 24 female (World Rank: 38)	2,910,030
25 54 male (World Rank: 37)	6,956,190
25 54 female (World Rank: 35)	7,428,130
55 64 male (World Rank: 35)	1,365,610
55 64 female (World Rank: 35)	1,398,550
65 x male (World Rank: 38)	1,034,190
65 x female (World Rank: 39)	1,254,820
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 76)	2.19	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 75)	77	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 72)	80	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 79)	74	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 125)	0.62
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 152)	0.90
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 130)	76.70	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 44)	26.10	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 152)	85.40	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 66)	27,370,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 63)	26,830,000,000	kWh
Export (World Rank: 77)	165,000,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 38)	5,140,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 110)	67.50	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 96)	16.20	%
Source renew (World Rank: 59)	12.50	%
Crude oil
Production (World Rank: 98)	160	bbl / day
Imports (World Rank: 39)	129,800	bbl / day
Proved reserves (World Rank: 99)	684,000	bbl
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 60)	139,400	bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 44)	286,000	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 65)	24,830	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 30)	187,400	bbl / day
Natural gas
Production (World Rank: 80)	94,000,000	m³
Consumption (World Rank: 90)	1,480,000,000	m³
Import (World Rank: 10)	0	m³
Carbon footprint
39000000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 51)	5	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 27)	3	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 105)	6	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 141)	-5	% of GDP
National symbol
pentacle symbol
National colours
red
Adjective
Moroccan
Noun
Moroccan(s)
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. Since Spain's 1976 withdrawal from what is today called Western Sahara, Morocco has extended its de facto administrative control to roughly 80% of this territory; however, the UN does not recognize Morocco as the administering power for Western Sahara. The UN since 1991 has monitored a cease-fire between Morocco and the Polisario Front - Western Sahara's liberation movement - and leads ongoing negotiations over the status of the territory. King MOHAMMED VI in early 2011 responded to the spread of pro-democracy protests in the region by implementing a reform program that included a new constitution, passed by popular referendum in July 2011, under which some new powers were extended to parliament and the prime minister but ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch. In November 2011, the Justice and Development Party (PJD) - a moderate Islamist party - won the largest number of seats in parliamentary elections, becoming the first Islamist party to lead the Moroccan Government. In September 2015, Morocco held its first ever direct elections for regional councils, one of the reforms included in the 2011 constitution. The PJD again won the largest number of seats in nationwide parliamentary elections in October 2016.
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; the pentacle represents the five pillars of Islam and signifies the association between God and the nation; design dates to 1912

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 58)	281,400,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 166)	1.20	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 146)	8,200	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 70)	13.60	%
Source industry (World Rank: 80)	29.50	%
Source service (World Rank: 143)	56.80	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 50)	11,750,000
In poverty (World Rank: 132)	15.00	%
Products
Industries	- aerospace - automotive parts - construction - energy - food processing - leather goods - phosphate mining - processing - textiles - tourism
Agriculture	- barley - citrus fruits - grapes - livestock - olives - vegetables - wheat - wine
Exports	- automobiles - citrus fruits - clothing - crude minerals - electric components - fertilizers ( - fish - inorganic chemicals - petroleum products - phosphates) - textiles - transistors - vegetables
Imports	- crude petroleum - electricity - gas - plastics - telecommunications equipment - textile fabric - transistors - wheat

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 55)	2,070,170
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 151)	6.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 71)	123.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 34)	19,611,600
Population (World Rank: 100)	58.30	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 58)	31.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 94)	24.00
Heliports (World Rank: 100)	1.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 74)	2,067
Road
Total length (World Rank: 74)	58,395
Paved length (World Rank: 51)	41,116
Unpaved length (World Rank: 66)	17,279

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