Morocco

World Book Index

Introduction

Background
In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, a series of 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. In 1912, the French imposed a protectorate over the country. Morocco won a protracted independence struggle with France in 1956.

Geography

Area
total : 716,550 sq km
land: 716,300 sq km
water: 250 sq km

Climate
Mediterranean in the north, becoming more extreme in the interior; in the south, hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew

Natural resources
phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt

People and Society

Population
total: 37,387,585 (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups
Arab-Amazigh 99%, other 1%

Languages
Arabic (official), Tamazight languages (Tamazight (official), Tachelhit, Tarifit), French (often the language of business, government, and diplomacy)

Religions
Muslim 99% (official; virtually all Sunni, <0.1% Shia), other 1% (includes Christian, Jewish, and Baha'i); note - Jewish about 3,000-3,500 (2020 est.)

Population growth rate
0.84% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Capital
name: Rabat

Executive branch
chief of state: King MOHAMMED VI (since 30 July 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Aziz AKHANNOUCH (since 7 October 2021)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Youssef AMRANI (since 27 February 2024)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Ben ZIFF (since 28 August 2025)

Economy

Economic overview
lower middle-income North African economy; ongoing recovery from recent drought and earthquake; rebounding via tourism, manufacturing, and raw materials processing; significant trade and investment with EU; reform programs include fiscal rebalancing, state enterprise governance and private sector investments

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$350.594 billion (2024 est.)
$339.603 billion (2023 est.)
$328.425 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$9,100 (2024 est.)
$8,900 (2023 est.)
$8,700 (2022 est.)

Exports
$61.746 billion (2023 est.)
$58.575 billion (2022 est.)
$47.09 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
Spain 20%, France 17%, Germany 6%, UK 5%, Italy 4% (2023)

Exports - commodities
fertilizers, cars, garments, insulated wire, tomatoes (2023)

Imports
$73.759 billion (2023 est.)
$73.81 billion (2022 est.)
$60.215 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
Spain 16%, China 11%, France 10%, USA 9%, Turkey 5% (2023)

Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, vehicle parts/accessories, natural gas, coal (2023)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.710, ranking it 120th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 107th out of 158 countries tested with a score of 4.923. (more information)