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.

Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara

32 00 N, 5 00 W

Africa

slightly more than three times the size of New York; slightly larger than California

1,835 km

Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior

mountainous northern coast (Rif Mountains) and interior (Atlas Mountains) bordered by large plateaus with intermontane valleys, and fertile coastal plains

highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m

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

arable land 17.5%; permanent crops 2.9%; permanent pasture 47.1%

14,850 sq km (2012)

the highest population density is found along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts; a number of densely populated agglomerations are found scattered through the Atlas Mountains

northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts

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

strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar; the only African nation to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines

33,655,786 (July 2016 est.)

Arab-Berber 99%, other 1%

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

Muslim 99% (official; virtually all Sunni, <0.1% Shia), other 1% (includes Christian, Jewish, and Baha'i); note - Jewish about 6,000 (2010 est.)

Morocco is undergoing a demographic transition. Its population is growing but at a declining rate, as people live longer and women have fewer children. Infant, child, and maternal mortality rates have been reduced through better health care, nutrition, hygiene, and vaccination coverage, although disparities between urban and rural and rich and poor households persist. Morocco’s shrinking child cohort reflects the decline of its total fertility rate from 5 in mid-1980s to 2.2 in 2010, which is a result of increased female educational attainment, higher contraceptive use, delayed marriage, and the desire for smaller families. Young adults (persons aged 15-29) make up almost 26% of the total population and represent a potential economic asset if they can be gainfully employed. Currently, however, many youths are unemployed because Morocco’s job creation rate has not kept pace with the growth of its working-age population. Most youths who have jobs work in the informal sector with little security or benefits.

During the second half of the 20th century, Morocco became one of the world’s top emigration countries, creating large, widely dispersed migrant communities in Western Europe. The Moroccan Government has encouraged emigration since its independence in 1956, both to secure remittances for funding national development and as an outlet to prevent unrest in rebellious (often Berber) areas. Although Moroccan labor migrants earlier targeted Algeria and France, the flood of Moroccan “guest workers” from the mid-1960s to the early 1970s spread widely across northwestern Europe to fill unskilled jobs in the booming manufacturing, mining, construction, and agriculture industries. Host societies and most Moroccan migrants expected this migration to be temporary, but deteriorating economic conditions in Morocco related to the 1973 oil crisis and tighter European immigration policies resulted in these stays becoming permanent.

A wave of family migration followed in the 1970s and 1980s, with a growing number of second generation Moroccans opting to become naturalized citizens of their host countries. Spain and Italy emerged as new destination countries in the mid-1980s, but their introduction of visa restrictions in the early 1990s pushed Moroccans increasingly to migrate either legally by marrying Moroccans already in Europe or illegally to work in the underground economy. Women began to make up a growing share of these labor migrants. At the same time, some higher-skilled Moroccans went to the US and Quebec, Canada.

In the mid-1990s, Morocco developed into a transit country for asylum seekers from sub-Saharan Africa and illegal labor migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia trying to reach Europe via southern Spain, Spain’s Canary Islands, or Spain’s North African enclaves, Ceuta and Melilla. Forcible expulsions by Moroccan and Spanish security forces have not deterred these illegal migrants or calmed Europe’s security concerns. Rabat remains unlikely to adopt an EU agreement to take back third-country nationals who have entered the EU illegally via Morocco. Thousands of other illegal migrants have chosen to stay in Morocco until they earn enough money for further travel or permanently as a “second-best” option. The launching of a regularization program in 2014 legalized the status of some migrants and granted them equal access to education, health care, and work, but xenophobia and racism remain obstacles.

0.99% (2016 est.)

18 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

4.8 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

-3.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

the highest population density is found along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts; a number of densely populated agglomerations are found scattered through the Atlas Mountains

Casablanca 3.515 million; RABAT (capital) 1.967 million; Fes 1.172 million; Marrakech 1.134 million; Tangier 982,000 (2015)

121 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

2.12 children born/woman (2016 est.)

67.4% (2010/11)

5.9% of GDP (2014)

0.62 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

0.9 beds/1,000 population (2012)

urban: 98.7% of population

rural: 65.3% of population

total: 85.4% of population

urban: 1.3% of population

rural: 34.7% of population

total: 14.6% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 84.1% of population

rural: 65.5% of population

total: 76.7% of population

urban: 15.9% of population

rural: 34.5% of population

total: 23.3% of population (2015 est.)

0.12% (2015 est.)

24,300 (2015 est.)

900 (2015 est.)

21.7% (2014)

3.1% (2011)

5.3% of GDP (2009)

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

11 regions (recognized); Beni Mellal-Khenifra, Casablanca-Settat, Draa-Tafilalet, Fes-Meknes, Guelmim-Oued Noun, Laayoune-Sakia al Hamra, Oriental, Marrakech-Safi, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, Souss-Massa, Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima

2 March 1956 (from France)

Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)

several previous; latest drafted 17 June 2011, approved by referendum 1 July 2011; note - sources disagree on whether the 2011 referendum was for a new constitution or for reforms to the previous constitution (2016)

mixed legal system of civil law based on French law and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts by Constitutional Court

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

18 years of age; universal

Action Party or PA [Mohammed EL IDRISSI]

Amal (hope) Party [Mohamed BANI]

An-Nahj Ad-Dimocrati or An-Nahj [Mustapha BRAHMA]

Authenticity and Modernity Party or PAM [Ilyas EL OMARI]

Constitutional Union Party or UC [Mohamed SAJID]

Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Abdessamad ARCHANE]

Democratic Forces Front or FFD [Mustapha BENALI]

Democratic Oath Party or SD

Democratic Socialist Vanguard Party or PADS [Abderrahman BENAMROU]

Democratic Society Party [Zhour CHAKKAFI]

Environment and Development Party or PED [Karim HRITAN]

Green Left Party [Mohamed FARES]

Istiqlal (Independence) Party or PI [Hamid CHABAT]

Ittihadi National Congress or CNI [Abdesalam EL AZIZ]

Labor Party or PT

Moroccan Liberal Party or PML [Mohammed ZIANE]

Moroccan Union for Democracy or UMD [Jamal MANDRI]

National Rally of Independents or RNI [Aziz AKHANNOUCH]

Neo-Democrats Party [Mohamed DARIF]

Party of Development Reform or PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOHEN]

Party of Justice and Development or PJD [Abdelillah BENKIRANE]

Party of Liberty and Social Justice [Miloud MOUSSAOUI]

Popular Movement or MP [Mohand LAENSER]

Progress and Socialism Party or PPS [Nabil BENABDELLAH]

Renaissance and Virtue Party [Mohamed KHALIDI]

Renaissance Party [Said EL GHENNIOUI]

Renewal and Equity Party or PRE [Chakir ACHEHABAR]

Shoura (consultation) and Istiqlal Party [Ahmed BELGHAZI]

Social Center Party or PCS [Lahcen MADIH]

Socialist Party [Abdelmajid BOUZOUBAA]

Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Driss LACHGAR]

Unified Socialist Party or GSU [Nabila MOUNIB]

Unity and Democracy Party [Ahmed FITRI]

Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir EL AMAOUI]

General Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Mohamed KAFI CHERRAT]

Justice and Charity Organization or JCO [Mohammed ben Abdesslam ABBADI]

Moroccan Employers Association or CGEM [Miriem BENSALAH-CHAQROUN]

National Labor Union of Morocco or UNMT [Mohamed YATIM]

Union of Moroccan Workers or UMT [Miloudi EL MOUKHARIK]

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNSC (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

pentacle symbol, lion; national colors: red, green

Morocco has capitalized on its proximity to Europe and relatively low labor costs to work towards building a diverse, open, market-oriented economy. Key sectors of the economy include agriculture, tourism, aerospace, automotive, phosphates, textiles, apparel, and subcomponents. Morocco has increased investment in its port, transportation, and industrial infrastructure to position itself as a center and broker for business throughout Africa. Industrial development strategies and infrastructure improvements - most visibly illustrated by a new port and free trade zone near Tangier - are improving Morocco's competitiveness.

In the 1980s, Morocco was a heavily indebted country before pursuing austerity measures and pro-market reforms, overseen by the IMF. Since taking the throne in 1999, King MOHAMMED VI has presided over a stable economy marked by steady growth, low inflation, and gradually falling unemployment, although poor harvests and economic difficulties in Europe contributed to an economic slowdown. To boost exports, Morocco entered into a bilateral Free Trade Agreement with the US in 2006 and an Advanced Status agreement with the EU in 2008. In late 2014, Morocco eliminated subsidies for gasoline, diesel, and fuel oil, dramatically reducing outlays that weighted on the country’s budget and current account. Subsidies on butane gas and certain food products remain in place. Morocco also seeks to expand its renewable energy capacity with a goal of making renewable more than 50% of installed electricity generation capacity by 2030.

Despite Morocco's economic progress, the country suffers from high unemployment, poverty, and illiteracy, particularly in rural areas. Key economic challenges for Morocco include reforming the education system and the judiciary.

$273.5 billion (2015 est.)

$261.8 billion (2014 est.)

$255.7 billion (2013 est.)

$103.1 billion (2015 est.)

4.5% (2015 est.)

2.4% (2014 est.)

4.7% (2013 est.)

$8,200 (2015 est.)

$7,900 (2014 est.)

$7,800 (2013 est.)

28.3% of GDP (2015 est.)

26.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

26.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

barley, wheat, citrus fruits, grapes, vegetables, olives; livestock; wine

automotive parts, phosphate mining and processing, aerospace, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, energy, tourism

3% (2015 est.)

12.04 million (2015 est.)

9.7% (2015 est.)

9.7% (2014 est.)

15% (2007 est.)

40.9 (2007 est.)

39.5 (1999 est.)

23.3% of GDP (2015 est.)

-4.8% of GDP (2015 est.)

75.7% of GDP (2015 est.)

75.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

calendar year

1.6% (2015 est.)

0.4% (2014 est.)

6.5% (31 December 2010)

3.31% (31 December 2009)

6% (31 December 2015 est.)

6% (31 December 2014 est.)

$71.58 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$73.27 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$92.72 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$92.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$106.5 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$114.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$52.63 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$60.09 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$69.15 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

-$1.413 billion (2015 est.)

-$6.226 billion (2014 est.)

$18.48 billion (2015 est.)

$20 billion (2014 est.)

clothing and textiles, automobiles, electric components, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, citrus fruits, vegetables, fish

Spain 22.1%, France 19.7%, India 4.9%, US 4.3%, Italy 4.3% (2015)

$32.74 billion (2015 est.)

$40.68 billion (2014 est.)

crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics

Spain 13.9%, France 12.4%, China 8.5%, US 6.5%, Germany 5.8%, Italy 5.5%, Russia 4.4%, Turkey 4.3% (2015)

$23.01 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$20.52 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$42.25 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$42.77 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$48.7 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$51.19 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$4.555 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$4.187 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar -

9.7351 (2015 est.)

8.3798 (2014 est.)

8.3798 (2013 est.)

8.6 (2012 est.)

8.0899 (2011 est.)

27 billion kWh (2014 est.)

29 billion kWh (2014 est.)

100 million kWh (2014 est.)

6.1 billion kWh (2014 est.)

7.7 million kW (2014 est.)

69% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

19.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

4.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

160 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

145,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

680,000 bbl (1 January 2016 es)

149,400 bbl/day (2013 est.)

296,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

28,510 bbl/day (2013 est.)

186,400 bbl/day (2013 est.)

97 million cu m (2014 est.)

597 million cu m (2014 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

500 million cu m (2014 est.)

1.444 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es)

39 million Mt (2013 est.)

2 TV broadcast networks with state-run Radio-Television Marocaine (RTM) operating one network and the state partially owning the other; foreign TV broadcasts are available via satellite dish; 3 radio broadcast networks with RTM operating one; the government-owned network includes 10 regional radio channels in addition to its national service (2007)

.ma

CN (2016)

55 (2013)

1 (2013)

gas 944 km; oil 270 km; refined products 175 km (2013)

Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Royal Moroccan Navy (includes Coast Guard, Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al Malakiya Marakishiya; Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2010)

20 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; service obligation - 18 months (2012)

3.7% of GDP (2014)

3.91% of GDP (2013)

3.55% of GDP (2012)

3.37% of GDP (2011)

3.55% of GDP (2010)

claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains unresolved; 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; both countries claim Isla Perejil (Leila Island); 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; Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations, each nation accusing the other of harboring militants and arms smuggling; the National Liberation Front's assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco is a dormant dispute

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