Capital

Marokko

name: Rabat

geographic coordinates: 34 01 N, 6 49 W

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: name derives from the Arabic title "Ribat el-Fath," meaning "stronghold of victory," applied to the newly constructed citadel in 1170

Citizenship

Marokko

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Morocco; if the father is unknown or stateless, the mother must be a citizen

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Legal system

Marokko

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

Suffrage

Marokko

18 years of age; universal

Area

Marokko

total: 716,550 sq km

land: 716,300 sq km

water: 250 sq km

Land use

Marokko

agricultural land: 67.5% (2018 est.)

arable land: 17.5% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 2.9% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 47.1% (2018 est.)

forest: 11.5% (2018 est.)

other: 21% (2018 est.)

note: does not include the area of the former Western Sahara, which is almost exclusively desert

Location

Marokko

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

Age structure

Marokko

0-14 years: 26.01% (male 4,919,266/female 4,722,463)

15-64 years: 65.92% (male 12,124,939/female 12,311,552)

65 years and over: 8.06% (2023 est.) (male 1,455,355/female 1,533,845)

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara

Birth rate

Marokko

17.1 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara

Death rate

Marokko

6.6 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara

Languages

Marokko

Arabic (official), Berber languages (Tamazight (official), Tachelhit, Tarifit), French (often the language of business, government, and diplomacy); note - the proportion of Berber speakers is disputed

major-language sample(s):
كتاب ديال لحقائق متاع العالم، احسن مصدر متاع المعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

Marokko

total population: 74 years (2023 est.)

male: 72.3 years

female: 75.7 years

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara

Major urban areas - population

Marokko

3.893 million Casablanca, 1.959 million RABAT (capital), 1.290 million Fes, 1.314 million Tangier, 1.050 million Marrakech, 979,000 Agadir (2023)

Median age

Marokko

total: 30.2 years (2023 est.)

male: 29.8 years

female: 30.7 years

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara

Net migration rate

Marokko

-1.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara

Population distribution

Marokko

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 as shown in this population distribution map

Population growth rate

Marokko

0.88% (2023 est.)

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara

Total fertility rate

Marokko

2.27 children born/woman (2023 est.)

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara

Urbanization

Marokko

urban population: 65.1% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

note:  data does not include former Western Sahara

Education expenditures

Marokko

6.8% of GDP (2020)

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Marokko

total: 14 years

male: 14 years

female: 14 years (2021)

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Marokko

-3.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Marokko

6.84% (2021 est.)

Labor force

Marokko

11.814 million (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

Marokko

4.8% (2013 est.)

Unemployment rate

Marokko

11.47% (2021 est.)

11.45% (2020 est.)

9.28% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Marokko

65.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

64.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Marokko

1.4% (2021 est.)

0.71% (2020 est.)

0.3% (2019 est.)

Exports

Marokko

$47.078 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$37.545 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$44.048 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports - partners

Marokko

Spain 20%, France 19%, India 5%, Brazil 5%, Italy 5% (2021)

Imports

Marokko

$60.047 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$46.358 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$54.097 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - partners

Marokko

Spain 19%, France 11%, China 9%, United States 7%, Germany 5%, Turkey 5%, Italy 5% (2019)

Airports

Marokko

62 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Marokko

total: 2,102,434 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Marokko

total: 32.56 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 88% (2021 est.)

Railways

Marokko

total: 2,067 km (2014)

standard gauge: 2,067 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (1,022 km electrified)

Roadways

Marokko

total: 57,300 km (2018)

Telephones - fixed lines

Marokko

total subscriptions: 2,460,155 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Marokko

total subscriptions: 52.012 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 139 (2021 est.)

Disputes - international

Marokko

Morocco-Algeria: Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations, each nation accusing the other of harboring militants and arms smuggling

Morocco-Mauritania: tensions arose in 2016 when Mauritanian soldiers were deployed to Lagouira, a city in the southernmost part of Morocco, and raised their flag

Morocco-Spain: 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