Morocco has a developing economy strongly supported by its industrial and services sector. Morocco's economy is advancing due to government efforts to liberalise and privatise the economy. The main development challenges of the economy are presented by unemployment and under-employment.

(Source: state.gov)

Gross domestic product (GDP)

In 2010, Morocco had an estimated GDP of MAD 777.14 billion, a growth of 5.56% over 2009. During the same year, per capita GDP was MAD 24,306.57.

(Source: IMF)

e=estimated

(Source: IMF)

Gross national income (GNI)

In 2010, GNI per capita at PPP was USD 4,628.

(Source: UNDP, pg: 4)

(Source: UNDP, pg: 4)

Income tax rate

Morocco has a progressive income tax system on individual incomes up to 38%.

(Source: Tax Rates)

(Source: Tax Rates)

Corporate tax rate

Corporate tax levied on companies engaged in leasing activities and credit institutions is 37%. Other corporations are charged 30% corporate tax.

The VAT rate in Morocco is 20%.

(Source: Tax Rates)

Inflation rate

In 2010, the inflation rate in Morocco was 1.5%.

e=estimated

(Source: IMF)

Foreign direct investment (FDI)

In 2009, total FDI inflows amounted to USD 1,331 million.

(Source: UNCTAD, pg: 205)

Central bank assets

Since February 2011, total assets of the Bank Al-Maghrib (central bank) amounted to MAD 222,003.73 million.

(Source: Central Bank– Excel file)

Non performing loan ratio (NPLR)

In 2009, NPLR of total bank loans was 5.5%, a decrease of 0.5% from 2008.

(Source: Central Bank, pg: 273)

Consumer price index (CPI)

In 2010, annual average CPI was 189.31 points, an increase of 1.5% over 2009.

(Source: IMF) e=estimated

Producer price index (PPI)

In February 2011, PPI was 153.1 points, an increase of 0.9% over the previous month.

(Source: Ministry of Finance)

Interest rates

In the fourth quarter of 2009, average interest rates on 12-month time deposit was 3.69%. During the same period, average interest rates on consumer loans was 7.30%.

(Source: Central Bank (pg 110 & 111))

(Source: Central Bank (pg 110 & 111))

Money supply

Morocco’s money supply is divided into – M1, M2 and M3, where M1 includes currency in circulation and bank money. M2 includes M1 and sight deposits, while M3 includes M2 and other monetary assets. Since February 2011, M3 amounted to MAD 901,961 million.

(Source: Central Bank– Excel file)

(Source: Central Bank – Excel file)

 Government Expenditure

 Government expenditure in the first three quarters of 2010 amounted to MAD 157,053.9 million.

(Source: Ministry of Finance)

Public Debt Level

In 2010, total public debt of the Central Government amounted to MAD 384 million.

Official Exchange Rate

 In March 2011, official exchange rate value of Morocco Dirham (MAD) against United States Dollar (USD) and Euro (EUR) was recorded at MAD 7.96 and MAD 11.29 respectively.

 (Source: Central Bank)

(Source: Central Bank)

Government Financial well-being

Government Revenue

 In 2010, total revenue of the Government of Morocco amounted to 160,972.7 till third quarter. About 85% of the revenue is contributed by taxes.

(Source: Ministry of Finance)

 Fiscal Balance

 During the first three quarters of 2010, Government account reflected a fiscal surplus of MAD 3,919 million.

 (Source: Ministry of Finance)

 Tax Revenue

 Tax revenue in 2010 was MAD 136,287.3 million till the third quarter.

 (Source: Ministry of Finance)

 Current Account Balance

 In Q4 2010, current account deficit was recorded at MAD 8,184.9 million.

 (Source: Ministry of Finance)

Balance of Payments

In fourth quarter of 2010, Morocco’s balance on trade was MAD -31,460.3 million and balance on services was MAD 10,815.1 million.

 (Source: Ministry of Finance)

(Source: Ministry of Finance)

Labour force

In 2009, Morocco had a total labour force of 11,982,099.1.

(Source: worldbank.org)

Labour force participation rate

In 2009, Morocco’s labour force participation rate was 52% (% of total population over 15 years of age).

(Source: worldbank.org)

Unemployment rate

In 2009, Morocco's unemployment rate was 10%.

(Source: worldbank.org, worldbank.org)

Employment in agriculture

In 2008, approximately 40.9% of the total employed population was engaged in agriculture.

(Source: worldbank.org)

Employment in industries

In 2008, employment in industries was approximately 22% of total employment.

(Source: worldbank.org)

Employment in services

In 2008, approximately 37% of people were employed in the services sector.

(Source: worldbank.org)

Minimum wage

The minimum wage in Morocco is MAD 52.50 per day in the agricultural sector and MAD 10.14 per hour in the industrial sector.

(Source: Minimum Wage.org)

Level of unionisation

The formation of trade unions is only permitted to certain categories of workers. Collective bargaining rights are only conferred to by the most representative trade union.

The main trade unions in Morocco include the Confédération Démocratique du Travail (CDT), the Union Générale des Travailleurs du Maroc (UGTM) and the Union Marocaine du Travail (UMT).

(Source: ituc-csi.org, icftu.org)

Morocco is a constitutional monarchy. The king has supreme executive powers in Morocco. The prime minister is the head of government and also exercises the executive powers.

The parliament as well as the prime minister have legislative powers in Morocco. The parliament is bicameral, consisting of two houses – the House of Representatives and the House of Counsellors.

There are more than 30 political parties in Morocco. Some of the main political parties in Morocco are as follows:

• Istiqlal Party (PI)
• Justice and Development Party (PJD)
• Popular Movement (MP)
• National Rally of Independents (RNI)
• Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP)
• Constitutional Union (UC)

The 2007 elections were won by the Istiqlal Party, headed by Mr. Abbas El-Fassi who is the current prime minister of Morocco.

(Source:Inter Parliamentary Union,Al-Bab, bbc.co.uk,)

Regulatory environment

(Source: Heritage.org)

Morocco is ranked 93^rd in the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom. Its economic freedom score is 59.6 (out of 100), an increase of 0.4 points from the previous year. Morocco is ranked 10^th amongst 17 countries of the Middle East/North Africa region.

(Source: Heritage.org)

Corruption perception

Morocco is ranked 85^th in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2010. Its index score is 3.4 (out of 10), reflecting high levels of corruption.

(Source: Transparency.org)

Freedom of information

The media is mostly owned by the public sector. Radio-Television Marocaine (RTM) is a government-owned media network operating radio and television channels in Morocco.

Some of the daily newspapers published in Morocco are:

• Le Matin
• Al-Massae
• Assabah
• Liberation
• L'Economiste

Morocco is ranked 135^th on the Press Freedom Index 2010 with a score of 47.50. This indicates that there are high restrictions on the press.

(Source: bbc.co.uk, rsf.org)

Judicial system

Morocco’s judicial system includes courts of kingdom and all the tribunals. The common law jurisdictions are:

• Supreme courts
• Courts of Appeal
• Courts of First Instance
• Communal Jurisdictions
• District Courts

The Supreme Court is the highest court of justice. It has six chambers which include a civil chamber, a chamber of personal status and inheritance, a commercial chamber, an administrative chamber, a social chamber and a penal chamber. The system has a Supreme Court, 21 Courts of Appeal, 66 Courts of First Instance, 411 Communal Jurisdictions and 131 District Courts in Morocco.

(Source: Ministry of Justice)

In 2010, Morocco’s population was 32.4 million. Women made up 50.91% of the total population. In 2009, women accounted for 50.9% of the population and men made up 49.1%.

(Source: undp, page: 182, worldbank.org)

(Source: worldbank.org) 

Population balance

In 2009, the population below 14 years of age accounted for 28.4%. Men above the age of 60 made up 7.5% of the total population and women made up 8.3%.

(Source: un.org)

Ethnic environment

There are two main ethnic groups in Morocco. The Arab-Berber ethnic group make up the majority of the population, i.e.about 99.1%. Morocco also has a small Jewish population.

Approximately 98.7% of the population follow Islam, 1.1% follow Christianity and 0.2% follow Judaism.

(Source: state.gov)

Birth and death rate

Between 2005 and 2010, the crude birth rate was 20.5 per 1,000 people and the crude death rate was 5.8 per 1,000 people.

(Source: UNDATA, UNDATA)

Infant mortality rate

Between 2005 and 2010, the infant mortality rate was 31 deaths per 1,000 live births.

(Source: UNDATA)

Life expectancy

Between 2005 and 2010, the life expectancy at birth was 69.0 for men and 73.4 for women.

(Source: UNDATA, UNDATA)

Migration and urbanisation

In mid-2010, Morocco had approximately 49,100 immigrants, representing 0.2% of the total population. In 2010, approximately 58.2% of the population in Morocco resided in the urban areas.

(Source: un.org,undp, pg: 182) 

Human development index (HDI)

Morocco is ranked 114^th on the HDI 2010. The HDI provides a composite measure of three dimensions of human development which are measured by life expectancy, adult literacy & enrolment in education and per capita GNP at Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).

(Source: undp, pg: 146)

Literacy Rate

In 2010, Morocco had an adult literacy rate (people above 15 years of age) of 58.2%.

(Source: undp.org)

Education

Morocco’s education system is based on the principles of the Islamic faith. Morocco follows a multi-level system of education, consisting of pre-primary, primary, secondary and higher education levels.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has made primary education compulsory for all children, consisting of nine years of basic learning and is divided into periods of six and three years. In 2009, there were 144,722 teachers employed in the primary education schools and 3,850,994 students enrolled in these schools. Secondary education is carried out in 1,155 schools, 51 annexes and 183 high schools in Morocco. MOE also runs its own traditional education in 38 institutions throughout the country.

(Source: Ministry of Education, worldbank.org, worldbank.org,UNESCO (pg 12 & 21))

Healthcare

The ‘Ministry of Public Health’ is the governing body of Morocco’s health sector. Most of the administrative responsibilities are taken up by the public sector. The government is in charge of funds, resources and the provision of health care services.

In 2006, Morocco had 9 hospital beds per 10,000 people.

(Source: UNDATA, UNDATA, UNDATA)

In 2009, Morocco’s per capita expenditure on healthcare was USD 156.

(Source: worldbank.org)

Mass Public Transit

Roa and rail travel are popular means of public transport in Morocco. Railway services are inexpensive and are well-connected to major cities. Petit taxis and buses are widely preferred and used for inter-city travel.

(Source: World Travel Guide)

Roadways

In 2008, Morocco’s total road network was 58,256 km.

(Source: worldbank.org)

Railways

In 2009, Morocco had a total railway network of 2,110 km.

(Source: worldbank.org)

Ports

There are 15 ports in Morocco of which 12 are situated on the coast of the North Atlantic Ocean and two on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Some of the major ports are Port of Casablanca, Port of Agadir, Port of Nador, Port of Al Hoceima, Port of Essaouira, Port of Tanger and Port of Safi.

(Source: World Port Source)

Airports

Morocco has 27 airports. Some of the airports in Morocco include:

• Mohamed V International Airport
• Al-Massira Airport
• Menara Airport
• Saiss Airport
• Sale Airport
• Moulay Ali Cherif Airport
• Mogador International Airport
• Ibn Batouta Airport

Mohamed V International Airport is the busiest airport in Morocco and is situated in Casablanca city. It has a runway length of 12,205 feet.

(Source: Aircraft Charter, World Aerodata, World Aerodata)

Telecommunications network

Telephone lines

(Source: itu.int)

In 2009, the number of fixed telephone line users in Morocco was recorded at 3,516,281.

Mobile cellular subscriptions

(Source:itu.int)

In 2009, Morocco’s total mobile phone subscription users were 25,310,761.

In December 2009, there were 10,442,500 internet users, with a penetration rate of 33.4%.

(Source: Internet World Stats)