Morocco

Table of Contents

Introduction & Quick Facts
Land
- Relief
- Drainage
- Soils
- Climate
- Plant and animal life
People
- Ethnic groups
- Languages
- Religion
- Settlement patterns
  - Traditional regions
  - Urban settlement
- Demographic trends
Economy
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
- Resources and power
- Manufacturing
- Finance
- Trade
- Services
- Labour and taxation
- Transportation and telecommunications
Government and society
- Constitutional framework
- Local government
- Justice
- Political process
- Security
- Health and welfare
- Housing
- Education
Cultural life
- Cultural milieu
- Daily life and social customs
- The arts
- Cultural institutions
- Sports and recreation
- Media and publishing
History
- Decline of traditional government (1830–1912)
  - The French protectorate (1912–56)
  - The pre-World War II period
- World War II and independence
  - The French Zone
  - The Spanish Zone
- Independent Morocco
  - Foreign policy
  - Western Sahara
  - Hassan’s last years
  - The reign of Muḥammad VI

References & Edit History Facts & Stats

Images, Videos & Interactives

Casablanca, Morocco

camel caravan in the Sahara

Ceuta peninsula, Morocco

Physical features of Morocco

Rif mountain village, Morocco

For Students

Morocco summary

Read Next

poem. A poet in a Heian period kimono writes Japanese poetry during the Kamo Kyokusui No En Ancient Festival at Jonan-gu shrine on April 29, 2013 in Kyoto, Japan. Festival of Kyokusui-no Utage orignated in 1,182, party Heian era (794-1192).

World Poetry Day

Discover

Albert Einstein in Washington, D.C. c. 1921-1923. Physicist

The Solar Eclipse That Made Albert Einstein a Science Celebrity

Stylish light blue jeans on wooden background, closeup of inset pocket

Why Do Jeans Have That Tiny Pocket?

earthquake. Heavily damaged school in the town of Yingxiu after a major earthquake struck China's Sichuan Province on May 12, 2008.

The 6 Deadliest Earthquakes Since 1950

After a perfect launch, spectators try to catch a last glimpse of Space Shuttle Columbia, barely visible at the top end of the twisted column of smoke.

7 Accidents and Disasters in Spaceflight History

Julius Caesar in full Gaius Julius Caesar (100? BCE-44 BCE) statue in Rimini, Italy. Roman general and statesman and dictator

The Time Julius Caesar Was Captured by Pirates

Person paying with a credit card using a credit card terminal. Cashless payment, credit card reader

What Is a Cashless Society and How Does It Work?

In this aerial photo, structures are damaged and destroyed October 15, 2005 in Balakot, Pakistan. It is estimated that 90% of the city of Balakot was leveled by the earthquake. The death toll in the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck northern Pakistan on October 8, 2005 is believed to be 38,000 with at least 1,300 more dead in Indian Kashmir. SEE CONTENT NOTES.

6 of the World’s Deadliest Natural Disasters

Morocco: Facts & Stats

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	Al-Mamlakah al-Maghribiyyah • Kingdom of Morocco
Head Of Government	Prime Minister²: Aziz Akhannouch
Capital	Rabat
Population	(2024 est.) 36,769,000
Head Of State	King: Muhammad VI
Form Of Government	constitutional monarchy with two legislative houses (House of Councillors [120¹]; House of Representatives [395])
Official Languages	Arabic; Tamazight²
Official Religion	Islam
Official Name	Al-Mamlakah al-Maghribiyyah (Kingdom of Morocco)
Total Area (Sq Km)	410,000
Total Area (Sq Mi)	158,300
Monetary Unit	Moroccan dirham (DH)
Population Rank	(2023) 39
Population Projection 2030	38,923,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2023) 230.3
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2023) 88.9
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2021) 63.9% • Rural: (2021) 36.1%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2022) 72 years • Female: (2022) 75.5 years
Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate	Male: (2021) 85% • Female: (2021) 67%
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2022) 141,068
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2022) 3,710
¹All seats indirectly elected.²Per constitutional reforms adopted by referendum in July 2011.

Photos and Videos

Casablanca, Morocco

camel caravan in the Sahara

Ceuta peninsula, Morocco

Physical features of Morocco

Rif mountain village, Morocco

Morocco: Mount Toubkal

Tour the complex city of Marrakech, Morocco

National anthem of Morocco

See All Videos, Images, Audio and Interactives →

Topics

Marīnid dynasty Idrīsid dynasty Arab League Battle of the Three Kings Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa Organization of the Islamic Cooperation nation-state Morocco earthquake of 2023: At a Glance Morocco earthquake of 2023 Moroccan crises United States India United Kingdom China Canada Russia Germany Australia Japan France

Abd el-Krim

Berber leader

Ismāʿīl

ʿAlawī ruler of Morocco

Muḥammad VI

king of Morocco

Hassan II

Hassan II

king of Morocco

Muḥammad V

sultan of Morocco

Louis-Hubert-Gonsalve Lyautey

Louis-Hubert-Gonzalve Lyautey

French statesman

Paul Bowles

American composer, translator, and author

al-Rashīd

ʿAlawī ruler of Morocco

Mehdi Ben Barka

Moroccan politician

Abū al-Ḥasan ʿAlī

Marīnid sultan

Afonso V

king of Portugal

Abd ar-Rahman

sultan of Morocco

Aḥmad al-Manṣūr

ruler of Morocco

Abd al-Aziz

Abd al-Aziz

sultan of Morocco

Hanno

Carthaginian explorer

Hassan I

sultan of Morocco

Abd al-Hafid

sultan of Morocco

Mobutu Sese Seko

Mobutu Sese Seko

president of Zaire

Africa

Africa

continent

North Africa

North Africa

region, Africa

Tangier: old town port and ramparts

Tangier

Morocco

Casablanca, Morocco

Casablanca

Morocco

Rabat, Morocco

Rabat

national capital, Morocco

Fès, Morocco

Fès

Morocco

Marrakech: Jamaa el-Fna

Marrakech

Morocco

Bab al-Rouah, the main gate leading to the medina (old city), Tétouan, Mor.

Tétouan

Morocco

Middle East

Middle East

region, Asia, Africa, and Europe

Towered gate in the city wall, Meknès, Mor.

Meknès

Morocco

Quayside scene at Essaouira, Morocco

Essaouira

Morocco

el-Kelaa des Srarhna

Morocco

Tan-Tan, Morocco

Tan-Tan

Morocco

Taza

Morocco

Agadir, Morocco

Agadir

Morocco

Quiz

The President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano at the Quirinale Palace (cropped out), shakes hands with the President of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, Rome, Oct. 17, 2009. egypt protests 2011, protests in egypt 2011

Before They Were World Leaders: Middle East Edition

Mount Kenya in Mount Kenya National Park is the highest mountain in Africa. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Giant Lobelia in foreground. (Mt. Kenya; Mt. Kenya National Park; mountains; rugged mountain; African geography, African landscape, stratovolcano)

Africa’s Physical Features

7:023 Geography: Think of Something Big, globe showing Africa, Europe, and Eurasia

Which Country Is Larger By Area? Quiz

Flags of all countries of the world. Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery

The Country Quiz

10:087 Ocean: The World of Water, two globes showing eastern and western hemispheres

You Name It!

Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery

Countries of the World

Catedral at night on Plaza de Armas (also known as plaza mayor) Lima, Peru.

Capital Cities of the Countries of the Northern Hemisphere Quiz

Church of Saint George (Bet Giyorgis), Lalibela, Ethiopia. UNESCO World Heritage site.

Geography of Africa Quiz

Tomb of Mohammed Bin Ali, Salalah, Oman.

A View of the Middle East

Opened passport with visas, stamps, seals, world map. (travel, tourism)

Guess the Country by Its Neighbors Quiz

Actual continental drift of plates. Thematic map.

Geography Fun Facts

Flags of the world against blue sky. Countries, International. Globalization, global relations, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Poland, Palestine, Japan. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society

Which Country Is Larger By Population? Quiz

Brown globe on antique map. Brown world on vintage map. North America. Green globe. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery

Countries & Their Features

Brown globe on antique map. Brown world on vintage map. North America. Green globe. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery

Match the Country with Its Hemisphere Quiz

Flags of all nations of the world. Grouping of various country flags on a world map.

Which Country Is Larger? Quiz