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National Map
Of |
Morocco |
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National Flag
Of |
Morocco |
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Flag Description:
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; design dates to 1912
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National Emblem(Coat Of Arms)
Of |
Morocco |
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National Anthem
Of |
Morocco |
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Categories National Symbol Of |
Morocco |
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Background:
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In 788,
about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa,
successive Moorish 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 1860, Spain
occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half century
of trade rivalry among European powers that saw
Morocco's sovereignty steadily eroded; 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. Morocco virtually
annexed Western Sahara during the late 1970s, but final
resolution on the status of the territory remains
unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s
resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature
in 1997. Parliamentary elections were held for the
second time in September 2002 and municipal elections
were held in September 2003. |
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Location:
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Northern
Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the
Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
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Geographic coordinates:
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32 00 N,
5 00 W |
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total:
446,550 sq km
land: 446,300 sq km
water: 250 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
larger than California |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
2,017.9 km
border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western
Sahara 443 km, Spain (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6
km |
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Coastline:
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1,835 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of
exploitation |
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Climate:
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Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
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Terrain:
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northern
coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of
bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich
coastal plains |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Sebkha Tah -55 m
highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m |
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Natural resources:
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phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
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Land use:
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arable
land: 19.61%
permanent crops: 2.17%
other: 78.22% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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12,910 sq
km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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northern
mountains geologically unstable and subject to
earthquakes; periodic droughts |
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Environment - current issues:
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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
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Environment - international agreements:
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party
to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Environmental
Modification, Law of the Sea |
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Geography - note:
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strategic
location along Strait of Gibraltar |
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Population:
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32,725,847 (July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 32.1% (male 5,349,247/female 5,150,497)
15-64 years: 63% (male 10,259,808/female
10,346,608)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 708,921/female
910,766) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
23.61 years
male: 23.11 years
female: 24.13 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.57%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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22.29
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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5.64
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-0.92
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
41.62 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 45.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 37.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 70.66 years
male: 68.35 years
female: 73.07 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.73
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.1%
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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15,000
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree
of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea,
and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: may be a significant risk
in some locations during the transmission season
(typically April through November) (2004) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Moroccan(s)
adjective: Moroccan |
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Ethnic groups:
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Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2% |
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Religions:
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Muslim
98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2% |
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Languages:
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Arabic
(official), Berber dialects, French often the language
of business, government, and diplomacy |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.7%
male: 64.1%
female: 39.4% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco
conventional short form: Morocco
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
local short form: Al Maghrib |
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Government type:
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constitutional monarchy |
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Capital:
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Rabat
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Administrative divisions:
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14
regions: Grand Casablanca, Chaouia-Ouardigha,
Doukkala-Abda, Fes-Boulemane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen,
Guelmim-Es Smara, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz,
Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer,
Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal, Tanger-Tetouan, Taza-Al
Hoceima-Taounate
note: Morocco claims the territory of Western
Sahara, the political status of which is considered
undetermined by the United States Government; one
additional region, Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, falls entirely
within Western Sahara; another region,
Laayoune-Boujdour-Sahia El Hamra, falls mostly within
Western Sahara; a small portion of this region, in the
southwestern part of the country, falls within
Moroccan-administered territory as recognized by the
United States; the province of Guelmim-Es Smara lies in
both entities |
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Independence:
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2 March
1956 (from France) |
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National holiday:
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Throne
Day (accession of King MOHAMED VI to the throne), 30
July (1999) |
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Constitution:
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10 March
1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create
bicameral legislature) September 1996 |
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Legal system:
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based on
Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system;
judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional
Chamber of Supreme Court |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal (as of January 2003) |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: King MOHAMED VI (since 30 July 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Driss JETTOU
(since 9 October 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the
monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime
minister appointed by the monarch following legislative
elections |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral
Parliament consists of an upper house or Chamber of
Counselors (270 seats; members elected indirectly by
local councils, professional organizations, and labor
syndicates for nine-year terms; one-third of the members
are renewed every three years) and a lower house or
Chamber of Representatives (325 seats; 295 by multi-seat
constituencies and 30 from national lists of women;
members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held 6
October 2003 (next to be held NA 2006); Chamber of
Representatives - last held 27 September 2002 (next to
be held NA 2007)
election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent
of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RNI 42, MDS 33,
UC 28, MP 27, PND 21, PI 21, USFP 16, MNP 15, PA 13, FFD
12, other 42; Chamber of Representatives - percent of
vote by party - NA%; seats by party - USFP 50, PI 48,
PJD 42, RNI 41, MP 27, MNP 18, UC 16, PND 12, PPS 11, UD
10, other 50 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court (judges are appointed on the recommendation of the
Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the
monarch) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Action
Party or PA [Muhammad EL IDRISSI]; Alliance of Liberties
or ADL [Ali BELHAJ]; Annahj Addimocrati or Annahj
[Abdellah EL HARIF]; Avant Garde Social Democratic Party
or PADS [Ahmed BENJELLOUN]; Citizen Forces or FC
[Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]; Citizen's Initiatives for
Development [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Constitutional Union or
UC [Mohamed ABIED (interim)]; Democratic and
Independence Party or PDI [Abdelwahed MAACH]; Democratic
and Social Movement or MDS [Mahmoud ARCHANE]; Democratic
Socialist Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI]; Democratic
Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and Development
Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Front of Democratic
Forces or FFD [Thami EL KHYARI]; Istiqlal Party
(Independence Party) or PI [Abbas El FASSI]; Justice and
Development Party or PJD [Saad Eddine OTHMANI]; Moroccan
Liberal Party or PML [Mohamed ZIANE]; National
Democratic Party or PND [Abdallah KADIRI]; National
Ittihadi Congress Party or CNI [Abdelmajid BOUZOUBAA];
National Popular Movement or MNP [Mahjoubi AHERDANE];
National Rally of Independents or RNI [Ahmed OSMAN];
National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP [Abdellah
IBRAHIM]; Parti Al Ahd or Al Ahd [Najib EL OUAZZANI,
chairman]; Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS
[Ismail ALAOUI]; Party of Renewal and Equity or PRE
[Chakir ACHABAR]; Party of the Unified Socialist Left or
GSU [Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]; Popular Movement or MP
[Mohamed LAENSER]; Reform and Development Party or PRD
[Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]; Social Center Party or PSC
[Lahcen MADIH]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or
USFP [Mohammed El-YAZGHI] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir
AMAOUI]; General Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM
[Abderrazzak AFILAL]; Moroccan Employers Association or
CGEM [Hassan CHAMI]; National Labor Union of Morocco or
UNMT [Abdelslam MAATI]; Union of Moroccan Workers or UMT
[Mahjoub BENSEDDIK] |
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International organization participation:
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ABEDA,
ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS
(observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR
chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC
20009
telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 through 7982
FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161
consulate(s) general: New York |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Thomas T. RILEY
embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat
mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 09718
telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65
FAX: [212] (37) 76 56 61
consulate(s) general: Casablanca |
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Flag description:
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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; design dates to
1912 |
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Economy - overview:
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Morocco
faces problems typical for developing countries:
restraining government spending, reducing constraints on
private activity and foreign trade, and achieving
sustainable growth. Despite structural adjustment
programs supported by the IMF, the World Bank, and the
Paris Club, the dirham is only fully convertible for
current account transactions. In 2004 Moroccan
authorities instituted measures to boost foreign direct
investment and trade by signing a free trade agreement
with the US and selling government shares in the state
telecommunications company and in the largest
state-owned bank. Favorable rainfall over the past two
years has boosted agricultural output and GDP growth
passed 4% in 2004. In 2005 the budget deficit is
expected to rise sharply - from 1.9% of GDP in 2004 -
because of substantial increases in wages and oil
subsidies. Long-term challenges include preparing the
economy for freer trade with the US and European Union,
improving education and job prospects for Morocco's
youth, and raising living standards. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$134.6
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4.4%
(2004 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $4,200 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 21.2%
industry: 35.8%
services: 43% (2004 est.) |
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Labor force:
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11.02
million (2004 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 40%, industry 15%, services 45% (2003 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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12.1%
(2004 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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19% (1999
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 30.9% (1998-99) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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39.5
(1998-99) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.1%
(2004 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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22.4% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $12.86 billion
expenditures: $15.4 billion, including capital
expenditures of $2.19 billion (2004 est.) |
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Public debt:
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70.2% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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barley,
wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock |
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Industries:
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phosphate
rock mining and processing, food processing, leather
goods, textiles, construction, tourism |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA |
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Electricity - production:
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13.91
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 95.4%
hydro: 4.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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14.24
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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1.3
billion kWh (2002) |
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Oil - production:
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1,000
bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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167,000
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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300
million bbl (2004 est.) |
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Natural gas - production:
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50
million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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50
million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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665.4
million cu m (2004) |
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Current account balance:
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$765.4
million (2004 est.) |
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Exports:
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$9.754
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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clothing,
fish, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals,
fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products,
fruits, vegetables |
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Exports - partners:
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France
33.6%, Spain 17.4%, UK 7.7%, Italy 4.7%, US 4.1% (2004)
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Imports:
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$15.63
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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crude
petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment,
wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics |
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Imports - partners:
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France
18.2%, Spain 12.1%, Italy 6.6%, Germany 6%, Russia 5.7%,
Saudi Arabia 5.4%, China 4.2%, US 4.1% (2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$15.14
billion (2004 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$17.07
billion (2004 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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ODA $218
million (2002) |
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Currency (code):
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Moroccan
dirham (MAD) |
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Currency code:
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MAD |
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Exchange rates:
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Moroccan
dirhams per US dollar - 8.868 (2004), 9.574 (2003),
11.021 (2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.626 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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1,219,200
(2003) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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7,332,800
(2003) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: modern system with all important
capabilities; however, density is low with only 4.6 main
lines available for each 100 persons
domestic: good system composed of open-wire
lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; Internet
available but expensive; principal switching centers are
Casablanca and Rabat; national network nearly 100%
digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service
employs microwave radio relay
international: country code - 212; 7 submarine
cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to
Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara; coaxial cable and
microwave radio relay to Algeria; participant in
Medarabtel; fiber-optic cable link from Agadir to
Algeria and Tunisia (1998) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 27, FM
25, shortwave 6 (1998) |
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Radios:
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6.64
million (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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35 (plus
66 repeaters) (1995) |
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Televisions:
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3.1
million (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.ma |
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Internet hosts:
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3,627
(2004) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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8 (2000)
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Internet users:
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800,000
(2003) |
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Railways:
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total:
1,907 km
standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km
electrified) (2004) |
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Highways:
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total:
57,694 km
paved: 32,551 km (including 481 km of
expressways)
unpaved: 25,143 km (2002) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 695
km; oil 285 km (2004) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Agadir,
Casablanca, Mohammedia, Nador, Safi, Tangier |
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Merchant marine:
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total:
41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 236,131 GRT/252,367 DWT
by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 6, container 8,
passenger/cargo 13, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated
cargo 2, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 6 (France 1, Germany 2,
Switzerland 2, United Kingdom 1) (2005) |
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Airports:
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63 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
25
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
38
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.) |
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Heliports:
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1 (2004
est.) |
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Military branches:
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Royal
Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (Force Aerienne
Royale Marocaine) |
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years
of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 7,908,864 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 6,484,787 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males:
353,377 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$2,305.6
million (2003) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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5% (2004)
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Disputes - international:
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claims
and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains
unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in
effect since September 1991, but attempts to hold a
referendum have failed and parties thus far have
rejected all brokered proposals; 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; discussions have not progressed on a
comprehensive maritime delimitation setting limits on
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 |
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Illicit drugs:
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illicit
producer of hashish; shipments of hashish mostly
directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine
from South America destined for Western Europe |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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