Legend:
Definition
Field Listing
Rank Order
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Background:
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Morocco's long struggle for independence from France ended in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier was 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.
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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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contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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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: Jbel 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: 20.12%
permanent crops: 2.05%
other: 77.83% (1998 est.)
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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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, 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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31,689,265 (July 2003 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 33.2% (male 5,360,666; female 5,162,168)
15-64 years: 62% (male 9,766,222; female 9,876,647)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 676,357; female 847,205) (2003 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 23 years
male: 22.5 years
female: 23.5 years (2002)
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Population growth rate:
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1.64% (2003 est.)
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Birth rate:
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23.26 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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Death rate:
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5.78 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 44.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 40.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 48.76 deaths/1,000 live births
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 70.04 years
male: 67.77 years
female: 72.41 years (2003 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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2.89 children born/woman (2003 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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13,000 (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA
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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 short form: Al Maghrib
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
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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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37 provinces and 2 wilayas*; Agadir, Al Hoceima, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Sraghna, Er Rachidia, Essaouira, Fes, Figuig, Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech, Meknes, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat, Sidi Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan, Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit; three additional provinces of Ad Dakhla (Oued Eddahab), Boujdour, and Es Smara as well as parts of Tan-Tan and Laayoune fall within Moroccan-claimed Western Sahara
note: as part of a 1997 decentralization/regionalization law passed by the legislature 16 new regions (provided below) were created although full details and scope of the reorganization are limited : Casablanca, Chaouia-Ourdigha, Doukkala-Abda, Fes-Boulmane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara, Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz, Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental, Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal, Tangier-Tetouan, Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate
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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 23 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; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held 15 September 2000 (next to be held NA 2003); 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 - NA; 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, FFD 12, PND 12, PPS 11, UD 10, MDS 7, PSD 6, Al Ahd 5, ADL 4, GSU 3, PML 3, PRD 3, FC 2, PDI 2, PED 2, CNI 1
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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 (formerly the Constitutional and Democratic Popular Movement) or PJD [Abdelkrim EL KHATIB]; 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 [Abderrahman EL-YOUSSOUFI]
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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, AL, AMF, AMU, EBRD, ECA, 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, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161
telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 through 7982
chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Ms. Margaret TUTWILER
embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat
mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 90718
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 Solomon's seal in the center of the flag; green is the traditional color of Islam
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Economy - overview:
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Morocco faces the problems typical of developing countries - restraining government spending, reducing constraints on private activity and foreign trade, and achieving sustainable economic growth. Following structural adjustment programs supported by the IMF, World Bank, and the Paris Club, the dirham is now fully convertible for current account transactions, and reforms of the financial sector have been implemented. Droughts depressed activity in the key agricultural sector and contributed to a stagnant economy in 1999 and 2000. During that time, however, Morocco reported large foreign exchange inflows from the sale of a mobile telephone license and partial privatization of the state-owned telecommunications company. Favorable rainfall in 2001 led to a growth of 6.5%. Good harvest conditions continued to support GDP growth in 2002. Formidable long-term challenges include: servicing the external debt; modernizing the industrial sector; preparing the economy for freer trade with the EU and US; and improving education and attracting foreign investment to boost living standards and job prospects for Morocco's youth.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $115 billion (2002 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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3.2% (2002 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2002 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 15%
industry: 33%
services: 52% (2000 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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3.6% (2002 est.)
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Labor force:
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11 million (1999)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 50%, services 35%, industry 15% (1999 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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19% (2002 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $13.8 billion
expenditures: $14.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.1 billion (2001 est.)
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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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0.5% (1999 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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13.35 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 95.4%
hydro: 4.6%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
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Electricity - consumption:
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14.61 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001)
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Electricity - imports:
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2.2 billion kWh (2001)
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Oil - production:
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400 bbl/day (2001 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 (2001)
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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900,000 bbl (January 2002 est.)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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665.4 million cu m (January 2002 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock
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Exports:
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$7.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 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 27%, Spain 13%, UK 8%, Germany 6%, Italy 6%, US 6%, India 3% (2001)
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Imports:
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$10.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 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 23%, Spain 11%, Italy 6%, Germany 5%, UK 5%, Iraq 4%, Saudi Arabia 4%, (2001)
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Debt - external:
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$17.7 billion (2002 est.)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$565.6 million (1995)
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Currency:
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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 - 11.0206 (2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.6256 (2000), 9.8044 (1999), 9.6044 (1998)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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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) (2002)
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Highways:
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total: 57,847 km
paved: 30,254 km (including 327 km of expressways)
unpaved: 27,593 km (1998)
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Waterways:
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none
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Pipelines:
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crude oil 362 km; petroleum products 491 km (abandoned); natural gas 241 km
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Ports and harbors:
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Agadir, El Jadida, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar, Kenitra, Mohammedia, Nador, Rabat, Safi, Tangier; also Spanish-controlled Ceuta and Melilla
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Merchant marine:
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total: 39 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 247,591 GRT/268,356 DWT
ships by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 7, container 6, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 7, short-sea passenger 2
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Germany 1, Hong Kong 1, Netherlands 2, Norway 2 (2002 est.)
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Airports:
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63 (2002)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 26
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 37
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
under 914 m: 11 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 14
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Heliports:
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1 (2002)
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This page was last updated on 1 August, 2003
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