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 erode; 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, which first met in 1997. The country has made improvements in human rights under King MOHAMMED VI and its press is moderately free, but the government occasionally takes action against journalists who report on three broad subjects considered to be taboo: the monarchy, Islam, and the status of Western Sahara. Despite the continuing reforms, ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch.

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

32 00 N, 5 00 W

Africa

slightly larger than California

1,835 km

Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior

northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains

phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt

14,450 sq km (2003)

29 cu km (2003)

northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts

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

strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

31,627,428 (July 2010 est.)

1.077% (2010 est.)

19.4 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

4.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

-3.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

2.23 children born/woman (2010 est.)

0.1% (2007 est.)

21,000 (2007 est.)

fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)

Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%

Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%

Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy

NA

constitutional monarchy

15 regions; Grand Casablanca, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Doukkala-Abda, Fes-Boulemane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara, Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal, Tanger-Tetouan, Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate

2 March 1956 (from France)

Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)

10 March 1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended September 1996

based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law systems; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

bicameral Parliament consists of the Chamber of Counselors (or upper house) (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates to serve nine-year terms; one-third of the members are elected every three years) and Chamber of Representatives (or lower house) (325 seats; 295 members elected by multi-seat constituencies and 30 from national lists of women; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

Supreme Court (judges are appointed on the recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the monarch)

Action Party or PA [Mohammed EL IDRISSI]; Al Ahd (The Covenant) Party [Najib EL OUAZZANI]; Alliance des Libert'es (Alliance of Liberty) or ADL [Ali BELHAJ]; An-Nahj Ad-Dimocrati or An-Nahj [Abdellah EL HARIF]; Authenticity and Modernity Party or PAM [Mohamed Cheikh BIADILLAH, Secretary General]; Choura et Istiqlal (Consultation and Independence) Party or PCI [Abdelwahed MAACH]; Citizens' Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]; Citizenship and Development Initiative or ICD [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Constitutional Union Party or UC [Mohammed ABIED]; Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Mahmoud ARCHANE]; Democratic Forces Front or FFD [Touhami EL KHIARI]; Democratic Socialist Vanguard Party or PADS [Ahmed BENJELLOUN]; Democratic Society Party or PSD [Zhor CHEKKAFI]; Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and Development Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Istiqlal (Independence) Party or PI [Abbas EL FASSI]; Justice and Development Party or PJD [Abdelilah BENKIRANE]; Labor Party or PT [Abdelkrim BENATIK]; 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 [Mustapha EL MANSOURI]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP [Abdellah IBRAHIM]; Popular Movement or MP [Mohamed LAENSER]; Progress and Socialism Party or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI]; Reform and Development Party or PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]; Renaissance and Virtue Party or PRV [Mohamed KHALIDI]; Renewal and Equity Party or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR]; Social Center Party or PSC [Lahcen MADIH]; Socialist Democratic Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Abdelwahed RADI]; Unified Socialist Left Party or PGSU [Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]

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]

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club (associate), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

Economic policies pursued since 2003 by King Mohammed VI have brought macroeconomic stability to the country with generally low inflation, improved financial sector performance, and steady progress in developing the services and industrial sectors. The National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), a $2 billion initiative launched by the King in 2005, has improved social welfare through a successful rural electrification program, an overhaul of the tourism and agriculture sectors, and the gradual replacement of urban slums with decent housing. Despite the INDH's success, Morocco continues to grapple with a high illiteracy rate, a low education enrollment rate, and a high urban youth unemployment rate of around 30%. Moroccan exports have dropped sharply since mid-2008 as a result of the decline in global phosphates prices--the bulk of Moroccan exports by value--and the global economic slowdown. The recession in Europe--Morocco's main export market--also prompted a decline in the flow of foreign tourists and remittances, two primary sources of foreign currency. A record agricultural harvest, strong government spending, and domestic consumption, however, combined to offset losses from weak exports and helped GDP grow by 5.1% in 2009. Despite structural adjustment programs supported by the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club, the dirham is only fully convertible for selected transactions. In 2006, Morocco entered a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US, and in 2008 entered into an advanced status in its 2000 Association Agreement with the EU. Morocco's primary economic challenge is to accelerate and sustain growth in order to reduce high levels of unemployment and underemployment. Long-term challenges include improving education and job prospects for Morocco's youth, closing the income gap between the rich and the poor, confronting corruption, and expanding and diversifying exports beyond phosphates and low-value added products.

$146.7 billion (2009 est.)

$139.6 billion (2008 est.)

$131.5 billion (2007 est.)

$91.84 billion (2009 est.)

5.1% (2009 est.)

6.2% (2008 est.)

3.2% (2007 est.)

$4,600 (2009 est.)

$4,500 (2008 est.)

$4,300 (2007 est.)

11.46 million (2009 est.)

9.9% (2009 est.)

9.6% (2008 est.)

15% (2007 est.)

40.9 (2005 est.)

39.5 (1999 est.)

32.5% of GDP (2009 est.)

54.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

55.6% of GDP (2008 est.)

2% (2009 est.)

3.8% (2008 est.)

3.25% (24 August 2009)

3.32% (31 December 2008)

6.5% (31 December 2008)

$72.37 billion (31 December 2008)

$67.42 billion (31 December 2007)

$19.84 billion (31 December 2008)

$16.23 billion (31 December 2007)

$84.9 billion (31 December 2008)

$71.9 billion (31 December 2007)

$65.75 billion (31 December 2008)

$75.49 billion (31 December 2007)

$49.36 billion (31 December 2006)

barley, wheat, citrus fruits, grapes, vegetables, olives; livestock; wine

phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, energy, tourism

1.9% (2009 est.)

19.78 billion kWh (2008 est.)

20.78 billion kWh (2007 est.)

0 kWh (2008 est.)

3.429 billion kWh (2009 est.)

4,310 bbl/day (2008 est.)

187,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

17,420 bbl/day (2007 est.)

195,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)

750,000 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)

60 million cu m (2008 est.)

560 million cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

500 million cu m (2008 est.)

1.501 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

-$3.795 billion (2009 est.)

-$5.836 billion (2008 est.)

$15.61 billion (2009 est.)

$20.17 billion (2008 est.)

clothing and textiles, electric components, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, citrus fruits, vegetables, fish

Spain 19%, France 17.4%, Brazil 7%, US 4.5%, Belgium 4.4%, Italy 4.2% (2008)

$31.83 billion (2009 est.)

$39.35 billion (2008 est.)

crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics

France 16.2%, Spain 13.6%, Italy 6.5%, China 6.1%, Germany 5.7%, Saudi Arabia 5.4%, Moldova 5% (2008)

$21.54 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$22.72 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$20.06 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$17.13 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$42.68 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$42.68 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$641 million (31 December 2009 est.)

$966 million (31 December 2008 est.)

Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - 8.064 (2009), 7.526 (2008), 8.3563 (2007), 8.7722 (2006), 8.865 (2005)

2.991 million (2008)

22.816 million (2008)

AM NA, FM 15, shortwave NA (2009)

8 (2009)

.ma

276,521 (2009)

10.3 million (2008)

58 (2009)

1 (2009)

gas 830 km; oil 439 km (2009)

Agadir, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Safi

Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Navy (includes Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al Malakiya Marakishiya; Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2008)

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)

5% of GDP (2003 est.)

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; 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

one of the world's largest producers of illicit hashish; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; significant consumer of cannabis