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. The Alaouite dynasty, to which the current Moroccan royal family belongs, established a sultanate in Morocco beginning in the 17th century. 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. Sultan MOHAMMED V, the current monarch's grandfather, organized the new state as a constitutional monarchy and in 1957 assumed the title of king. Morocco 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. Under King MOHAMMED VI - who in 1999 succeeded his father to the throne - human rights have improved. Morocco enjoys a moderately free press, 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. Influenced by protests elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa, thousands of Moroccans in February 2011 rallied in Rabat and several other major cities to demand constitutional reform and more democracy and to protest government corruption and high food prices. A number of similar demonstrations and marches continued through March. Police response to most of the protests was subdued compared to the violence noted in protests elsewhere in the region. In early March, in response to demonstrator demands, King MOHAMMED VI announced the formation of a commission to reform the country's constitution. A draft constitution is to be presented by June 2011, followed by a popular referendum.

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

14,570 sq km (2008)

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

31,968,361 (July 2011 est.)

1.067% (2011 est.)

19.19 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

4.75 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

-3.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Casablanca 3.245 million; RABAT (capital) 1.77 million; Fes 1.044 million; Marrakech 909,000; Tangier 768,000 (2009)

2.21 children born/woman (2011 est.)

0.1% (2009 est.)

26,000 (2009 est.)

1,200 (2009 est.)

urban: 98% of population

rural: 60% of population

total: 81% of population

urban: 2% of population

rural: 40% of population

total: 19% of population (2008)

urban: 83% of population

rural: 52% of population

total: 69% of population

urban: 17% of population

rural: 48% of population

total: 31% of population (2008)

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)

5.6% of GDP (2008)

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

mixed legal system of civil law based on French law and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts by Supreme Court

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club (associate), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, 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; the pentacle represents the five pillars of Islam and signifies the association between God and the nation; design dates to 1912

Morocco's market economy benefits from the country's relatively low labor costs and proximity to Europe, which aid key areas of the economy such as agriculture, light manufacturing, tourism, and remittances. Morocco is also the world's largest exporter of phosphate, which has long provided a source of export earnings and economic stability. Economic policies pursued since 2003 by King MOHAMMED VI have brought macroeconomic stability to the country with generally low inflation, improved financial performance, and steady progress in developing the service and industrial sectors. 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. However, poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment rates remain high. In response to these challenges, King MOHAMMED in 2005 launched a National Initiative for Human Development, a $2 billion program aimed at alleviating poverty and underdevelopment by expanding electricity to rural areas and replacing urban slums with public and subsidized housing, among other policies. Morocco's trade and budget deficits widened in 2010, and reducing government spending and adapting to sluggish economic growth in Europe will be challenges in 2011. Morocco's long-term challenges include improving education and job prospects for young Moroccans, closing the disparity in wealth between the rich and the poor, confronting corruption, and expanding and diversifying exports beyond phosphates and low-value-added products.

$151.4 billion (2010 est.)

$146.8 billion (2009 est.)

$139.9 billion (2008 est.)

$103.5 billion (2010 est.)

3.2% (2010 est.)

4.9% (2009 est.)

5.6% (2008 est.)

$4,800 (2010 est.)

$4,700 (2009 est.)

$4,500 (2008 est.)

11.63 million (2010 est.)

9.8% (2010 est.)

9.1% (2009 est.)

15% (2007 est.)

40.9 (2005 est.)

39.5 (1999 est.)

30.2% of GDP (2010 est.)

58.2% of GDP (2010 est.)

56.9% of GDP (2009 est.)

2.5% (2010 est.)

1% (2009 est.)

3.31% (31 December 2009)

3.32% (31 December 2008)

6.5% (31 December 2008)

$67.33 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$64.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$108.7 billion (31 December 2009)

$99.5 billion (31 December 2008)

$93.21 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$91.83 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$62.91 billion (31 December 2009)

$65.75 billion (31 December 2008)

$75.49 billion (31 December 2007)

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

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

4.4% (2010 est.)

19.78 billion kWh (2008 est.)

20.78 billion kWh (2007 est.)

0 kWh (2008 est.)

3.429 billion kWh (2009 est.)

4,053 bbl/day (2009 est.)

187,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

17,420 bbl/day (2007 est.)

195,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)

100 million bbl (1 January 2010 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 2010 est.)

$-7.922 billion (2010 est.)

$-4.958 billion (2009 est.)

$14.49 billion (2010 est.)

$13.92 billion (2009 est.)

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

Spain 22.02%, France 20.22%, India 4.91%, Italy 4% (2009)

$34.19 billion (2010 est.)

$30.55 billion (2009 est.)

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

France 16.95%, Spain 14.72%, China 7.1%, Italy 6.76%, Germany 6.28%, US 5.66%, Saudi Arabia 5.11% (2009)

$24.57 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$23.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$22.69 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$21.12 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$42.19 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$40.72 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$1.047 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$1.333 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar -

8.3619 (2010)

8.0571 (2009)

7.526 (2008)

8.3563 (2007)

8.7722 (2006)

3.516 million (2009)

25.311 million (2009)

2 television broadcast networks with state-run Radio-Television Marocaine (RTM) operating one network and the state partially owning the other; foreign TV broadcasts are available via satellite dish; 3 radio broadcast networks with RTM operating one; the government-owned network includes 10 regional radio channels in addition to its national service (2007)

.ma

277,793 (2010)

13.213 million (2009)

58 (2010)

1 (2010)

gas 830 km; oil 439 km (2010)

Casablanca, Jorf Lasfar, Mohammedia, Safi, Tangier

Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Royal Moroccan Navy (includes Coast Guard, Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al Malakiya Marakishiya; Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2010)

18 years of age for voluntary military service; service obligation - 18 months (2010)

5% of GDP (2003 est.)

claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains unresolved; 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; Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations, each nation accusing the other of harboring militants and arms smuggling; the FLN's assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco is a dormant dispute

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