Country Name: Morocco (Kingdom of Morocco)

Capital: Rabat

Government Type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Background: In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, a series of Moroccan Muslim 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, dates from 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. Since Spain's 1976 withdrawal from Western Sahara, Morocco has extended its de facto administrative control to roughly 75% of this territory; however, the UN does not recognize Morocco as the administering power for Western Sahara. The UN since 1991 has monitored a cease-fire, which broke down in late 2020, between Morocco and the Polisario Front - an organization advocating the territory’s independence - and restarted negotiations over the status of the territory in December 2018. On 10 December 2020, the US recognized Morocco's sovereignty over all of Western Sahara.

Continent: Africa

Population: 37,067,420 (2023 est.) note: includes Western Sahara

Ethnic Groups: Arab-Amazigh 99%, other 1%; note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara

Languages: Arabic (official), Tamazight languages (Tamazight (official), Tachelhit, Tarifit), French (often the language of business, government, and diplomacy); note - the proportion of Tamazight speakers is disputed

Religions: Muslim 99% (official; virtually all Sunni, <0.1% Shia), other 1% (includes Christian, Jewish, and Baha'i); note - Jewish about 3,000-3,500 (2020 est.); note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara

Economic Overview: lower middle-income North African economy; ongoing recovery from recent drought; rebounding via tourism, manufacturing, and aeronautics industries; major US free trade agreement; developing energy exporter 

Currency: Moroccan Dirham (MAD)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange & Gold: $32.314 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $307.442 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars

Real GDP Growth Rate: 1.26% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per Capita: $8,100 (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars

Exports: 

• $58.556 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

• Comparison Ranking: 64

Export Commodities: cars, fertilizers, insulated wiring, phosphoric acid, clothing and apparel (2021)

Export Partners: Spain 20%, France 19%, India 5%, Brazil 5%, Italy 5% (2021)

Imports: 

• $73.783 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

• Comparison Ranking: 57

Import Commodities: refined petroleum, cars and vehicle parts, natural gas, wheat, coal (2021)

Import Partners: Spain 19%, France 11%, China 9%, United States 7%, Germany 5%, Turkey 5%, Italy 5% (2019)

Natural Resources: phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt

Agricultural Products: wheat, sugar beet, milk, potatoes, olives, tangerines/mandarins, tomatoes, oranges, barley, onions

Industries: automotive parts, phosphate mining and processing, aerospace, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, energy, tourism

Industrial Production Growth Rate: 

• -1.7% (2022 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

• Comparison Ranking: 189

Labor Force: 12.183 million (2022 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 9.99% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Natural Hazards: in the north, the mountains are geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts; windstorms; flash floods; landslides; in the south, a hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility

Geography:

• Total: 716,550 sq km

• Land: 716,300 sq km

• Water: 250 sq km

(Country Summary, The World Factbook, CIA.gov)

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