Fun facts and information on Morocco

General Information on Morocco & Quick Overview

Morocco gained independence from France 1956 after a prolonged struggle.

Tangier city was ceded to Morocco that year. Political changes resulted in the 1997 establishment of a Bicameral legislative system.

Geographical statistics & Information on Morocco

Geographical Position: North Africa, between Algeria and Western Sahara. On the shores of the Mediterranean Sea & North Atlantic Ocean. Map Ref Latitude & Longitude 32 degrees 50 North, 5 degrees 50 West

Total Land & Sea Area: Total: 447,000 square kilometres land area: 446,500 square kilometres Sea Area 500 square kilometres Land boundaries: Total: 2,020.8 kilometres border countries: Algeria 1600 kilometres, Western Sahara 450 kilometres, Spain (Ceuta) 6km, Spain (Melilla) 9 kilometres Coastal Length: 1,800 kilometres

Climatological Conditions & information on Morocco

Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior

Terrain Features

Interior is mountainous, as is the northern coast. There are large plateau areas, valleys, and rich plains near the coast. Highest & Lowest Elevations: Lowest elevation: Sebkha Tah -50 metres Highest elevation: Jbel Toubkal 4,200 metres Country’s natural resources: phosphate deposits, iron ore deposits, manganese deposits, lead resources, zinc deposits, fish stocks, salt deposits

Land use

ploughable land area: 20 percent permanent crops: 2 percent other: 78 percent (1998 estimate) Irrigated land area: 13,000 square kilometres (1998 estimate) Hazardous Natural phenomena: Earthquakes are not infrequent in the mountainous areas. Subject to boughts of sustained periodic droughts.

Geographical Point of Interest

Location of some strategic importance along Strait of Gibraltar.

People-Information on Morocco

Population: 31,690,000 (July 2003 estimate)

Age structure: under 15 years: 34 percent 15 to 64 years: 61 percent Over 65: 45 percent Median age of population: Total: 24 years male: 23 years female: 25 years (2002) Population growth rate: 1.7 percent (2003 estimate) Birth rate: 23 births per thousand population (2003 estimate) mortality rate: 6 deaths per thousand population (2003 estimate) Net rate of migration: -1 migrant(s) per thousand population (2003 estimate) Infant mortality rate: Total: 45 deaths per thousand live births female: 41 deaths per thousand live births (2003 estimate) male: 49 deaths per thousand live births Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70 years male: 67. years female: 73 years (2003 estimate) Total fertility rate: 3 children born/woman (2003 estimate)

Nationality

Moroccan

Ethnic groups

Arab-Berber 99. percent, other 1 percent

Religious information on Morocco

Muslim/Islamic faith 97 percent, Christian 2 percent, Jewish 1 percent

Languages & Linguistic Groupings

Arabic, Berber dialects, French Literacy: definition: People over the age of 15 years that are literate (can read & write): total population: 52 percent male: 64 percent female: 40 percent (2003 estimate)

Government information on Morocco

Country name: Kingdom of Morocco

Government type: Constitutional monarchy Capital city: Rabat Independence: March 2nd, 1956 from Republic of France National holiday: Throne Day 30 July Constitution: 1972, 1992, amended 1996 Legal system: Mixture of Islamic law and French Civil Code and Spanish civil law system;

Electoral & Voting System

Universal vote from the age of 18, as at January 2003. Executive branch: Head of State: King
Chief of Government:Prime Minister Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch: Bicameral Parliament

Economy information on Morocco

Economy - overview: Morocco has recently restructured its economy and privatized a number of state industries.

Still has considerable infrastructural difficulties and high foreign debt.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

$USD120 billion (2002 estimate) Gross Domestic Product - actual growth rate: 5 percent (2002 estimate) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - per head of population: $USD5,000 (2002 estimate) Gross Domestic Product - composition by sector: agriculture: 18 percent industry: 27 percent services: 55 percent (2000 estimate) Population below poverty line: 20 percent (1999 estimate)

Rate of inflation: 5 percent (2002 estimate) Labour force: 10 million (1999) Labour force - by occupation: agriculture 45 percent, services 38 percent, industry 17 percent (1999 estimate) Rate of unemployment: 20 percent (2002 estimate)

Budget

Incomes: $USD14 billion spending : $USD15 billion, Industries: phosphate mining and processing, food processing, leathers, textiles, apparel, buildin, tourist industry

Agriculture - products: grains, citrus fruits & produts, wine, vegetables, olives; meat

Exports

$USD7 billion Exports - commodities: apparel, textiles & clothing, fish products, minerals, fertilisers, phosphate, oil & petroleum products, vegetables , fruits, Exports - partners: France 25 percent, Spain 15 percent, United Kingdom 9 percent, Germany 7 percent, Italy 5 percent, United States 5 percent (2002)

Imports

$USD10 billion Imports - commodities: crude oil, electronic equipment, wheat, electricity, plastics Imports -most important trading partners: France 20 percent, Spain 10 percent, Italy 7. percent, Germany 4 percent, United States 3 percent, United Kingdom 3 percent, Saudi Arabia 2 percent (2002)

Foreign Indebtedness

$USD15 billion (2002 estimate) National Currency: Moroccan dirham (MAD) Currency Abbreviation: MAD

Communications information on Morocco

Telephones landlines: 1.5 million (1998) Radio broadcast stations: Amplitude Modulation 25, Frequency Modulation 23, shortwave 5 (1998) Television broadcast stations: 45(1995) Internet country code: .ma

Transportation in & travel information on Morocco

Railroad networks: Total: 1,900 kilometres

Roading System: Total: 55 kilometres Pipelines: gas 700 kilometres; oil 290 kilometres (2003) Airports & airfields: 65 (2002)

Military system of Morocco

Military branches: Royal Armed Forces -Moroccan Army, Navy, Air Force), Morocco Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces Military spending : - $USD1.5 billion (Fiscal Year99/00) Military spending : percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP): 5 percent (Fiscal Year99)

International Issues Morocco Disputes - international: Morocco lays claim to Western Sahara and administers the region, but sovereignty remains unsettled under a United Nations-administered cease-fire since 1991.

Morocco claims Spanish coastal enclaves of Melilla, Ceuta, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Islas Chafarinas and Isla de Penon de Alhucemas.

Morocco also disputes Spain's Canary Islands border claims.

You now know all the factual information on Morocco now check out the French speaking countries’ historical background

More information on Morocco, a French-speaking nation
History of French speaking countries | Flag of Morocco | Map of Morocco | Learn French in Morocco |

Information on Morocco
Source: All info sourced and adapted from CIA Factbook
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