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NAVIGATION
Kingdom of Morocco
Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
GOVERNMENT
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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
note: 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; decentralization/regionalization law passed by the legislature in March 1997 created many new provinces/regions; specific details and scope of the reorganization not yet available |
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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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21 years of age; universal |
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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, IP 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 IP [Abbas El FASSI]; Justice and Development Party (note - formerly the Party of Justice and Development) 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 Renewent 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 [leader NA]; 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, CCC, EBRD, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, 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, UPU, WCL, 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 |
ECONOMY
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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 5%. Formidable long-term challenges include: servicing the external debt; preparing the economy for freer trade with the EU; 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 - $112 billion (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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5% (2001 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2001 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%: 3%
highest 10%: 31% (1998-99) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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40 (1998-99 ) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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1% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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11 million (1999) (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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23% (1999 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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14.243 billion kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 91%
hydro: 9% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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14.346 billion kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - imports:
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1.1 billion kWh (2000) |
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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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$8.2 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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phosphates and fertilizers, food and beverages, minerals |
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Exports - partners:
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France 26%, Spain 10%, UK 8%, Italy 6%, Germany 5%, India 5%, US 5% (2000) |
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Imports:
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$12.4 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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semiprocessed goods, machinery and equipment, food and beverages, consumer goods, fuel |
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Imports - partners:
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France 25%, Spain 11%, Germany 6%, Italy 6%, UK 5%, US 5% (2000) |
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Debt - external:
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$19 billion (2001 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$565.6 million (1995) (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 - 11.584 (January 2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.626 (2000), 9.804 (1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |