Morocco has capitalized on its proximity to Europe and relatively low labor costs to work towards building a diverse, open, market-oriented economy. Key sectors of the economy include agriculture, tourism, aerospace, automotive, phosphates, textiles, apparel, and subcomponents. Morocco has increased investment in its port, transportation, and industrial infrastructure to position itself as a center and broker for business throughout Africa. Industrial development strategies and infrastructure improvements - most visibly illustrated by a new port and free trade zone near Tangier - are improving Morocco's competitiveness.
In the 1980s, Morocco was a heavily indebted country before pursuing austerity measures and pro-market reforms, overseen by the IMF. Since taking the throne in 1999, King MOHAMMED VI has presided over a stable economy marked by steady growth, low inflation, and gradually falling unemployment, although poor harvests and economic difficulties in Europe contributed to an economic slowdown. To boost exports, Morocco entered into a bilateral Free Trade Agreement with the US in 2006 and an Advanced Status agreement with the EU in 2008. In late 2014, Morocco eliminated subsidies for gasoline, diesel, and fuel oil, dramatically reducing outlays that weighed on the country’s budget and current account. Subsidies on butane gas and certain food products remain in place. Morocco also seeks to expand its renewable energy capacity with a goal of making renewable more than 50% of installed electricity generation capacity by 2030.
Despite Morocco's economic progress, the country suffers from high unemployment, poverty, and illiteracy, particularly in rural areas. Key economic challenges for Morocco include reforming the education system and the judiciary.
2.5% (2019 est.)
2.96% (2018 est.)
3.98% (2017 est.)
0.2% (2019 est.)
2% (2018 est.)
0.7% (2017 est.)
Fitch rating: BB+ (2020)
Moody's rating: Ba1 (1999)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2010)
$279.295 billion (2019 est.)
$272.531 billion (2018 est.)
$264.212 billion (2017 est.)
note: data are in 2010 dollars
$118.858 billion (2019 est.)
$7,515 (2019 est.)
$7,438 (2018 est.)
$7,314 (2017 est.)
note: data are in 2010 dollars
27.8% of GDP (2019 est.)
27.8% of GDP (2018 est.)
29.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
agriculture: 14% (2017 est.)
industry: 29.5% (2017 est.)
services: 56.5% (2017 est.)
household consumption: 58% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 18.9% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 28.4% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 4.2% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 37.1% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -46.6% (2017 est.)
Overall score: 73.4 (2020)
Starting a Business score: 93 (2020)
Trading score: 85.6 (2020)
Enforcement score: 63.7 (2020)
wheat, sugar beet, milk, potatoes, olives, tangerines/mandarins, tomatoes, oranges, barley, onions
automotive parts, phosphate mining and processing, aerospace, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, energy, tourism
2.8% (2017 est.)
10.399 million (2020 est.)
agriculture: 39.1%
industry: 20.3%
services: 40.5% (2014 est.)
9.23% (2019 est.)
9.65% (2018 est.)
4.8% (2013 est.)
39.5 (2013 est.)
39.5 (1999 est.)
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 33.2% (2007)
revenues: 22.81 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 26.75 billion (2017 est.)
20.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
-3.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
65.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
64.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
calendar year
-$5.075 billion (2019 est.)
-$6.758 billion (2018 est.)
$48.565 billion (2019 est.)
$46.608 billion (2018 est.)
$44.033 billion (2017 est.)
Spain 23%, France 19% (2019)
cars, insulated wiring, fertilizers, phosphoric acid, clothing and apparel (2019)
$64.12 billion (2019 est.)
$61.535 billion (2018 est.)
$57.257 billion (2017 est.)
Spain 19%, France 11%, China 9%, United States 7%, Germany 5%, Turkey 5%, Italy 5% (2019)
refined petroleum, cars and vehicle parts, natural gas, coal, low-voltage protection equipment (2019)
$26.27 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$25.37 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$52.957 billion (2019 est.)
$51.851 billion (2018 est.)
Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar -
9.0065 (2020 est.)
9.657 (2019 est.)
9.48825 (2018 est.)
9.7351 (2014 est.)
8.3798 (2013 est.)
NOTE: The information regarding Morocco on this page is re-published from the 2021 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Morocco 2021 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Morocco 2021 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.
This page was last modified 16 Dec 23, Copyright © 2023 ITA all rights reserved.