General
Information
|
Total Land Area: |
710,850 km2 |
|
Land boundaries: |
2,018 km |
|
Coastline: |
3,416 km |
|
Capital: |
Rabat |
|
Other Large
Cities: |
Casablanca,
Tangier, Fes,
Agadir, Ad
Dakhla, Laayoune |
|
Official
Language: |
Arabic |
|
National
Currency Unit: |
Dirham (MAD) |
|
National Day: |
July 30 |
Location and
Geography
Morocco is located
at the North-west
corner of Africa.
The Strait of
Gibralter and the
Mediterranean Sea
bound the country in
the North, the
Atlantic Ocean in
the West, Algeria in
the East and the
Republic of
Mauritania in the
South. The river
Daraa is the longest
in Morocco (1200
km). The highest
mountain is Toubkal
(4165 m). It is a
part of the Great
Atlas range which
together with the
Maritime Atlas, the
Anti Atlas and the
Rif constitute the
highest mountain
ranges in Morocco.
One tenth of the
country’s total area
is covered by
forests, which are
of substantial
commercial value.
Eastern slopes of
the Atlas Mountains
show semi-desert
aspects. The climate
is Mediterranean;
moderate in the
North and West
thanks to the
Atlantic Ocean;
somewhat continental
in the centre; and
desert in the South.
Demography
|
Population:
|
29.63 million
(2002) |
|
Crude Birth
Rate:
|
21 per thousand
people (2002) |
|
Crude Death
Rate:
|
6 per thousand
people (2002) |
|
Infant Mortality
Rate:
|
39 per thousand
(2002) |
|
Life Expectancy:
|
Male: 66 years,
Female: 70 years
(2002) |
|
Urban
Population:
|
57.0 percent
(2002) |
|
Adult Literacy:
|
49.80 percent
(2001) |
Economy
Morocco is one of
the world’s largest
phosphates exporters
and holds about
three fourths of all
proven reserves.
Other natural
resources are iron
ore, manganese,
lead, zinc, salt and
coal. The textile
and leather
industries employ a
considerable portion
of the industrial
workforce and
contribute to a
large share of
Moroccan exports.
The country has a
substantial
hydroelectric
potential, which is
being gradually
exploited. It
produces two thirds
of the grains needed
to feed the
population and has
the potential to
achieve
self-sufficiency.
The major crops
grown are wheat,
barley, maize,
citrus fruits,
beans, tomatoes,
potatoes, olives and
oilseeds. The
fishing sector
offers high
potential. The
tourism sector in
the country has been
developing in recent
years.
|
GDP at Current
Market Prices:
|
36241 million
US$ (2002) |
|
Per Capita GDP:
|
1223 US$ (2002) |
|
Share of Sectors
in GDP:
|
16.0%
Agriculture,
30.0% Industry,
54.0% Services,
(2002) |
|
Total Exports:
|
7871 million US$
(2002) |
|
Total Imports:
|
11881 million
US$ (2002) |
|
Major Exports
Items: |
Food and
beverages,
semi-processed
goods,
phosphates,
seafood
products,
minerals,
fertilizers and
citrus fruits |
|
Major Imports
Items: |
Food and
beverages,
semi-processed
goods, capital
goods, fuel and
raw material |
|
Major Trading
Partners: |
Italy, US,
China, Spain and
France |
|
