Introduction

Background: |  |

`
In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, successive Moorish 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, established a sultanate in Morocco beginning in 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. Morocco annexed Western Sahara during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of the territory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature, which first met in 1997. Under King MOHAMMED VI - who in 1999 succeeded his father to the throne - human rights have improved. Morocco enjoys a moderately free press, but the government occasionally takes action against journalists who report on three broad subjects considered to be taboo: the monarchy, Islam, and the status of Western Sahara. Despite the continuing reforms, ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch. Influenced by protests elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa, thousands of Moroccans in February 2011 rallied in Rabat and several other major cities to demand constitutional reform and more democracy and to protest government corruption and high food prices. A number of similar demonstrations and marches continued through March. Police response to most of the protests was subdued compared to the violence noted in protests elsewhere in the region. In early March, in response to demonstrator demands, King MOHAMMED VI announced the formation of a commission to reform the country's constitution. A draft constitution is to be presented by June 2011, followed by a popular referendum.
`

Geography

Location: |  |
`Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara`
Geographic coordinates: |  |
`32 00 N, 5 00 W`
Map references: |  |
`Africa`
Area: |  |
`total: 446,550 sq km country comparison to the world: 57 land: 446,300 sq km water: 250 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`slightly larger than California`
Land boundaries: |  |
`total: 2,017.9 km border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km`
Coastline: |  |
`1,835 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation`
Climate: |  |
`Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior`
Terrain: |  |
`northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 19% permanent crops: 2% other: 79% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`14,450 sq km (2003)`
Total renewable water resources: |  |
`29 cu km (2003)`
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic / industrial / agricultural): |  |
`total: 12.6 cu km/yr (10%/3%/87%) per capita: 400 cu m/yr (2000)`
Natural hazards: |  |
`northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts`
Environment - current issues: |  |
`land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters`
Environment - international agreements: |  |
`party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification`
Geography - note: |  |
`strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar`

People

Population: |  |
`31,968,361 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 38`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 27.8% (male 4,514,623/female 4,382,487) 15-64 years: 66.1% (male 10,335,931/female 10,785,380) 65 years and over: 6.1% (male 881,622/female 1,068,318) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 26.9 years male: 26.3 years female: 27.4 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`1.067% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 112`
Birth rate: |  |
`19.19 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 100`
Death rate: |  |
`4.75 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 195`
Net migration rate: |  |
`-3.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 187`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 58% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`Casablanca 3.245 million; RABAT (capital) 1.77 million; Fes 1.044 million; Marrakech 909,000; Tangier 768,000 (2009)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 27.53 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 74 male: 32.32 deaths/1,000 live births female: 22.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 75.9 years country comparison to the world: 78 male: 72.84 years female: 79.11 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`2.21 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 105`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 147`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`26,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 72`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`1,200 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 63`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 98% of population rural: 60% of population total: 81% of population unimproved: urban: 2% of population rural: 40% of population total: 19% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 83% of population rural: 52% of population total: 69% of population unimproved: urban: 17% of population rural: 48% of population total: 31% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Moroccan(s) adjective: Moroccan`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%`
Religions: |  |
`Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%`
Languages: |  |
`Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French (often the language of business, government, and diplomacy)`
Literacy: |  |
`definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 52.3% male: 65.7% female: 39.6% (2004 census)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 10 years (2007)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`5.6% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 41`

Government

Country name: |  |
`conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco conventional short form: Morocco local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah local short form: Al Maghrib`
Government type: |  |
`constitutional monarchy`
Capital: |  |
`name: Rabat geographic coordinates: 34 01 N, 6 49 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in July`
Administrative divisions: |  |

`
15 regions; Grand Casablanca, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Doukkala-Abda, Fes-Boulemane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara, Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal, Tanger-Tetouan, Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate
note: Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara, the political status of which is considered undetermined by the US Government; portions of the regions Guelmim-Es Smara and Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra as claimed by Morocco lie within Western Sahara; Morocco also claims Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, another region that falls entirely within Western Sahara
`

Independence: |  |
`2 March 1956 (from France)`
National holiday: |  |
`Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)`
Constitution: |  |
`10 March 1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended September 1996 note: the amendment of September 1996 created a bicameral legislature`
Legal system: |  |
`mixed legal system of civil law based on French law and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts by Supreme Court`
International law organization participation: |  |
`has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt`
Suffrage: |  |
`18 years of age; universal`
Executive branch: |  |
`chief of state: King MOHAMMED VI (since 30 July 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Abbas EL FASSI (since 19 September 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website ) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch following legislative elections`
Legislative branch: |  |

`
bicameral Parliament consists of the Chamber of Counselors (or upper house) (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates to serve nine-year terms; one-third of the members are elected every three years) and Chamber of Representatives (or lower house) (325 seats; 295 members elected by multi-seat constituencies and 30 from national lists of women; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held on 3 October 2009 (next to be held in 2012); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 7 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
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 - PI 52, PJD 46, MP 41, RNI 39, USFP 38, UC 27, PPS 17, FFD 9, MDS 9, Al Ahd 8, other 39
`

Judicial branch: |  |
`Supreme Court (judges are appointed on the recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the monarch)`
Political parties and leaders: |  |

`
Action Party or PA [Mohammed EL IDRISSI]; Al Ahd (The Covenant) Party [Najib EL OUAZZANI]; Alliance des Libert'es (Alliance of Liberty) or ADL [Ali BELHAJ]; An-Nahj Ad-Dimocrati or An-Nahj [Abdellah EL HARIF]; Authenticity and Modernity Party or PAM [Mohamed Cheikh BIADILLAH, secretary general]; Choura et Istiqlal (Consultation and Independence) Party or PCI [Abdelwahed MAACH]; Citizens' Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]; Citizenship and Development Initiative or ICD [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Constitutional Union Party or UC [Mohammed ABIED]; Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Mahmoud ARCHANE]; Democratic Forces Front or FFD [Touhami EL KHIARI]; Democratic Socialist Vanguard Party or PADS [Ahmed BENJELLOUN]; Democratic Society Party or PSD [Zhor CHEKKAFI]; Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and Development Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Istiqlal (Independence) Party or PI [Abbas EL FASSI]; Justice and Development Party or PJD [Abdelilah BENKIRANE]; Labor Party or PT [Abdelkrim BENATIK]; 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 [Mustapha EL MANSOURI]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP [Abdellah IBRAHIM]; Popular Movement or MP [Mohamed LAENSER]; Progress and Socialism Party or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI]; Reform and Development Party or PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]; Renaissance and Virtue Party or PRV [Mohamed KHALIDI]; Renewal and Equity Party or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR]; Social Center Party or PSC [Lahcen MADIH]; Socialist Democratic Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Abdelwahed RADI]; Unified Socialist Left Party or PGSU [Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]
`

Political pressure groups and leaders: |  |
`Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir AMAOUI]; General Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Abderrazzak AFILAL]; Moroccan Employers Association or CGEM [Hassan CHAMI]; National Labor Union of Morocco or UNMT [Abdelslam MAATI]; Union of Moroccan Workers or UMT [Mahjoub BENSEDDIK]`
International organization participation: |  |
`ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club (associate), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO`
Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161 consulate(s) general: New York`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel L. KAPLAN embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 09718 telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65 FAX: [212] (37) 76 56 61 consulate(s) general: Casablanca`
Flag description: |  |
`red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and green are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian gulf; the pentacle represents the five pillars of Islam and signifies the association between God and the nation; design dates to 1912`
National anthem: |  |
`name: "Hymne Cherifien" (Hymn of the Sharif) lyrics/music: Ali Squalli HOUSSAINI/Leo MORGAN note: music adopted 1956, lyrics adopted 1970`

Economy

Economy - overview: |  |

`
Morocco's market economy benefits from the country's relatively low labor costs and proximity to Europe, which aid key areas of the economy such as agriculture, light manufacturing, tourism, and remittances. Morocco is also the world's largest exporter of phosphate, which has long provided a source of export earnings and economic stability. Economic policies pursued since 2003 by King MOHAMMED VI have brought macroeconomic stability to the country with generally low inflation, improved financial performance, and steady progress in developing the service and industrial sectors. In 2006, Morocco entered a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US, and in 2008 entered into an advanced status in its 2000 Association Agreement with the EU. However, poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment rates remain high. In response to these challenges, King MOHAMMED in 2005 launched a National Initiative for Human Development, a $2 billion program aimed at alleviating poverty and underdevelopment by expanding electricity to rural areas and replacing urban slums with public and subsidized housing, among other policies. Morocco's trade and budget deficits widened in 2010, and reducing government spending and adapting to sluggish economic growth in Europe will be challenges in 2011. Morocco's long-term challenges include improving education and job prospects for young Moroccans, closing the disparity in wealth between the rich and the poor, confronting corruption, and expanding and diversifying exports beyond phosphates and low-value-added products.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$151.4 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 $146.8 billion (2009 est.) $139.9 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$103.5 billion (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`3.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 119 4.9% (2009 est.) 5.6% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$4,800 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 $4,700 (2009 est.) $4,500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 17.1% industry: 31.6% services: 51.4% (2010 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`11.63 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 45`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: 44.6% industry: 19.8% services: 35.5% (2006 est.)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`9.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 9.1% (2009 est.)`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`15% (2007 est.)`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 33.2% (2007)`
Distribution of family income - Gini index: |  |
`40.9 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 57 39.5 (1999 est.)`
Investment (gross fixed): |  |
`30.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 18`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $23.42 billion expenditures: $27.08 billion (2010 est.)`
Public debt: |  |
`58.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 56.9% of GDP (2009 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`2.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 66 1% (2009 est.)`
Central bank discount rate: |  |
`3.31% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 107 3.32% (31 December 2008)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`6.5% (31 December 2008)`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$67.33 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 $64.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$108.7 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 51 $99.5 billion (31 December 2008)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$93.21 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 $91.83 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$62.91 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 48 $65.75 billion (31 December 2008) $75.49 billion (31 December 2007)`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`barley, wheat, citrus fruits, grapes, vegetables, olives; livestock; wine`
Industries: |  |
`phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, energy, tourism`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`4.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78`
Electricity - production: |  |
`19.78 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 70`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`20.78 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 68`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`3.429 billion kWh (2009 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`4,053 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 98`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`187,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 57`
Oil - exports: |  |
`17,420 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 90`
Oil - imports: |  |
`195,800 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 45`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`100 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 69`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`60 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 80`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`560 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 141`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`500 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 59`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`1.501 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96`
Current account balance: |  |
`$-7.922 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 175 $-4.958 billion (2009 est.)`
Exports: |  |
`$14.49 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 $13.92 billion (2009 est.)`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`clothing and textiles, electric components, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, citrus fruits, vegetables, fish`
Exports - partners: |  |
`Spain 22.02%, France 20.22%, India 4.91%, Italy 4% (2009)`
Imports: |  |
`$34.19 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 $30.55 billion (2009 est.)`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics`
Imports - partners: |  |
`France 16.95%, Spain 14.72%, China 7.1%, Italy 6.76%, Germany 6.28%, US 5.66%, Saudi Arabia 5.11% (2009)`
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |  |
`$24.57 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 $23.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$22.69 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 $21.12 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |  |
`$42.19 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 57 $40.72 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |  |
`$1.047 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 $1.333 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Exchange rates: |  |
`Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - 8.3619 (2010) 8.0571 (2009) 7.526 (2008) 8.3563 (2007) 8.7722 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`3.516 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 46`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`25.311 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 35`
Telephone system: |  |

`
general assessment: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; national network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radio relay; Internet available but expensive
domestic: fixed-line teledensity is roughly 10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership approached 75 per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 212; landing point for the Atlas Offshore, Estepona-Tetouan, Euroafrica, Spain-Morocco, and SEA-ME-WE-3 fiber-optic telecommunications undersea cables that provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria; participant in Medarabtel; fiber-optic cable link from Agadir to Algeria and Tunisia (2009)
`

Broadcast media: |  |
`2 television broadcast networks with state-run Radio-Television Marocaine (RTM) operating one network and the state partially owning the other; foreign TV broadcasts are available via satellite dish; 3 radio broadcast networks with RTM operating one; the government-owned network includes 10 regional radio channels in addition to its national service (2007)`
Internet country code: |  |
`.ma`
Internet hosts: |  |
`277,793 (2010) country comparison to the world: 61`
Internet users: |  |
`13.213 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 29`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`58 (2010) country comparison to the world: 82`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 32 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2010)`
Airports - with unpaved runways: |  |
`total: 26 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 8 (2010)`
Heliports: |  |
`1 (2010)`
Pipelines: |  |
`gas 830 km; oil 439 km (2010)`
Railways: |  |
`total: 2,067 km country comparison to the world: 70 standard gauge: 2,067 km 1.435-m gauge (1,022 km electrified) (2010)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 57,625 km country comparison to the world: 77 paved: 35,664 km (includes 639 km of expressways) unpaved: 21,961 km (2006)`
Merchant marine: |  |
`total: 30 country comparison to the world: 83 by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 2, container 7, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 3 foreign-owned: 6 (France 4, Germany 2) registered in other countries: 5 (Gibraltar 4, Panama 1) (2010)`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Casablanca, Jorf Lasfar, Mohammedia, Safi, Tangier`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Royal Moroccan Navy (includes Coast Guard, Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al Malakiya Marakishiya; Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2010)`
Military service age and obligation: |  |
`18 years of age for voluntary military service; service obligation - 18 months (2010)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 8,252,682 females age 16-49: 8,691,419 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 7,026,016 females age 16-49: 7,377,045 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 300,327 female: 298,366 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`5% of GDP (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 16`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |

`
claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains unresolved; Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon de Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; both countries claim Isla Perejil (Leila Island); discussions have not progressed on a comprehensive maritime delimitation, setting limits on resource exploration and refugee interdiction, since Morocco's 2002 rejection of Spain's unilateral designation of a median line from the Canary Islands; Morocco serves as one of the primary launching areas of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa; Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations, each nation accusing the other of harboring militants and arms smuggling; the FLN's assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco is a dormant dispute
`

Illicit drugs: |  |
`one of the world's largest producers of illicit hashish; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; significant consumer of cannabis`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON JUNE 7, 2011