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| Morocco | Plants and Animal | Back to Top |
The mountainous regions of Morocco contain considerable areas of forest, including large stands of cork oak, evergreen oak, juniper, cedar, fir, and pine. Except for areas under cultivation, the plains are usually covered with scrub brush and alfa grass. On the plain of Sous, near the southern border, is a large forest of argan, thorny trees found principally in Morocco. Moroccan wildlife represents a mingling of European and African species. Of the animals characteristic of Europe, the fox, rabbit, otter, and squirrel abound; of predominantly African types, the gazelle, wild boar, panther, baboon, wild goat, and horned viper are common.
| Morocco | Communications | Back to Top |
modern system with all valuable capabilities; however density is low with only 4.6 main lines available for each 100 persons
domestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; Internet available but expensive; principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; national network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radio relay
international: 7 submarine cables; 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 (1998).
| Morocco | Culture | Back to Top |
Morocco has felt the determines of several ancient cultures. Excavations have unearthed elements of the Phoenician, Hellenic, Carthaginian, and Roman civilizations. Christianity spread to this region in Roman times and survived the Arab invasion, but Arabic determines, which began in the 7th century, were to prove the strongest. The Arabs brought to Morocco a written language that is still the primary language of business and culture. The western African determine, seen in dances, spread northward with trade. Among more recent determines, the strongest is that of France.
The production of Arabic literature in Morocco has continued to grow and diversify. To the orthodox genres—poetry, essays, and historiography—have been added forms inspired by Middle Eastern and Western literary models. Since 1956, when Morocco achieved freedom, painting, sculpture, and amateur theatre have flourished. Painting is centred at the two schools of fine arts in Casablanca and Tetouan. Moroccan music includes Arab, Berber, popular, and classical forms.
| Morocco | Defence | Back to Top |
Military branches: Royal Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 8,182,073 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 5,160,374 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 348,380 (2001 est.)
| Morocco | International Disputes | Back to Top |
claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a vote on the issue; the UN-administered cease-fire has been in effect since September 1991; Spain controls five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla which Morocco contests, as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas.
| Morocco | Economy | Back to Top |
Morocco is primarily an agricultural nation, although only 20 % of the land is cultivated. In 1999 gross domestic product (GDP) was around at $35 billion, or $1,240 per person. The government’s budget in 1997 included revenues of $9.4 billion and expenditures of $11 billion.
Agriculture accounts for less than one-fifth of the gross domestic product (GDP) but employs two-fifths of the workforce. Land reform that was initiated in 1963 has benefited only a limited number of peasants; Europeans whose land was expropriated have been partially indemnified. Most farms in Morocco are small and are worked by families. Government-subsidized irrigated farms produce citrus fruits, wine, and vegetables for export. Harvests of barley and wheat, the chief staples, fluctuate from year to year and do not meet domestic demand; sugar beets are also a major crop. The productivity of sheep, goats, and cattle is generally low, and milk must be imported. During the 1980s Morocco developed its fishing industry, with most of the catch consisting of sardines and mackerel from the Atlantic Ocean.
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 area have been implemented. Drought conditions depressed activity in the key agricultural area and contributed to a stagnant economy in 1999 and 2000. During that time, Morocco reported large foreign exchange inflows from the sale of a mobile telephone license and partial privatization of the state-owned telecommunications company. Favorable rainfalls have led Morocco to predict a growth of 1% for 2001. 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 youthful population.
| Morocco | Education | Back to Top |
Schooling is compulsory in Morocco for children between the ages of 7 and 16. Some 73 % of girls and 95 % of boys attend primary school; only 39 % of secondary-school-age Moroccans actually attend secondary school. Arabic is the main language of instruction, and French is also used in secondary schools. In 2001 it was around that 69 % of the population was literate. In the 1996 school year 3.2 million pupils attended primary schools; 1.4 million students were listed in secondary and vocational schools.
| Morocco | Government | Back to Top |
The Moroccan Constitution provides for a monarchy with a Parliament and an independent judiciary. Ultimate authority rests with the King. He presides over the Council of Ministers; appoints the prime minster following legislative elections; appoints all members of the government taking into account the prime minister's recommendations; and may, at his discretion, terminate the tenure of any minister, dissolve the Parliament, call for new elections, or rule by decree. The King is the head of the military and the nation's religious leader. Upon the death of his father Mohammed V, King Hassan II succeeded to the throne in 1961. He governed Morocco for the next 38 years, until his own death in 1999. His son, King Mohammed VI, assumed the throne in July 1999.
Since the constitutional reform of 1996, the bicameral legislature consists of a lower chamber; the Chamber of Representatives, which is directly elected; and an upper chamber, the Chamber of Counselors, whose members are indirectly elected through various regional, local, and professional councils. The councils' members themselves are elected directly. The Parliament's powers, though limited, were expanded under the 1992 and 1996 constitutional revisions and include budgetary matters, approving bills, questioning ministers, and establishing ad hoc commissions of inquiry to investigate the government's actions. The lower chamber of Parliament may dissolve the government through a vote of no confidence.
In November 2002, King Mohammed VI named a government headed by former Interior Minister Driss Jettou, and composed of ministers drawn from most major parties in the coalition. The September 2002 parliamentary elections were largely free, fair, and transparent. The highest court in the judicial structure is the Supreme Court, whose judges are appointed by the King. The Jettou government is pursuing a socioeconomic program, including increased housing and education. Morocco is separated into 16 administrative regions (further broken into provinces and prefectures); the regions are administered by Walis and governors appointed by the King.
| Morocco | History | Back to Top |
Morocco's strategic location has shaped its history. Beginning with the Phoenicians, many foreigners were drawn to this area. Romans, Vandals, Visigoths, and Byzantine Greeks successively governed the area. Arab forces began occupying Morocco in the seventh century A.D., bringing their civilization and Islam. The Alaouite dynasty, which has governed Morocco since 1649, claims descent from the Prophet Muhammad. Morocco's location and resources led to early competition among European powers in Africa, beginning with successful Portuguese efforts to control the Atlantic coast in the 15th century. France showed a strong interest in Morocco as early as 1830. Following recognition by the United Kingdom in 1904 of France's "sphere of determine" in Morocco, the Algeciras Conference (1906) formalized France's "special position" and entrusted policing of Morocco to France and Spain jointly. The Treaty of Fez made Morocco a protectorate of France. By the same treaty, Spain assumed the role of protecting power over the northern and southern zones.
The Kingdom of Morocco recovered its political freedom from France on March 2, 1956. Through agreements with Spain in 1956 and 1958, Morocco restored control over certain Spanish-governed areas. The internationalized city of Tangier was reintegrated with the signing of the Tangier Protocol on October 29, 1956. The Spanish enclave of Ifni in the south became part of Morocco in 1969. Spain, retains control over the small coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in the north.
| Morocco | Introduction | Back to Top |
Morocco (in Arabic, Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah), hereditary monarchy, bordered on the north by the Mediterranean Sea, on the east and south-east by Algeria, on the south by Western Sahara, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. The south-eastern boundary, in the Sahara Desert, is not precisely defined. Within Morocco are the Spanish exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, on the Mediterranean coast. Several small islands off the northern coast of Morocco are also possessions of Spain. From 1912 to 1956 Morocco itself was separated into French and Spanish protectorates. The area of Morocco is 446,550 sq km (172,414 sq mi). Since 1979, Morocco has also occupied the adjacent nation known as Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara). Rabat is the capital of Morocco.
Official Name - Kingdom of Morocco| Morocco | Land | Back to Top |
N/A
| Morocco | Languages | Back to Top |
The Berber languages, once dominant throughout Morocco, have declined in importance, and in the early 1990s about 25 % of the people used Berber as their first language. Many of these people also spoke Arabic, the nation’s official language, which is the primary language of some 75 % of the population. Numerous Moroccans also use French and Spanish.
| Morocco | Life | Back to Top |
The original population of Morocco was Berber, and about three-quarters of all present-day Moroccans are of Berber descent. Arabs, who constitute the bulk of the inhabitants of the larger cities, form the second largest ethnic group. Considerable intermarriage among Arabs, Berbers, and the nation’s small number of black Africans has broken down differences among ethnic groups. Morocco has about 100,000 Europeans, most of them French. The rural population in 1999 was 45 % of the nation’s total.
| Morocco | organization | Back to Top |
ABEDA, ACCT (associate), 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, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
| Morocco | People | Back to Top |
Arabized Berbers are Morocco's predominant ethnolinguistic group, and many of them speak both Arabic and Berber. Less-assimilated Berbers make up about one-third of the population and live in the mountains, where the Berber language has been preserved. They fall into three groups: the Rif people of the Rif Mountains, the Tamazight of the Middle Atlas, and the Shluh of the High Atlas and the Sous valley. The nation's French and Spanish minorities have diminished remarkablely since Morocco's freedom in 1956; other minorities include Bedouin Arabs and blacks. Most of the nation's substantial Jewish minority had immigrated to the state of Israel by the late 20th century. Arabic is the nation's official language. Most Moroccans are Sunnite Muslims of the Malikite order.
Most people live west of the Atlas Mountains, a range that insulates the nation from the Sahara Desert. Casablanca is the center of commerce and industry and the leading port; Rabat is the seat of government; Tangier is the gateway to Spain and also a major port; "Arab" Fez is the cultural and religious center; and "Berber" Marrakech is a major tourist center. Education in Morocco is free and compulsory through primary school (age 15). Nevertheless, many children--particularly girls in rural areas--still do not attend school. The nation's illiteracy rate has been stuck at around 50% for some years but reaches as high as 83 % among girls in rural regions. Morocco had 288,319 students listed in 14 public universities in academic year 2001-2002. In some ways the most prestigious university is Mohammed V in Rabat, with faculties of law, sciences, liberal arts, and medicine. Karaouine University, in Fez, has been a center for Islamic studies for more than 1,000 years and is the oldest university in Morocco. Morocco has one private university, Al-Akhawayn, in Ifrane. Al-Akhawayn, founded in 1993 by King Hassan II and King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, is an English-medium, American-style university comprising about 1,000 students.
| Morocco | Politics | Back to Top |
Action Party or PA [Muhammad IDRISS]; Constitutional Union or UC [leader NA]; Democratic Forces Front or FFD [Thami KHIARI]; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Issa OUARDIGHI]; Democratic Party for freedom or PDI [Thami EL-OUAZZANI, Said BOUACHRINE]; Istiqlal Party or IP [Abbas El-FASSI]; Labor Party or UT [leader NA]; National Democratic Party or PND [Mohamed Arsalane EL-JADIDI]; National Popular Movement or MNP [Mahjoubi AHERDANE]; National Rally of Independents or RNI [Ahmed OSMAN]; Organization of Democratic and Popular Action or OADP [Mohamed BEN SAID ait Idder]; Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS [Moulay Ismail ALAOUI]; Popular Constitutional and Democratic Movement or MPCD (has become Party of Justice and Development or PJD) [Dr. Abdelkarim KHATIB]; Popular Movement or MP [Mohamed LAENSER]; Social Democratic Movement or MDS [Mahmoud ARCHANE]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Abd ar-Rahman EL-YOUSSOUFI]
| Morocco | Provinces | Back to Top |
37 provinces and 2 wilayas*; Agadir, Al Hoceima, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Srarhna, 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 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 creating many new provinces/regions; specific details and scope of the reorganization not yet available
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| Morocco | Time | Back to Top |
| Morocco | Currency and General Information | Back to Top |
| Morocco Dirhams | United States Dollars |
| 1.00 MAD | 0.0860901 USD |
| 11.6157 MAD | 1 USD |
| Countries Currency Unit | USD/Unit | Units/USD | |
| DZD | Algeria Dinars | 0.0129554 | 77.1877 |
| USD | United States Dollars | 1.00000 | 1.00000 |
| ARS | Argentina Pesos | 0.341293 | 2.93004 |
| AUD | Australia Dollars | 0.533413 | 1.87472 |
| ATS | Austria Schillings ** | 0.0632609 | 15.8076 |
| BSD | Bahamas Dollars | 1.00000 | 1.00000 |
| BBD | Barbados Dollars | 0.502513 | 1.99000 |
| BEF | Belgium Francs ** | 0.0215788 | 46.3417 |
| BMD | Bermuda Dollars | 1.00000 | 1.00000 |
| BRL | Brazil Reals | 0.430318 | 2.32386 |
| GBP | United Kingdom Pounds | 1.42399 | 0.702251 |
| BGL | Bulgaria Leva | 0.447293 | 2.23567 |
| CAD | Canada Dollars | 0.627606 | 1.59336 |
| CLP | Chile Pesos | 0.00152392 | 656.202 |
| CNY | China Yuan Renminbi | 0.120813 | 8.27726 |
| CYP | Cyprus Pounds | 1.49883 | 0.667186 |
| CZK | Czech Republic Koruny | 0.0281883 | 35.4758 |
| DKK | Denmark Kroner | 0.117155 | 8.53568 |
| XCD | East Caribbean Dollars | 0.370370 | 2.70000 |
| EGP | Egypt Pounds | 0.217271 | 4.60255 |
| EUR | Euro | 0.870489 | 1.14878 |
| FJD | Fiji Dollars | 0.447227 | 2.23600 |
| FIM | Finland Markkaa ** | 0.146406 | 6.83034 |
| FRF | France Francs ** | 0.132705 | 7.53550 |
| DEM | Germany Deutsche Marks ** | 0.445074 | 2.24682 |
| XAU | Gold Ounces | 301.977 | 0.00331151 |
| GRD | Greece Drachmae ** | 0.00255463 | 391.447 |
| HKD | Hong Kong Dollars | 0.128215 | 7.79939 |
| HUF | Hungary Forint | 0.00358416 | 279.006 |
| ISK | Iceland Kronur | 0.00999868 | 100.013 |
| INR | India Rupees | 0.0205205 | 48.7319 |
| IDR | Indonesia Rupiahs | 0.000102055 | 9,798.61 |
| IEP | Ireland Pounds ** | 1.10529 | 0.904738 |
| ILS | Israel New Shekels | 0.212386 | 4.70841 |
| ITL | Italy Lire ** | 0.000449570 | 2,224.35 |
| JMD | Jamaica Dollars | 0.0210041 | 47.6099 |
| JPY | Japan Yen | 0.00754183 | 132.594 |
| JOD | Jordan Dinars | 1.41057 | 0.708931 |
| LBP | Lebanon Pounds | 0.000660937 | 1,513.00 |
| LUF | Luxembourg Francs ** | 0.0215788 | 46.3417 |
| MYR | Malaysia Ringgits | 0.263330 | 3.79751 |
| MXN | Mexico Pesos | 0.111007 | 9.00848 |
| NZD | New Zealand Dollars | 0.440474 | 2.27028 |
| NOK | Norway Kroner | 0.113022 | 8.84780 |
| NLG | Netherlands Guilders ** | 0.395011 | 2.53158 |
| PKR | Pakistan Rupees | 0.0166945 | 59.9000 |
| PHP | Philippines Pesos | 0.0196386 | 50.9202 |
| XPT | Platinum Ounces | 510.962 | 0.00195709 |
| PLN | Poland Zlotych | 0.243488 | 4.10699 |
| PTE | Portugal Escudos ** | 0.00434198 | 230.310 |
| ROL | Romania Lei | 0.0000303433 | 32,956.21 |
| RUR | Russia Rubles | 0.0321342 | 31.1195 |
| SAR | Saudi Arabia Riyals | 0.266668 | 3.74998 |
| XAG | Silver Ounces | 4.65692 | 0.214734 |
| SGD | Singapore Dollars | 0.542540 | 1.84318 |
| SKK | Slovakia Koruny | 0.0208441 | 47.9751 |
| ZAR | South Africa Rand | 0.0883340 | 11.3207 |
| KRW | South Korea Won | 0.000759354 | 1,316.91 |
| ESP | Spain Pesetas ** | 0.00523174 | 191.141 |
| XDR | IMF Special Drawing Rights | 1.24862 | 0.800882 |
| SDD | Sudan Dinars | 0.00384615 | 260.000 |
| SEK | Sweden Kronor | 0.0964189 | 10.3714 |
| CHF | Switzerland Francs | 0.593789 | 1.68410 |
| TWD | Taiwan New Dollars | 0.0286531 | 34.9002 |
| THB | Thailand Baht | 0.0230087 | 43.4619 |
| TTD | Trinidad and Tobago Dollars | 0.163399 | 6.12000 |
| TRL | Turkey Liras | 0.000000763622 | 1,309,549.07 |
| VEB | Venezuela Bolivares | 0.00108696 | 920.000 |
| ZMK | Zambia Kwacha | 0.000239866 | 4,169.00 |
| Morocco : Geographic coordinates | 32 00 N, 5 00 W |
| Morocco : Population growth rate | 1.71% |
| Morocco : Birth rate | 24.16 births/1,000 population |
| Morocco : Death rate | 5.94 deaths/1,000 population |
| Morocco : People living with HIV/AIDS | N/A |
| Morocco : Independence | 2 March 1956 |
| Morocco : National holiday | Throne Day 30 July |
| Morocco : Constitution | 10 March 1972 |
| Morocco : GDP | purchasing power parity - $105 billion |
| Morocco : GDP - per capita | purchasing power parity - $3,500 |
| Morocco : Electricity - consumption | 13.441 billion kWh |
| Morocco : Exports | $7.6 billion phosphates and fertilizers, food and beverages, minerals |
| Morocco : Imports | $12.2 billion semiprocessed goods, machinery and equipment, food and beverages, consumer goods, fuel |
| Morocco : Telephones | 1.391 million |
| Morocco : Mobile cellular | 116,645 |
| Morocco : Radio broadcast stations | AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 |
| Morocco : Radios | 6.64 million |
| Morocco : Television broadcast stations | 35 |
| Morocco : Televisions | 3.1 million |
| Morocco : Internet country code | .ma |
| Morocco : Internet Service Providers (ISPs) | 8 |
| Morocco : Internet users | 120,000 |
| Morocco : Railways | 1,907 km |
| Morocco : Highways | 57,847 km |
| Morocco : Waterways | N/A |
| Morocco : Pipelines | crude oil 362 km; petroleum products 491 km (abandoned); natural gas 241 km |
| Morocco : Ports and harbors | Agadir, El Jadida, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar, Kenitra, Mohammedia, Nador, Rabat, Safi, Tangier; also Spanish-controlled Ceuta and Melilla |
| Morocco : Merchant marine | 41 ships |
| Morocco : Airports | 69 |
| Morocco : Heliports | 1 |
| Morocco : Military branches | Royal Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces |
| Morocco : Military expenditures | $1.4 billion |