Demographic features of the population of Morocco include population density, ethnicity, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population. All figures are from the Haut-Commissariat au Plan of Morocco or the United Nations Demographic Yearbooks, unless otherwise indicated.
The population of Morocco in 2024 was 36,828,330. Socially, there are two contrasting groups of Moroccans: those living in the cities and those in rural areas. Among Morocco’s rural communities, several socio-economic classes have formed. The majority of the Moroccan population lives in northwestern Morocco, along the fertile coastal regions near the Mediterranean Sea.
About 99 percent of Moroccans are considered to be Sunni Muslims (either religiously or culturally). The significant and millennia-old Jewish minority has largely decreased since the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. Today there are 2,500 Moroccan Jews inside the country. Thousands of Moroccan Jews living in Europe, Israel-Palestine, and the Americas regularly visit the Morocco. There is a small minority of Moroccan Christians. In 2014, most of the 86,206 foreign residents are French, Spaniards, Algerians, and sub-Saharan African migrants.
Population size and structure
The 2024 General Population and Housing Census was conducted by the High Commission for Planning (Morocco).
Main populated areas
Most Moroccans live west and north of the Atlas Mountains, a range that insulates the country from the Sahara Desert. Casablanca is the largest city and the centre of business and industry, and has the leading seaport and airport. Rabat is the seat of government. Tangier and Nador are the two major northern seaports on the Mediterranean. Fez is a cultural, religious and industrial centre. Marrakesh and Agadir are the two major tourist centres. Oujda is the largest city of eastern Morocco. Meknes houses the military academy. Kenitra has the largest military airbase. Mohammedia has the largest oil refineries and other major industrial installations.
Structure of the population
Structure of the population (Census 2004):
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="80pt"|Age group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80pt"|Female
! width="80pt"|Total
! width="80pt"|%
|-
| align="right" | Total
| align="right" | 14 640 662
| align="right" | 15 039 407
| align="right" | 29 680 069
| align="right" | 100
|-
| align="right" | Total(known)
| align="right" | 14 045 137
| align="right" | 14 783 487
| align="right" | 28 828 624
| align="right" | 97.13
|-
| align="right" | 0–4
| align="right" | 1 488 631
| align="right" | 1 435 833
| align="right" | 2 924 464
| align="right" | 9.85
|-
| align="right" | 5–9
| align="right" | 1 552 440
| align="right" | 1 502 718
| align="right" | 3 055 158
| align="right" | 10.29
|-
| align="right" | 10–14
| align="right" | 1 666 632
| align="right" | 1 614 368
| align="right" | 3 281 000
| align="right" | 11.05
|-
| align="right" | 15–19
| align="right" | 1 564 900
| align="right" | 1 583 690
| align="right" | 3 148 590
| align="right" | 10.61
|-
| align="right" | 20–24
| align="right" | 1.426.174
| align="right" | 1 521 526
| align="right" | 2 947 700
| align="right" | 9.93
|-
| align="right" | 25–29
| align="right" | 1 190 111
| align="right" | 1 292 162
| align="right" | 2 482 273
| align="right" | 8.36
|-
| align="right" | 30–34
| align="right" | 1 054 069
| align="right" | 1 149 302
| align="right" | 2 203 371
| align="right" | 7.42
|-
| align="right" | 35–39
| align="right" | 897 812
| align="right" | 993 739
| align="right" | 1 891 551
| align="right" | 6.37
|-
| align="right" | 40–44
| align="right" | 892 083
| align="right" | 968 391
| align="right" | 1 860 474
| align="right" | 6.27
|-
| align="right" | 45–49
| align="right" | 758 044
| align="right" | 731 635
| align="right" | 1 489 679
| align="right" | 5.02
|-
| align="right" | 50–54
| align="right" | 627 433
| align="right" | 599 755
| align="right" | 1 227 188
| align="right" | 4.13
|-
| align="right" | 55–59
| align="right" | 370 969
| align="right" | 388 594
| align="right" | 759 563
| align="right" | 2.56
|-
| align="right" | 60–64
| align="right" | 340 722
| align="right" | 400 169
| align="right" | 740 891
| align="right" | 2.50
|-
| align="right" | 65–69
| align="right" | 261 046
| align="right" | 274 018
| align="right" | 535 064
| align="right" | 1.80
|-
| align="right" | 70–74
| align="right" | 236 107
| align="right" | 267 260
| align="right" | 503 367
| align="right" | 1.70
|-
| align="right" | 75+
| align="right" | 58 933
| align="right" | 60 327
| align="right" | 119 260
| align="right" | 0.40
|-
| align="right" | unknown
| align="right" | 595 525
| align="right" | 255 920
| align="right" | 851 445
| align="right" | 2.87
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="50"|Age group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80"|Female
! width="80"|Total
! width="50"|Percent
|-
| align="right" | 0–14
| align="right" | 4 707 703
| align="right" | 4 552 919
| align="right" | 9 260 622
| align="right" | 31.20
|-
| align="right" | 15–64
| align="right" | 8 781 348
| align="right" | 9 628 963
| align="right" | 18 410 311
| align="right" | 62.03
|-
| align="right" | 65+
| align="right" | 556 086
| align="right" | 601 605
| align="right" | 1 157 691
| align="right" | 3.90
|-
|}
According to 2004 census
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="50"|Age group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80"|Female
! width="80"|Total
! width="50"|Percent
|-
| align="right" | 0–14
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" | ~9 260 182
| align="right" | 31.2
|-
| align="right" | 15–59
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" | ~18 164 202
| align="right" | 61.2
|-
| align="right" | 60+
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" | ~2 404 086
| align="right" | 8.1
|-
|}
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2013) (Based on the results of the 2004 Population Census.) :
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="80pt"|Age group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80pt"|Female
! width="80pt"|Total
! width="80pt"|%
|-
| align="right" | Total
| align="right" | 16 371 475
| align="right" | 16 578 971
| align="right" | 32 950 445
| align="right" | 100
|-
| align="right" | 0–4
| align="right" | 1 482 899
| align="right" | 1 421 020
| align="right" | 2 903 919
| align="right" | 8.81
|-
| align="right" | 5–9
| align="right" | 1 453 315
| align="right" | 1 391 847
| align="right" | 2 845 161
| align="right" | 8.63
|-
| align="right" | 10–14
| align="right" | 1 473 231
| align="right" | 1 420 973
| align="right" | 2 894 204
| align="right" | 8.78
|-
| align="right" | 15–19
| align="right" | 1 547 292
| align="right" | 1 496 243
| align="right" | 3 043 535
| align="right" | 9.24
|-
| align="right" | 20–24
| align="right" | 1 614 483
| align="right" | 1 564 368
| align="right" | 3 178 851
| align="right" | 9.65
|-
| align="right" | 25–29
| align="right" | 1 477 952
| align="right" | 1 494 267
| align="right" | 2 972 219
| align="right" | 9.02
|-
| align="right" | 30–34
| align="right" | 1 338 558
| align="right" | 1 409 129
| align="right" | 2 747 687
| align="right" | 8.34
|-
| align="right" | 35–39
| align="right" | 1 106 764
| align="right" | 1 199 802
| align="right" | 2 306 566
| align="right" | 7.00
|-
| align="right" | 40–44
| align="right" | 975 428
| align="right" | 1 070 441
| align="right" | 2 045 869
| align="right" | 6.21
|-
| align="right" | 45–49
| align="right" | 862 688
| align="right" | 947 158
| align="right" | 1 809 846
| align="right" | 5.49
|-
| align="right" | 50–54
| align="right" | 859 927
| align="right" | 902 421
| align="right" | 1 762 347
| align="right" | 5.35
|-
| align="right" | 55–59
| align="right" | 704 367
| align="right" | 670 923
| align="right" | 1 375 290
| align="right" | 4.17
|-
| align="right" | 60–64
| align="right" | 543 733
| align="right" | 529 913
| align="right" | 1 073 646
| align="right" | 3.26
|-
| align="right" | 65–69
| align="right" | 314 577
| align="right" | 348 098
| align="right" | 662 674
| align="right" | 2.01
|-
| align="right" | 70–74
| align="right" | 276 251
| align="right" | 333 385
| align="right" | 609 636
| align="right" | 1.85
|-
| align="right" | 75+
| align="right" | 340 012
| align="right" | 378 983
| align="right" | 718 996
| align="right" | 2.18
|-
! width="50"|Age group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80"|Female
! width="80"|Total
! width="50"|Percent
|-
| align="right" | 0–14
| align="right" | 4 409 445
| align="right" | 4 233 840
| align="right" | 8 643 285
| align="right" | 26.23
|-
| align="right" | 15–64
| align="right" | 11 031 190
| align="right" | 11 284 665
| align="right" | 22 315 855
| align="right" | 67.73
|-
| align="right" | 65+
| align="right" | 930 840
| align="right" | 1 060 466
| align="right" | 1 991 306
| align="right" | 6.04
|-
|}
Structure of the population (Census 2014) :
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="80pt"|Age group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80pt"|Female
! width="80pt"|Total
! width="80pt"|%
|-
| align="right" | Total (known)
| align="right" | 16 330 731
| align="right" | 16 416 140
| align="right" | 32 746 871
| align="right" | 100
|-
| align="right" | 0–4
| align="right" | 1 700 796
| align="right" | 1 623 119
| align="right" | 3 323 915
| align="right" | 9.82
|-
| align="right" | 5–9
| align="right" | 1 524 586
| align="right" | 1 460 840
| align="right" | 2 985 426
| align="right" | 8.82
|-
| align="right" | 10–14
| align="right" | 1 532 755
| align="right" | 1 475 241
| align="right" | 3 007 996
| align="right" | 8.89
|-
| align="right" | 15–19
| align="right" | 1 490 344
| align="right" | 1 468 114
| align="right" | 2 958 458
| align="right" | 8.74
|-
| align="right" | 20–24
| align="right" | 1 495 404
| align="right" | 1 520 770
| align="right" | 3 016 174
| align="right" | 8.91
|-
| align="right" | 25–29
| align="right" | 1 369 558
| align="right" | 1 411 583
| align="right" | 2 781 141
| align="right" | 8.22
|-
| align="right" | 30–34
| align="right" | 1 289 375
| align="right" | 1 338 721
| align="right" | 2 628 096
| align="right" | 7.76
|-
| align="right" | 35–39
| align="right" | 1 137 269
| align="right" | 1 198 986
| align="right" | 2 336 255
| align="right" | 6.90
|-
| align="right" | 40–44
| align="right" | 1 058 073
| align="right" | 1 102 280
| align="right" | 2 160 353
| align="right" | 6.38
|-
| align="right" | 45–49
| align="right" | 879 096
| align="right" | 926 400
| align="right" | 1 805 496
| align="right" | 5.33
|-
| align="right" | 50–54
| align="right" | 877 383
| align="right" | 925 006
| align="right" | 1 802 389
| align="right" | 5.32
|-
| align="right" | 55–59
| align="right" | 715 207
| align="right" | 669 610
| align="right" | 1 384 817
| align="right" | 4.09
|-
| align="right" | 60–64
| align="right" | 594 071
| align="right" | 566 539
| align="right" | 1 160 610
| align="right" | 3.43
|-
| align="right" | 65–69
| align="right" | 316 816
| align="right" | 321 867
| align="right" | 638 683
| align="right" | 1.89
|-
| align="right" | 70–74
| align="right" | 268 617
| align="right" | 316 576
| align="right" | 585 193
| align="right" | 1.73
|-
| align="right" | 75–79
| align="right" | 81 381
| align="right" | 90 488
| align="right" | 171 869
| align="right" | 0.51
|-
| align="right" | unknown
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" | 1 101 371
| align="right" | 3.25
|-
! width="50"|Age group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80"|Female
! width="80"|Total
! width="50"|Percent
|-
| align="right" | 0–14
| align="right" | 4 758 137
| align="right" | 4 559 200
| align="right" | 9 317 337
| align="right" | 27.53
|-
| align="right" | 15–64
| align="right" | 10 905 780
| align="right" | 11 128 009
| align="right" | 22 033 789
| align="right" | 65.10
|-
| align="right" | 65+
| align="right" | 666 814
| align="right" | 728 931
| align="right" | 1 395 745
| align="right" | 4.12
|-
|}
According to 2014 census
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="50"|Age group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80"|Female
! width="80"|Total
! width="50"|Percent
|-
| align="right" | 0–14
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" | ~9 477 508
| align="right" | 28.0%
|-
| align="right" | 15–59
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" | ~21 121 303
| align="right" | 62.4%
|-
| align="right" | 60+
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| align="right" | ~3 249 431
| align="right" | 9.6%
|-
|}
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020) (Projections based on the results of national survey on population and health conducted between 2010 and 2011, and especially population and housing census 2014.):
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="80pt"|Age group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80pt"|Female
! width="80pt"|Total
! width="80pt"|%
|-
| align="right" | Total
| align="right" | 17 906 986
| align="right" | 18 044 671
| align="right" | 35 591 657
| align="right" | 100
|-
| align="right" | 0–4
| align="right" | 1 492 467
| align="right" | 1 429 285
| align="right" | 2 921 752
| align="right" | 8.21
|-
| align="right" | 5–9
| align="right" | 1 708 600
| align="right" | 1 633 163
| align="right" | 3 341 763
| align="right" | 9.39
|-
| align="right" | 10–14
| align="right" | 1 559 465
| align="right" | 1 499 301
| align="right" | 3 058 766
| align="right" | 8.59
|-
| align="right" | 15–19
| align="right" | 1 543 022
| align="right" | 1 476 586
| align="right" | 3 019 608
| align="right" | 8.48
|-
| align="right" | 20–24
| align="right" | 1 485 093
| align="right" | 1 464 748
| align="right" | 2 949 841
| align="right" | 8.29
|-
| align="right" | 25–29
| align="right" | 1 486 386
| align="right" | 1 512 412
| align="right" | 2 998 798
| align="right" | 8.43
|-
| align="right" | 30–34
| align="right" | 1 375 309
| align="right" | 1 425 420
| align="right" | 2 800 729
| align="right" | 7.87
|-
| align="right" | 35–39
| align="right" | 1 285 134
| align="right" | 1 341 877
| align="right" | 2 627 011
| align="right" | 7.38
|-
| align="right" | 40–44
| align="right" | 1 151 768
| align="right" | 1 222 974
| align="right" | 2 374 742
| align="right" | 6.67
|-
| align="right" | 45–49
| align="right" | 1 060 816
| align="right" | 1 114 695
| align="right" | 2 175 511
| align="right" | 6.11
|-
| align="right" | 50–54
| align="right" | 896 058
| align="right" | 947 784
| align="right" | 1 843 842
| align="right" | 5.18
|-
| align="right" | 55–59
| align="right" | 870 841
| align="right" | 911 813
| align="right" | 1 782 654
| align="right" | 5.01
|-
| align="right" | 60–64
| align="right" | 712 857
| align="right" | 690 587
| align="right" | 1 403 444
| align="right" | 3.94
|-
| align="right" | 65–69
| align="right" | 571 519
| align="right" | 554 058
| align="right" | 1 125 577
| align="right" | 3.16
|-
| align="right" | 70–74
| align="right" | 312 752
| align="right" | 324 624
| align="right" | 637 376
| align="right" | 1.79
|-
| align="right" | 75–79
| align="right" | 213 596
| align="right" | 265 028
| align="right" | 478 624
| align="right" | 1.34
|-
| align="right" | 80+
| align="right" | 181 303
| align="right" | 230 316
| align="right" | 411 619
| align="right" | 1.16
|-
! width="50"|Age group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80"|Female
! width="80"|Total
! width="50"|Percent
|-
| align="right" | 0–14
| align="right" | 4 760 532
| align="right" | 4 561 749
| align="right" | 9 322 281
| align="right" | 26.19
|-
| align="right" | 15–64
| align="right" | 11 867 284
| align="right" | 12 108 896
| align="right" | 23 976 180
| align="right" | 67.36
|-
| align="right" | 65+
| align="right" | 1 279 170
| align="right" | 1 374 026
| align="right" | 2 653 196
| align="right" | 7.45
|-
|}
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.I.2023): (623,036)
| align="right" | 141,207
| align="right" | 481,829
| align="right" | 17.7
| align="right" | 5.1
| align="right" | 12.6
| style="color:blue"| 2.38
|-
| 2019
| align="right" | 35,586,616
| align="right" | 681,606)
| align="right" |
| align="right" |
| 21.1
| style="color:blue"| 5.0
| align="right" | 16.1
| style="color:blue"|
|-
| 2020
| align="right" | 35,952,000
| align="right" | 682,984)
| 228,888
| 422,004
| 17.55
| 6.17
| 11.38
| style="color:blue"|
|-
| 2022
|
| 684,738
|-
| 2024
| 36,828,330
|-
| 2025
|36,800,000(e)
| style="color:red"|540,000(e)
|
|
| style="color:red"|14.7
|
|
| style="color:red"|1.90(e)
|}Source: Haut-Commissariat au Plan (HCP)
<!--NEEDS UPDATING-->
Demographic and Health Surveys
Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and CBR (Crude Birth Rate):
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan=2| Year
! colspan=2| Total
! colspan=2| Urban
! colspan=2| Rural
|-
! CBR !! TFR
! CBR !! TFR
! CBR !! TFR
|-
| 1987
| style="text-align:right;"|
| style="text-align:right;"| 4,62 (3,76)
| style="text-align:right;"|
| style="text-align:right;"| 3,24 (2,55)
| style="text-align:right;"|
| style="text-align:right;"| 5,88 (4,88)
|-
| 1992
| style="text-align:right;"| 28,4
| style="text-align:right;"| 4,04 (2,66)
| style="text-align:right;"| 21,5
| style="text-align:right;"| 2,54 (1,73)
| style="text-align:right;"| 33,7
| style="text-align:right;"| 5,54 (3,62)
|-
| 1995
| style="text-align:right;"| 26,0
| style="text-align:right;"| 3,31 (2,24)
| style="text-align:right;"| 20,4
| style="text-align:right;"| 2,17 (1,51)
| style="text-align:right;"| 30,6
| style="text-align:right;"| 4,50 (3,01)
|-
| 2003–2004
| style="text-align:right;"| 21,1
| style="text-align:right;"| 2,5 (1,8)
| style="text-align:right;"| 18,7
| style="text-align:right;"| 2,1 (1,6)
| style="text-align:right;"| 24,3
| style="text-align:right;"| 3,0 (2,2)
|-
|}
Life expectancy
thumb|300px|[[Life expectancy in Morocco since 1950]]
thumb|300px|Life expectancy in Morocco since 1960 by gender
life expectancy by year :
According to 2024 census data, 92.7% of the population speaks Arabic, while 24.8% regularly speak an Amazigh variety. Despite the lack of official ethnic statistics, estimates typically put the Berber population as ranging between 35–60% of the population, with some estimates as high as 70%, while estimates of the Arab population range between 40–60%.thumb|Ethnic map of Morocco (1973)thumb|Berber girls from Morocco
The Arab population of Morocco is a result of the inflow of Arab tribes from the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant since the Muslim conquest of the Maghreb in the 7th century, with a major wave in the 11th century. During the 11th century, a major migration to the region by Arab tribes occurred as the tribes of Banu Hilal and Banu Sulaym, along with others, were sent by the Fatimids to defeat a Berber rebellion; these tribes then settled in the Maghreb. Between the Nile and the Red Sea were Arab tribes expelled from Arabia for their turbulence, Banu Hilal and Banu Sulaym, who often plundered farming areas in the Nile Valley. According to Ibn Khaldun, whole tribes set off with women, children, ancestors, animals and camping equipment. especially beyond the major urban centres and the northern regions which had previously been the main sites of Arabization.
The Berber population mainly lives in the mountainous regions of Morocco where some preserve Berber culture, and are split into three major groups; Rifians, Shilha, Central Atlas Amazigh. other groups include Senhaja de Srair, Ghomara, Ait Iznassen, and Figuig Berbers. The Rifians inhabit the eastern Rif mountains, the Shilha inhabit the Anti-Atlas and Jbel Saghro and High Atlas mountains and the Sous valley, the Central Atlas Amazigh inhabit the Middle Atlas mountains. The Arabized Berbers who constitute about a quarter of the population are the Berbers who were Arabized mainly as a result of the Arab nomad inflow, and have adopted Arab culture and the Arabic language as their native language, especially those who sought the protection of the Bedouin.
Immigration
thumb|330px|Foreign residents in Morocco by country of birth, in 1994
Languages
Arabic and Berber are the official languages of Morocco. The majority spoken language in Morocco is Arabic which is spoken by 92.7% of the population and includes the dialects of Moroccan Arabic (Hilalian dialects), spoken by 91.9%, and Hassaniya Arabic, spoken by 0.8%. Berber languages are spoken by 24.8% of the population in three varieties (3.2% speak Tarifit, 14.2% speak Shilha, and 7.4% speak Tamazight). According to the 2024 Moroccan census, 99.2%, or almost the entire literate population of Morocco, could read and write in Arabic, while 1.5% of the population could read and write in Berber. The census also indicated that 80.6% of Moroccans consider Arabic to be their native language, while 18.9% regard any of the various Berber languages as their mother tongue.
French is a working-foreign language of government and enterprises, and is taught throughout school. It serves as Morocco's primary foreign language of business, economics, and scientific university education. French is also widely used in the media. Morocco is a member of La Francophonie.
Amazigh activists long-struggled for the recognition of their language as an official language of Morocco, which was achieved in July 2011. Northern Moroccans are often proficient in Spanish.
English is rapidly becoming a foreign language of choice among Moroccans. Since the State education reforms of 2002, English has been taught to Moroccan students, beginning in fourth year of primary school.
References
External links
- Results of the 2004 census
- Results of the 2014 census
- Results of the 2004 census by Douars