Portal:Morocco

Morocco — المغرب

Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It has coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to the east, and the disputed territory of Western Sahara to the south, occupied by Morocco since 1975. Morocco also claims the Spanish exclaves of Ceuta, Melilla and Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, and several small Spanish-controlled islands off its coast. Morocco also claims to share a border with Mauritania through the disputed territory of Western Sahara. It has a population of approximately 37 million. Islam is both the official and predominant religion, while Arabic and Berber are the official languages. Additionally, French and the Moroccan dialect of Arabic are widely spoken. The culture of Morocco is a mix of Arab, Berber, African and European cultures. Its capital is Rabat, while its largest city is Casablanca.

The region constituting Morocco has been inhabited since the Paleolithic era, more than 300,000 years ago. The Idrisid dynasty was established by Idris I in 788, and Morocco was subsequently ruled by a series of other independent dynasties, reaching its zenith as a regional power in the 11th and 12th centuries, under the Almoravid and Almohad dynasties, when it controlled most of the Iberian Peninsula and the Maghreb. Centuries of Arab migration to the Maghreb since the 7th century shifted the demographic scope of the region. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Morocco faced external threats to its sovereignty, with Portugal seizing some territory and the Ottoman Empire encroaching from the east. The Marinid and Saadi dynasties otherwise resisted foreign domination, and Morocco was the only North African nation to escape Ottoman dominion. The Saadi dynasty expanded its territory through the conquest of the Songhai Empire in the late 16th century. The Alawi dynasty, which rules the country to this day, seized power in 1631, and over the next two centuries expanded diplomatic and commercial relations with the Western world. Morocco's strategic location near the mouth of the Mediterranean drew renewed European interest. In 1912, France and Spain established protectorates over the country and designated Tangier as an international zone, while the Sultan remained the formal sovereign with limited authority under colonial control. Following intermittent riots and revolts against colonial rule, Morocco regained its independence and reunified in 1956 under the leadership of Sultan Mohammed V.

Since independence, Morocco has remained relatively stable. It has the fifth-largest economy in Africa and wields significant influence in both Africa and the Arab world; it is considered a middle power in global affairs and holds membership in the Arab League, the Arab Maghreb Union, the Union for the Mediterranean, and the African Union. Morocco is a unitary semi-constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament. The executive branch is led by the King of Morocco and the prime minister, while legislative power is vested in the two chambers of parliament: the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors. Judicial power rests with the Constitutional Court, which may review the validity of laws, elections, and referendums. The king holds vast executive and legislative powers, especially over the military, foreign policy and religious affairs; he can issue dahirs, decrees which have the force of law, and he can also dissolve the parliament after consulting the prime minister and the president of the constitutional court.

Morocco claims ownership of the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara, which it has designated its Southern Provinces. In 1975, after Spain agreed to decolonise the territory and cede its control to Morocco and Mauritania, a guerrilla war broke out between those powers and some of the local inhabitants. In 1979, Mauritania relinquished its claim to the area, but the war continued to rage. In 1991, a ceasefire agreement was reached, but the issue of sovereignty remained unresolved. Today, Morocco occupies about two-thirds of the territory, and efforts to resolve the dispute have thus far failed to break the political deadlock. (Full article...)

Selected article -

Casablanca, economic capital of Morocco

The economy of Morocco is a market economy, governed by the law of supply and demand. Since 1993, in line with many Western world changes, Morocco has followed a policy of privatisation. Morocco has become a major player in African economic affairs, and is the 6th largest African economy by GDP (PPP). The World Economic Forum placed Morocco as the most competitive economy in North Africa, in its African Competitiveness Report 2014–2015.

The economic system of the country demonstrated resilience to the climate, commodity, and pandemic shocks of the early 2020s. As of 2025, Morocco had the seventh-highest GDP in the Arab world, despite not being an energy-producing country. Since the early-1980s, the Moroccan government has pursued an economic programme toward accelerating economic growth with the support of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Paris Club of creditors. From 2018, the country's currency, the Moroccan dirham, is fully convertible for current account transactions; reforms of the financial sector have been implemented; and state enterprises are being privatised.

The services sector accounts for just over half of the GDP. The industry sector– consisting of mining, construction and manufacturing – is an additional quarter. The sectors that recorded the highest growth are the tourism, telecommunications, and textile sectors. Morocco, however, still depends to an inordinate degree on agriculture, which accounts for around 11.1% of GDP but employs 23.4% of the Moroccan population. With a semi-arid climate, it is difficult to assure good rainfall and GDP growth varies depending on the weather. Fiscal prudence has allowed for consolidation, with both the budget deficit and debt falling as a percentage of GDP. The major resources of the Moroccan economy are agriculture, phosphate minerals, and tourism. Sales of fish and seafood are important as well. Industry and mining contribute about one-third of the annual GDP. Morocco is the world's third-largest producer of phosphates (after the United States and China), and the price fluctuations of phosphates on the international market greatly influence Morocco's economy. Tourism and workers' remittances have played a critical role since independence. (Full article...)

General images -

The following are images from various Morocco-related articles on Wikipedia.

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Morocco
Morocco-related lists
Buildings and structures in Morocco
Culture of Morocco
Economy of Morocco
Education in Morocco
Environment of Morocco
Geography of Morocco
Government of Morocco
Health in Morocco
History of Morocco
Organizations based in Morocco
Moroccan people
Politics of Morocco
Society of Morocco
Morocco stubs

Moroccan history

  • Ancient History:

Mousterian - Aterian - Iberomaurusian - Capsian - Mauretania - Mauretania Tingitana - Volubilis - Ancient Carthage

  • Medieval History:

Muslim conquest - Berber Revolt - Kingdom of Nekor - Barghawata Confederacy - Idrisid dynasty -Emirate of Sijilmasa - Maghrawa dynasty - Almoravid dynasty -Almohad dynasty - Marinid dynasty - Wattasid dynasty - Saadi dynasty

  • Modern History:

'Alawi dynasty - Ismail of Morocco - Abd el-Krim - Republic of the Rif - Franco-Moroccan War - Agadir Crisis - Treaty of Fez - Revolution of the King and the People - Green March - Casablanca attacks

Religions in Morocco

Arab states

Other countries

Wikiprojects

WikiProject Morocco

WikiProject Africa

Good article -

This is a Good article, an article that meets a core set of high editorial standards.
Bombardment of Salé by Jean Antoine Théodore de Gudin

The Bombardment of Salé was a French naval attack against the Moroccan city of Salé that took place between 26 and 27 November 1851. After seven hours of fighting, the Moroccan artillery suffered severe damage, and the French bombarded the city through the night, damaging the city's infrastructure and the Great Mosque of Salé.

The bombardment occurred outside any state of war, and regarded an incident from 1 April 1851 in which the residents of Salé looted a cache of goods which had been rescued from a capsized French merchant ship. The French requested repayment, the Moroccans did not respond. In late November, a French squadron sailed to the city to demand repayment, else they would bombard the city. The Moroccans did not acquiesce, and both sides prepared for battle. The French opened fire on the morning of 26 November. During seven hours of clashes, the Moroccan artillery of Salé supported by that of Rabat and led by the Abdelhadi Zniber suffered significant damage. The French squadron commanded by Rear Admiral Louis Dubourdieu bombarded the city until the next day, seriously damaging the city's infrastructure, including the Great Mosque which was seriously affected. (Full article...)

Did you know -

  • ... that Morocco's abortion law requires spousal consent, but not explicitly the consent of the woman receiving the procedure?

Moroccan cities

Rank City Population
(2014 census) 		Region
1 Casablanca 3,359,818 Casablanca-Settat
2 Fez 1,112,072 Fès-Meknès
3 Tangier 947,952 Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima
4 Marrakesh 928,850 Marrakesh-Safi
5 Salé 890,403 Rabat-Salé-Kénitra
6 Meknes 632,079 Fès-Meknès
7 Rabat 577,827 Rabat-Salé-Kénitra
8 Oujda 494,252 Oriental
9 Kenitra 431,282 Rabat-Salé-Kénitra
10 Agadir 421,844 Souss-Massa
11 Tetouan 380,787 Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima
12 Temara 313,510 Rabat-Salé-Kénitra
13 Safi 308,508 Marrakesh-Safi
14 Mohammedia 208,612 Casablanca-Settat
15 Khouribga 196,196 Béni Mellal-Khénifra
16 El Jadida 194,934 Casablanca-Settat
17 Beni Mellal 192,676 Béni Mellal-Khénifra
18 Aït Melloul 171,847 Souss-Massa
19 Nador 161,726 Oriental
20 Dar Bouazza 151,373 Casablanca-Settat
21 Taza 148,456 Fès-Meknès
22 Settat 142,250 Casablanca-Settat
23 Berrechid 136,634 Casablanca-Settat
24 Khemisset 131,542 Rabat-Salé-Kénitra
25 Inezgane 130,333 Souss-Massa
26 Ksar El Kebir 126,617 Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima
27 Larache 125,008 Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima
28 Guelmim 118,318 Guelmim-Oued Noun
29 Khenifra 117,510 Béni Mellal-Khénifra
30 Berkane 109,237 Oriental
31 Taourirt 103,398 Oriental
32 Bouskoura 103,026 Casablanca-Settat
33 Fquih Ben Salah 102,019 Béni Mellal-Khénifra
34 Dcheira El Jihadia 100,336 Souss-Massa
35 Oued Zem 95,267 Béni Mellal-Khénifra
36 El Kelaa Des Sraghna 95,224 Marrakesh-Safi
37 Sidi Slimane 92,989 Rabat-Salé-Kénitra
38 Errachidia 92,374 Drâa-Tafilalet
39 Guercif 90,880 Oriental
40 Oulad Teima 89,387 Souss-Massa
41 Ben Guerir 88,626 Marrakesh-Safi
42 Tifelt 86,709 Rabat-Salé-Kénitra
43 Lqliaa 83,235 Souss-Massa
44 Taroudant 80,149 Souss-Massa
45 Sefrou 79,887 Fès-Meknès
46 Essaouira 77,966 Marrakesh-Safi
47 Fnideq 77,436 Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima
48 Sidi Kacem 75,672 Rabat-Salé-Kénitra
49 Tiznit 74,699 Souss-Massa
50 Tan-Tan 73,209 Guelmim-Es Semara
51 Ouarzazate 71,067 Drâa-Tafilalet
52 Souk El Arbaa 69,265 Rabat-Salé-Kénitra
53 Youssoufia 67,628 Marrakesh-Safi
54 Lahraouyine 64,821 Casablanca-Settat
55 Martil 64,355 Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima
56 Ain Harrouda 62,420 Casablanca-Settat
57 Suq as-Sabt Awlad an-Nama 60,076 Béni Mellal-Khénifra
58 Skhirat 59,775 Rabat-Salé-Kénitra
59 Ouazzane 59,606 Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima
60 Benslimane 57,101 Casablanca-Settat
61 Al Hoceima 56,716 Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima
62 Beni Ansar 56,582 Oriental
63 M'diq 56,227 Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima
64 Sidi Bennour 55,815 Casablanca-Settat
65 Midelt 55,304 Drâa-Tafilalet
66 Azrou 54,350 Fès-Meknès
67 Drargua 50,946 Souss-Massa


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