History of Morocco in Timeline
Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a North African country in the Maghreb region. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Algeria to the east, and the disputed territory of Western Sahara to the south. Morocco also claims several Spanish territories. The population is approximately 37 million, with Islam as the official religion, and Arabic and Berber as the official languages, alongside widespread use of French and Moroccan Arabic. Its culture reflects Arab, Berber, African, and European influences. Rabat is the capital, while Casablanca is the largest city.
1900: Birth of Mohammed al-Mokhtar Soussi
Mohammed al-Mokhtar Soussi (1900–1963) played an important role in the transition to independence.
1906: Algeciras Conference
In 1906, the matter of the crisis provoked by the German Empire was resolved at the Algeciras Conference.
1910: Birth of Allal al-Fassi
Allal al-Fassi (1910–1974) played an important role in the transition to independence.
1911: Agadir Crisis
In 1911, the Agadir Crisis increased tensions between European powers.
1912: Treaty of Fez and Fez riots
In 1912, the Treaty of Fez made Morocco a protectorate of France, and triggered the Fez riots.
1912: Start of the Protectorate
The first generation of writers lived and wrote during the Protectorate (1912–1956)
1919: Birth of Abdelkrim Ghallab
Abdelkrim Ghallab (1919–2006) played an important role in the transition to independence.
August 1921: Annual
In July-August 1921, Spain lost more than 13,000 soldiers at Annual.
1922: Last Barbary Lion Shot
In 1922, the last Barbary lion in the wild, a subspecies native to Morocco, was shot in the Atlas Mountains.
1925: Abolition of slavery
In 1925, the institution of slavery was abolished in Morocco.
1926: Rif Uprising suppressed
By 1926, the Rif Uprising was suppressed by the Franco-Spanish military.
1927: Suppression of Riffi
By 1927, the Riffi were eventually suppressed by the Franco-Spanish military.
1943: Istiqlal Party Founded
In 1943, the Istiqlal Party (Independence Party) was founded to press for independence.
1944: Moroccan Cinematographic Center Established
In 1944, the Moroccan Cinematographic Centre (CCM), the nation's film regulatory agency, was established.
1948: Founding of the State of Israel
Before the founding of the State of Israel in 1948, there were about 265,000 Jews in Morocco, the largest Jewish community in the Muslim world.
1948: Peak of Jewish minority population
Morocco's Jewish minority had a peak of 265,000 in 1948.
1952: Othello Wins Palme d'Or
In 1952, Orson Welles' "Othello" won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival under the Moroccan flag.
1953: Exile of Sultan Mohammed V
In 1953, France exiled Sultan Mohammed V to Madagascar, sparking opposition to the French and Spanish protectorates.
1955: Return of Mohammed V
In 1955, France allowed Mohammed V to return, leading to negotiations for Moroccan independence.
1955: Death of Mohammed Ben Brahim
Mohammed Ben Brahim (1897–1955) was an important representative of the first generation that lived and wrote during the Protectorate.
March 1956: Morocco Regained Independence
In March 1956, Morocco regained its independence from France as the Kingdom of Morocco.
1956: Morocco Regains Independence
In 1956, Morocco regained its independence and reunified, marking the end of the French and Spanish protectorates.
1956: Independence Declared
In 1956, after Morocco declared independence, French and Arabic became the main languages of administration and education.
1956: National Theatre Founded
The Moroccan National Theatre was founded in 1956.
1956: End of the Protectorate
The first generation of writers lived and wrote during the Protectorate (1912–1956)
1957: US Aid to Morocco
Between 1957 and 1963, Morocco received significant economic and military aid from the United States.
1960: Per capita availability of renewable water resources
Between 1960 and 2020, the per capita availability of renewable water resources went from 2,560 m to about 620 m per person annually.
1960: Infant Mortality Rate
In 1960, Infant mortality was 144 deaths per 1,000 live births.
March 1961: Hassan II Became King
On 3 March 1961, Hassan II became King of Morocco upon the death of Mohammed V.
1961: Start of Hassan II's Reign
In 1961, the reign of Hassan II began, during which Morocco had one of the worst human rights records in Africa and the world.
1963: US Aid to Morocco
Between 1957 and 1963, Morocco received significant economic and military aid from the United States.
1963: First General Elections
In 1963, Morocco held its first general elections.
1963: Death of Mohammed al-Mokhtar Soussi
Mohammed al-Mokhtar Soussi (1900–1963) played an important role in the transition to independence.
February 1964: Peace Agreement Signed
In February 1964, a formal peace agreement was signed between Algeria and Morocco following the Sand War.
1965: State of Emergency Declared
In 1965, Hassan declared a state of emergency and suspended parliament.
1965: King Dissolved Parliament
In 1965, the King dissolved the Parliament, suspended the constitution, and called for new elections, marking the only time such actions occurred.
1966: Fifth Largest Recipient
By 1966, Morocco had become the fifth-largest recipient of US agricultural assistance.
1968: First Mediterranean Film Festival
In 1968, the first Mediterranean Film Festival was held in Tangier.
1969: Return of Ifni
In 1969, the Spanish enclave of Ifni in the south was returned to Morocco.
1971: Failed Attempt to Depose the King
In 1971, there was a failed attempt to depose the king and establish a republic.
1972: Second Failed Attempt to Depose the King
In 1972, there was a second failed attempt to depose the king and establish a republic.
1973: Polisario Movement Formed
In 1973, the Polisario movement was formed, with the aim of establishing an independent state in the Spanish Sahara.
1974: Death of Allal al-Fassi
Allal al-Fassi (1910–1974) played an important role in the transition to independence.
November 1975: Green March
On 6 November 1975, King Hassan asked for volunteers to cross into the Spanish Sahara in the "Green March".
1975: Guerrilla war broke out in Western Sahara
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.
1975: Annexation of Western Sahara
Morocco annexed the Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, in 1975 during the Green March.
1976: Western Sahara War Began
In 1976, the Western Sahara War began, with the Polisario Front battling both Morocco and Mauritania.
1979: Mauritania relinquished claim to Western Sahara
In 1979, Mauritania relinquished its claim to Western Sahara, but the war continued to rage.
1980: Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé bought the Majorelle botanical garden
In 1980, the Majorelle botanical garden in Marrakech was bought by the fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé.
1982: Fighting Between Moroccan Military and Polisario Forces
From 1982, Fighting between the Moroccan military and Polisario forces continued for many years.
1982: African Union Admitted Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
In 1982, the African Union admitted the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic without conducting a referendum of self-determination in the disputed territory of Western Sahara.
1982: First National Festival of Cinema
In 1982, the first national festival of cinema was held in Rabat.
1983: Elections Cancelled
In 1983, Hassan cancelled planned elections amid political unrest and economic crisis.
1984: Olympic Gold Medals
At the 1984 Olympic Games, Nawal El Moutawakel and Saïd Aouita won gold medals for Morocco in track and field.
1984: Morocco Leaves OAU
In 1984, Morocco left the Organisation of African Unity in protest at the SADR's admission to the body.
1984: Morocco Withdrew from African Union
In 1984, Morocco withdrew from the African Union after it admitted the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in 1982 without a referendum of self-determination.
1985: Fighting Between Moroccan Military and Polisario Forces
From 1985, Fighting between the Moroccan military and Polisario forces continued for many years.
1986: World Cup Qualification
In 1986, Morocco became the first Arab and African country to qualify for the second round of the FIFA World Cup.
1988: Diplomatic Relations Restored with Algeria
In 1988, diplomatic relations with Algeria were restored.
1988: Africa Cup of Nations
Morocco hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 1988.
1990: Maternal Mortality Ratio
Between 1990 and 2010, the nation's maternal mortality ratio fell by 67%.
1991: UN-Monitored Ceasefire in Western Sahara
In 1991, a UN-monitored ceasefire began in Western Sahara, but the territory's status remains undecided.
1991: Ceasefire agreement in Western Sahara
In 1991, a ceasefire agreement was reached in Western Sahara, but the issue of sovereignty remained unresolved.
1991: Ceasefire in Western Sahara War
In 1991, a ceasefire was established in the Western Sahara War between the Polisario Front, Morocco, and Mauritania.
1992: Expansion of Parliament Powers
In 1992, Parliament's powers were expanded to include budgetary matters, approving bills, questioning ministers, and establishing commissions of inquiry.
1993: Privatization Policy
Since 1993, Morocco has followed a policy of privatization of certain economic sectors which used to be in the hands of the government.
1994: National Liquid Sanitation Master Plan (SNDAL) Started
According to a study by the National Liquid Sanitation Master Plan (SNDAL) that started in 1994, only 15 of their 63 treatment plants are operational, and out of approximately 500 million cubic meters of wastewater generated annually, 95% is discharged untreated into natural water bodies.
1994: Border Closure with Algeria
The border between Algeria and Morocco has been closed since 1994.
1995: Al-Akhawayn University Inauguration
In 1995, Al-Akhawayn University in Ifrane, the first English-language university in Northwest Africa, was inaugurated.
1996: Expansion of Parliament Powers
In 1996, Parliament's powers were expanded to include budgetary matters, approving bills, questioning ministers, and establishing commissions of inquiry.
1996: Bicameral Legislature
Since the constitutional reform of 1996, the bicameral legislature consists of two chambers.
1996: Constitutional Powers of the King
The constitution of 1996 theoretically allowed the king to terminate the tenure of any minister and dissolve Parliament under certain conditions.
March 1998: Coalition Government Formed
In March 1998, a coalition government headed by opposition socialist leader Abderrahmane Youssoufi was formed, composed largely of ministers drawn from opposition parties.
1999: Death of King Hassan II
In 1999, King Hassan II died and was succeeded by his son, Mohammed VI.
1999: End of Hassan II's Reign
In 1999, the reign of King Hassan II ended, and the government under King Mohammed set up an Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER).
2000: Growth in Moroccan Economy
From 2000 to 2007, steady yearly growth in the region of 4–5% helped the Moroccan economy to become much more robust.
2000: Health Expenditure
Health expenditure per capita (PPP) has steadily increased since 2000.
2000: Infant Mortality Rate
In 2000, Infant mortality was 42 deaths per 1,000 live births.
2001: First International Film Festival of Marrakech
In 2001, the first International Film Festival of Marrakech (FIFM) was held in Marrakech.
October 2002: End of Youssoufi Government
In October 2002, the coalition government headed by Abderrahmane Youssoufi, which was primarily composed of ministers from opposition parties, came to an end.
2002: Mohammed VI's Visit to Western Sahara
In 2002, Mohammed VI paid a controversial visit to the Western Sahara.
2002: Perejil Island Resolution
In 2002, Morocco and Spain agreed to a US-brokered resolution over the disputed island of Perejil.
2002: Dispute with Spain over Perejil Island
In 2002, a dispute with Spain over the small island of Perejil arose, which brought attention to the issue of the sovereignty of Melilla and Ceuta.
2002: Cannabis represents percentage of national GDP of Morocco
In 2004, according to the UN World Drugs Report, cultivation and transformation of cannabis represents 0.57% of the national GDP of Morocco in 2002.
2003: Investment programme for ONEP
An investment programme of about MAD 15 billion was made to cover the centres managed by ONEP from 2003–2017.
2003: Growth in Moroccan Economy
From 2003 to 2007, steady yearly growth in the region of 4–5% helped the Moroccan economy to become much more robust.
2003: Casablanca Bombings
In 2003, the Casablanca bombings killed 45 people, representing a rare act of political violence in Morocco.
2004: Foreign Language Census
According to the 2004 census, 2.19 million Moroccans spoke a foreign language other than French.
2004: Summer Olympics Gold Medals
Hicham El Guerrouj won gold medals for Morocco at the 2004 Summer Olympics in the 1500 metres and 5000 metres.
2004: UN World Drugs Report
In 2004, according to the UN World Drugs Report, cultivation and transformation of cannabis represents 0.57% of the national GDP of Morocco in 2002.
2004: Morocco Granted Major Non-NATO Ally Status
In 2004, the George W. Bush administration granted Morocco the status of major non-NATO ally.
2005: Health Insurance Coverage
According to research published in 2005, only 16% of citizens in Morocco had health insurance.
2005: National Sanitation Programme approved
In 2005, a National Sanitation Programme was approved that aims at treating 60% of collected wastewater and connecting 80% of urban households to sewers by 2020.
2005: Truth Commission Findings
In 2005, a truth commission set up to investigate human rights abuses during Hassan II's reign confirmed nearly 10,000 cases.
2005: Migrant Storming of Enclaves
In 2005, there were renewed tensions as dozens of African migrants stormed the borders of the Spanish enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta.
2005: First technopark established in Rabat
Since the first technopark was established in Rabat in 2005, a second has been set up in Casablanca, followed, in 2015, by a third in Tangers.
September 2006: UNESCO Literacy Prize
In September 2006, UNESCO awarded Morocco the "UNESCO 2006 Literacy Prize".
2006: Death of Abdelkrim Ghallab
Abdelkrim Ghallab (1919–2006) played an important role in the transition to independence.
2006: French Ministry of the Interior Report on Cannabis Resin
According to a French Ministry of the Interior 2006 report, 80% of the cannabis resin (hashish) consumed in Europe comes from the Rif region in Morocco.
2006: Fastest growth in Moroccan tourism in Atlas and Rif Mountains
As of 2006, activity and adventure tourism in the Atlas and Rif Mountains were the fastest growth area in Moroccan tourism.
2006: Zapatero Visits Spanish Enclaves
In 2006, the Spanish Premier Zapatero visited Spanish enclaves, the first Spanish leader in 25 years to make an official visit to the territories.
2006: Autonomous Status Suggested for Western Sahara
In 2006, the government of Morocco suggested autonomous status for the Western Sahara region through the Moroccan Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs (CORCAS).
April 2007: Proposal Presented to UN Security Council
In mid-April 2007, the autonomous status proposal was presented to the United Nations Security Council.
2007: Growth in Moroccan Economy
From 2000 to 2007, steady yearly growth in the region of 4–5% helped the Moroccan economy to become much more robust.
2007: Autonomy Blueprint Unveiled
In 2007, Morocco unveiled an autonomy blueprint for Western Sahara to the United Nations.
2008: Coal provides significant amount of Morocco's electricity
In 2008, about 56% of Morocco's electricity supply was provided by coal.
2008: Investment in science and technology
In May 2009, Morocco's prime minister, Abbas El Fassi, announced that investment in science and technology would rise from US$620,000 in 2008 to US$8.5 million in 2009.
2008: K-1 World Grand Prix
The Moroccan-Dutch Badr Hari was a K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 finalist.
May 2009: Investment in science and technology increase announced
In May 2009, Morocco's prime minister, Abbas El Fassi, announced that investment in science and technology would rise from US$620,000 in 2008 to US$8.5 million in 2009.
June 2009: Moroccan Innovation Strategy launched
In June 2009, the Moroccan Innovation Strategy was launched at the country's first National Innovation Summit by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Investment and the Digital Economy.
2009: Animal and Plant Trade
In 2009, trade of animals and plants for various purposes was common across Morocco, despite being largely illegal. Species like cacti and tortoises were harvested and exported.
2009: K-1 World Grand Prix
The Moroccan-Dutch Badr Hari was a K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 finalist.
2010: Maternal Mortality Ratio
Between 1990 and 2010, the nation's maternal mortality ratio fell by 67%.
2010: Moroccan government invests in infrastructure
From 2010 to 2015, the Moroccan government invested more than $15 billion in upgrading its basic infrastructure.
2010: Protest Camp Stormed in El Aaiún
In 2010, security forces stormed a protest camp in the Western Sahara, triggering violent demonstrations in the regional capital El Aaiún.
2010: Vision 2020 Launched
In 2010, the government launched its Vision 2020, which planned to make Morocco one of the top 20 tourist destinations in the world and to double the annual number of international arrivals to 20 million by 2020.
2010: French Speakers
In 2010, there were 10,366,000 French-speakers in Morocco, about 32% of the population.
2010: Vision for Education in Morocco reference point
In May 2015, the Higher Council for Education, Training and Scientific Research presented a report to the king offering a Vision for Education in Morocco 2015–2030, which would be financed by gradually increasing the share of GDP devoted to research and development (R&D) from 0.73% of GDP in 2010.
2010: Religious affiliation estimate
The religious affiliation in Morocco was estimated by the Pew Forum in 2010 as 99% Muslim.
July 2011: Constitutional Referendum
In July 2011, the King won a landslide victory in a referendum on a reformed constitution he had proposed to placate the Arab Spring protests.
2011: Under-Five Mortality Rate
Between 1990 and 2011, the country's under-five mortality rate dropped by 60%.
2011: Eel Exports to Far East
In 2011, Morocco exported large volumes of eel, specifically 60 tons, to the Far East.
2011: Creation of Moroccan Club of Innovation
In 2011, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and New Technologies created a Moroccan Club of Innovation, in partnership with the Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property.
2011: Constitutional Revision
In 2011, there were further constitutional revisions, and included budgetary matters, approving bills, questioning ministers, and establishing ad hoc commissions of inquiry to investigate the government's actions.
May 2012: Trade Union Rally in Casablanca
In May 2012, hundreds took part in a trade union rally in Casablanca, accusing the government of failing to deliver on reforms.
2012: New law passed encouraging Moroccans to diversify energy supply
As forecasts indicate that energy requirements in Morocco will rise 6% per year between 2012 and 2050, a new law passed encouraging Moroccans to look for ways to diversify the energy supply.
2012: Patent applications by Moroccan inventors
In 2012, Moroccan inventors applied for 197 patents.
2012: Hassan II Academy of Sciences and Technologies identifies sectors
In 2012, the Hassan II Academy of Sciences and Technologies identified a number of sectors where Morocco has a comparative advantage and skilled human capital.
2012: World Bank Forecast for Morocco
In 2012, the World Bank forecast a rate of 4% growth for Morocco.
2012: Literacy Rate
In 2012, the estimated literacy rate for Morocco was 72%.
November 2013: National Plan for Maternal and Child Health
On 13 November 2013 in Rabat, Morocco adopted a national plan to increase progress on maternal and child health.
2013: World Bank Forecast for Morocco
In 2013, the World Bank forecast a rate of 4.2% growth for Morocco.
2014: Moroccan Census
According to the 2014 Moroccan census, other cities recording a population over 500,000 in are Fes, Marrakesh, Meknes, Salé and Tangier.
2014: National Plan for Maternal and Child Health
In 2014, Morocco adopted a national plan to increase progress on maternal and child health.
2014: Construction of first high-speed railway system in Africa began
In 2014, Morocco began the construction of the first high-speed railway system in Africa linking the cities of Tangier and Casablanca.
2014: Healthcare Spending
In 2014, spending on healthcare accounted for 5.9% of Morocco's GDP.
2014: Target of Moroccan Innovation Strategy
The Moroccan Innovation Strategy fixed the target of producing 1,000 Moroccan patents and creating 200 innovative start-ups by 2014.
May 2015: Vision for Education in Morocco report presented
On 20 May 2015, the Higher Council for Education, Training and Scientific Research presented a report to the king offering a Vision for Education in Morocco 2015–2030.
2015: Moroccan government invests in infrastructure
From 2010 to 2015, the Moroccan government invested more than $15 billion in upgrading its basic infrastructure.
2015: Maternal Mortality Rate
In 2015, Morocco experienced high maternal mortality rates at 121 deaths per 100,000 births.
2015: Health Expenditure
In 2015, the Moroccan health expenditure was $435.29 per capita.
2015: Refusal to Host Africa Cup of Nations
Morocco was originally scheduled to host the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, but refused due to Ebola outbreak fears.
2015: Gallup International poll on religious affiliation
The 2015 Gallup International poll reported that 93% of Moroccans considered themselves to be religious.
2016: Human Rights Watch Report
According to a 2016 Human Rights Watch annual report, Moroccan authorities restricted the rights to peaceful expression, association, and assembly through several laws.
2016: Spanish Speakers
As of 2016, according to Ethnologue, there were approximately 1,536,590 individuals in Morocco who speak Spanish.
2016: Life Expectancy
In 2016, the life expectancy at birth in Morocco was 74.3 years.
2017: Investment programme for ONEP
An investment programme of about MAD 15 billion was made to cover the centres managed by ONEP from 2003–2017.
2017: Infant Mortality Rate
In 2017, Morocco experienced high infant mortality rates at 20 deaths per 1,000 births.
2017: Morocco Rejoined AU
In 2017, Morocco rejoined the African Union, signaling a shift in its diplomatic stance.
2018: Spanish Speakers Study
A 2018 study by the Instituto Cervantes found 1.7 million Moroccans who were at least proficient in Spanish.
2018: Survey on religious affiliation
According to a 2018 survey conducted by the research network Arab Barometer, nearly 15% of Moroccans describe themselves as non religious.
2018: Inauguration of the Tangier-Casablanca high-speed railway
In 2018, the King inaugurated the high-speed railway system linking Tangier and Casablanca after over a decade of planning and construction.
2019: Growth of patent filing in Morocco
According to Office Marocain de la Propriété Industrielle et Commerciale, patent filing in Morocco grew by 167% during the period 2015–2019.
2019: Global Competitiveness Report ranks Morocco
According to the Global Competitiveness Report of 2019, Morocco ranked 32nd in the world in terms of Roads, 16th in Sea, 45th in Air and 64th in Railways.
2019: Climate Change Performance Index Ranking
As of the 2019 Climate Change Performance Index, Morocco was ranked second in preparedness behind Sweden.
2019: Decline in Agricultural Workers
Between 2000 and 2019, the share of Moroccan workers in agriculture declined, while those that are in industry increased.
November 2020: End of Ceasefire Agreement
In November 2020, Brahim Ghali unilaterally ended a 29-year-old ceasefire agreement with Morocco overseen by the United Nations.
December 2020: Military Cooperation with Israel
In December 2020, Morocco started to pursue military cooperation with Israel from a normalization agreement.
December 2020: Israel-Morocco Normalization Agreement
On 10 December 2020, the Israel–Morocco normalisation agreement was announced, and Morocco announced its intention to resume diplomatic relations with Israel.
2020: Per capita availability of renewable water resources
Between 1960 and 2020, the per capita availability of renewable water resources went from 2,560 m to about 620 m per person annually.
2020: Goal of the National Sanitation Programme
In 2005, a National Sanitation Programme was approved that aims at treating 60% of collected wastewater and connecting 80% of urban households to sewers by 2020.
2020: US Backed Morocco's Sovereignty over Western Sahara
In 2020, the United States under the Trump administration became the first Western country to back Morocco's contested sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara region, on the agreement that Morocco would simultaneously normalize relations with Israel.
2020: Morocco ranked in Global Innovation Index
Morocco's ranking in the Global Innovation Index increased from 75th in 2020 to 66th in 2024.
August 2021: Algeria Severed Diplomatic Relations
In August 2021, Algeria severed diplomatic relations with Morocco, accusing Rabat of supporting the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK).
August 2021: Algeria cuts diplomatic relations with Morocco
On 24 August 2021, neighbouring Algeria cut diplomatic relations with Morocco, accusing Morocco of supporting a separatist group and hostile actions against Algeria.
September 2021: Parliamentary Elections Held
In September 2021, parliamentary elections were held with an estimated voter turnout of 50.35% of registered voters.
November 2021: Phones infected with Pegasus spyware
Amnesty International found that two phones of Sahraoui human rights defender Aminatou Haidar were infected in November 2021.
2021: Arab Barometer survey on religious affiliation
Another 2021 Arab Barometer survey found that 67.8% of Moroccans identified as religious, 29.1% as somewhat religious, and 3.1% as non religious.
2021: Morocco population estimate
Morocco's population was estimated to be around 37,076,584 inhabitants in 2021.
April 2022: Launch of phase one of mega project Nor II solar energy plant
On 17 April 2022, Rabat-Moroccan agency for solar energy (Masen) and the ministry of energy transition and sustainable development announced the launch of phase one of the mega project Nor II solar energy plant.
2022: Economist Democracy Index Ranking
According to the 2022 Economist Democracy Index, Morocco was ruled under a hybrid regime, scoring #3 in the Middle East and North Africa, and #95 in the world.
2022: Infant Mortality Rate
In 2022, Infant mortality was 15 deaths per 1,000 live births.
2022: World Cup Semifinals
In 2022, Morocco became the first African and Arab team to reach the semifinals of the World Cup.
2022: Number of internet users in Morocco
In 2022, the number of internet users in Morocco reached around 31.6 million.
2022: Tourism Surpasses Average
In 2022, tourism in Morocco had surpassed the average number of visitors in the 2010s.
2022: Jewish minority population
Morocco's once prominent Jewish minority has decreased significantly since its peak of 265,000 in 1948, declining to around 3,500 in 2022.
September 2023: Earthquake Hits Morocco
On 8 September 2023, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Morocco killing more than 2,800 people and injuring thousands.
2023: World Press Freedom Index Ranking
In 2023, Morocco received a "difficult" ranking on the World Press Freedom Index.
2023: Record High for Tourism
In 2023, Morocco's tourism reached an all-time high with 14.5 million international tourist arrivals and MAD 104.7 billion in receipts.
January 2024: Number of internet users in Morocco
As of January 2024, Morocco had approximately 34.5 million internet users, with a penetration rate of about 90.7%.
November 2024: Tourism Contributes to GDP
In November 2024, Morocco had nearly 16 million tourists visiting that contributed to 7% of its GDP.
2024: Literacy Census
According to the 2024 census, 99.2% of the literate population of Morocco could read and write in Arabic.
2024: Gender ratio of Morocco population
In 2024, 49.7% of the Morocco population is female, while 50.3% of it is male.
2024: Morocco ranked in Global Innovation Index
Morocco was ranked 66th in the Global Innovation Index in 2024.
2025: Hosting Africa Cup of Nations
Morocco will host the Africa Cup of Nations again in 2025.
2025: Vision for Education in Morocco goal
The Vision for Education in Morocco 2015-2030 report recommended increasing the share of GDP devoted to research and development (R&D) to 1.5% by 2025.
2030: Moroccan Ministry aims to build additional expressways and highways
By 2030, the Moroccan Ministry of Equipment, Transport and Logistics aims to build an additional 3,380 kilometers of expressway and 2,100 kilometers of highway.
2030: National Digital Development Strategy
Morocco has several Internet-related projects; an example of such is the National Digital Development Strategy 2030.
2030: Vision for Education in Morocco goal
The Vision for Education in Morocco 2015-2030 report recommended increasing the share of GDP devoted to research and development (R&D) to 2% by 2030.
2050: Forecasted energy requirements in Morocco to rise
Forecasts indicate that energy requirements in Morocco will rise 6% per year between 2012 and 2050, prompting a new law to diversify energy sources.
