Profile
Background and figures as recorded in the CIA World Factbook.
In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, a series of Muslim 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, dates from 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.
- Capital
- Rabat
- Government
- parliamentary constitutional monarchy
- Population
- 37,387,585
- Area
- 716,550 sq km
- Location
- Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Mauritania
- Climate
- Mediterranean in the north, becoming more extreme in the interior; in the south, hot, dry desert; rain is rare;
- Natural resources
- phosphates; iron ore; manganese; lead; zinc; fish…
- Languages
- Arabic (official); Tamazight languages (Tamazight (official); Tachelhit; Tarifit)…
- Religions
- Muslim 99% (official; virtually all Sunni; <0.1% Shia); other 1% (includes Christian…
- Independence
- 2 March 1956 (from France)
- Administrative divisions
- 12 regions; Beni Mellal-Khenifra, Casablanca-Settat, Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, Draa-Tafilalet, Fes-Meknes, Guelmim-Oued Noun…
- Currency
- Moroccan dirhams (MAD)
- Export partners
- Spain 20%; France 17%; Germany 6%; UK 5%…
- Import partners
- Spain 16%; China 11%; France 10%; USA 9%…
Source: CIA World Factbook — a work of the US government, in the public domain