Rural poverty in the Kingdom of Morocco

Poverty is essentially a rural phenomenon in Morocco. Almost one in every four people living in rural areas is poor, compared to one in ten in urban areas (World Bank, 2004). Although rural dwellers account for just 46 per cent of Morocco’s total population, rural poor people account for 66 per cent of all of the country’s poor.

Some 75 per cent of rural poor people depend on agriculture for a livelihood. Yet many of them have access to only a limited amount of non-irrigated arable land, which has a poor agricultural potential. Because farmers often do not have formal title to land, it is difficult for them to obtain credit so they can diversify their income.

Incidence and distribution of poverty vary considerably among regions in relation to the quality and availability of natural resources. Mountainous zones, where soil is susceptible to erosion, are among the country’s poorest areas.

Where are Morocco’s poor?
The distribution of poverty in Morocco varies greatly from one region to the next. The coastal areas, for instance, are generally better off and thus less affected by poverty. In contrast, the country’s mountain areas, steppes, arid south and poor fishing communities scattered all along the coast are where most of the Moroccan population living below the poverty threshold dwell.

As each province has zones that are relatively more prosperous and others that are poorer, it is pointless to risk any sort of generalization, even at the commune level.

The foregoing notwithstanding, the Government identified 14 provinces where poverty is most severe and, in 1994, it launched a poverty reduction programme – the First Social Priorities Programme – to cover those provinces (Al Hoceima, Azilal, Chefchaouen, Chichaoua, Al Haouz, El Kelâa, Essaouira, Ouarzazate, Safi, Sidi Kacem, Taroudant, Taza, Tiznit and Zagoura).

Who are Morocco’s poor people?
The most vulnerable groups include smallholders, people engaged in artisanal fishing, landless people, rural wage earners, unemployed young people and women in all categories.

Why are they poor?
Difficult geographical conditions and deteriorating infrastructure are factors in rural poverty. A prolonged drought from 1999 to 2001 worsened the situation.

Source: IFAD

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Morocco capital: Rabat GNI per capita: US$1,250 - 3,000 [other maps ...] Explore... Geography, agriculture and the economy Progress on the Millennium Development Goals: United Nations Development Group (UNDG) United Nations Statistics World Bank Statistics Total population (million) : 29.8 Population density (people per km2): 66.8 Number of rural poor (million), 1999: 3.4 GNI per capita (USD): 1,570.0 Population living below $1 a day (%), 1999: 2.0 Population living below $2 a day (%), 1999: 14.3 Population living below the national poverty line (%), 1999: 19.0 Source: World Bank