Background:
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| In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, successive Moorish 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. 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. A protracted independence struggle with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new country that same year. Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of the territory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature, which first met in 1997. The country has made improvements in human rights under King MOHAMMED VI and its press is moderately free. Despite the continuing reforms, ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch. |
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Location:
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| Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
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Geographic coordinates:
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32 00 N, 5 00 W
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Map references:
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Area:
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total: 446,550 sq km
country comparison to the world: 64
land:
446,300 sq km
water:
250 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than California
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,017.9 km
border countries:
Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km
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Coastline:
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1,835 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone:
24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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Climate:
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Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
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Terrain:
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northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m
highest point:
Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m
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Natural resources:
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phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
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Land use:
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arable land: 19%
permanent crops:
2%
other:
79% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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14,450 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources:
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29 cu km (2003)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 12.6 cu km/yr (10%/3%/87%)
per capita:
400 cu m/yr (2000)
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Natural hazards:
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northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts
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Environment - current issues:
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land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
Environmental Modification
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Geography - note:
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strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar |
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Population:
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| 34,859,364 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 30% (male 5,333,396/female 5,131,886)
15-64 years:
64.7% (male 11,261,139/female 11,305,792)
65 years and over:
5.2% (male 781,089/female 1,046,062) (2009 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 25 years
male:
24.5 years
female:
25.6 years (2009 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.479% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
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Birth rate:
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20.96 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
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Death rate:
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5.45 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
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Net migration rate:
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-0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 56% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.75 male(s)/female
total population:
0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 36.88 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 69
male:
40.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
33.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 71.8 years
country comparison to the world: 125
male:
69.42 years
female:
74.3 years (2009 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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2.51 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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21,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
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Nationality:
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noun: Moroccan(s)
adjective:
Moroccan
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Ethnic groups:
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Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
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Religions:
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Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
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Languages:
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Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
52.3%
male:
65.7%
female:
39.6% (2004 census)
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
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total: 10 years
male:
11 years
female:
9 years (2005)
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Education expenditures:
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NA |
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