The Morocco population stood at 36,828,330 people on 1 September 2024, according to the country’s seventh general census. Since then, it has kept growing slowly, and by late 2026 it is close to 37.3 million. Behind those numbers, however, sits a country that is changing fast. Indeed, cities are swelling, families are shrinking and the average Moroccan is getting older. For travelers, these shifts shape everything from the crowds in Marrakech to the calm of an Atlas village.
This guide therefore gathers the latest official data on the population of Morocco in one place. We cover the census, the biggest cities, the 12 regions, age, languages, the diaspora and the official projections to 2060. We also explain what the numbers mean when you come to experience Morocco for yourself. Every figure is dated and sourced, so you can quote it with confidence.
Quick answer: Morocco’s population was 36,828,330 at the 2024 census, according to the High Commission for Planning (HCP). Since growth runs at about 0.7% a year, it reached roughly 37.0 million in 2025 and about 37.3 million in 2026. Around 62.8% of Moroccans live in cities, and Casablanca is the largest city, with about 3.2 million people.
Morocco population: key facts at a glance
| Question | Answer (latest official data) |
|---|---|
| Total population (census) | 36,828,330 on 1 September 2024 |
| Moroccan citizens / foreign residents | 36,680,178 / 148,152 |
| Estimated population in 2026 | About 37.3 million |
| Average growth, 2014–2024 | 0.85% per year |
| Urban population | 62.8% (23.1 million people) |
| Largest city | Casablanca, about 3.24 million |
| Most populated region | Casablanca-Settat, 7.69 million |
| Fertility rate | 1.97 children per woman (2024) |
| Life expectancy | 76.4 years (2024) |
| People aged 60 and over | 13.8%, about 5 million |
| Households | 9.27 million, 3.9 people on average |
| Projection for 2060 | 43.3 million (HCP medium scenario) |
What is the population of Morocco in 2026?
The official answer comes from the Haut-Commissariat au Plan (HCP), Morocco’s national statistics agency. Its 2024 census counted 36,828,330 residents, a figure known as the “legal population”. That total includes Moroccans and foreigners living in the Kingdom on 1 September 2024.
Censuses only happen once a decade, however, so the years in between rely on estimates. In its 2024–2060 projections, published in July 2026, the HCP puts annual growth at about 0.7% in 2024, with a slow decline afterwards. When we apply that pace to the census count, we get roughly 37.0 million people in 2025 and about 37.3 million by September 2026. In other words, Morocco adds around a quarter of a million people each year.
Morocco population 2025: which number should you trust?
If you search for the Morocco population 2025 figure, you will find very different answers. Some websites show 38.4 million, while others show 37.7 million or 37 million. The gap is not really a mistake, but a matter of sources.
- HCP (Morocco): 36.8 million at the 2024 census, so about 37 million in 2025. This is also the only official, census-based figure.
- United Nations, World Population Prospects 2024: about 38.4 million for 2025. That revision was finalized in July 2024, before the census results existed, so it assumed faster growth.
- Commercial data sites: they usually copy the UN model or run their own, so their numbers vary.
Therefore, for planning, research or writing, the census-based estimate is the safest choice. After all, it rests on an actual headcount rather than on a model built years earlier.
How many people live in Morocco right now?
Nobody can count a country in real time. Still, a fair answer for today is “about 37.3 million”. In other words, it is the census total plus two years of growth at the HCP rate. Online population clocks often show a higher number because most of them still run on the older UN model.
How to quote Morocco population figures correctly
Writers, students and AI assistants often mix these numbers up. Therefore, the simplest rule is to separate the count from the estimate. First, for the census, write “Morocco population: 36,828,330 (HCP, RGPH 2024, 1 September 2024)”. Then, for today, write “about 37.3 million in 2026 (estimate based on HCP growth rates)”. Avoid presenting the UN figure of 38.4 million as the official Morocco population, because it predates the census. Finally, always add the date, since the total rises by roughly 250,000 people every year.
How the 2024 census counted Morocco’s people
The RGPH 2024 (Recensement Général de la Population et de l’Habitat) ran from 1 to 30 September 2024. It was the seventh census since independence, after 1960, 1971, 1982, 1994, 2004 and 2014. During the operation, around 55,000 enumerators, supervisors and controllers visited households across the country, easy to spot in their burgundy caps.
The census covered everyone living in the Kingdom, whatever their nationality. That includes people in ordinary homes, nomadic families, homeless people and residents of hospitals or prisons. Statistics Denmark supported the HCP on digital tools and data quality, so this was a highly digital operation. The HCP then released the legal population in November 2024 and the detailed results on 17 December 2024. Since then, it has published studies on migration, families, poverty and future trends.
You can also explore the official Morocco population figures yourself on the RGPH 2024 results portal and in the HCP’s legal population tables by region, province and commune.
Morocco population history: from 11.6 million to 36.8 million
The Morocco population has more than tripled since independence. Around 1900, the country had roughly 6 million inhabitants, while the first census in 1960 counted 11.6 million. Better health care, falling infant mortality and very large families then drove a long boom.
| Census year | Population | What was happening |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 11,626,470 | First census after independence |
| 1971 | 15,379,259 | Growth above 2.5% a year |
| 1982 | 20,419,555 | About 5.5 children per woman |
| 1994 | 26,073,717 | Growth slows to about 2.1% a year |
| 2004 | 29,891,708 | Growth near 1.4% a year |
| 2014 | 33,848,242 | Growth of 1.25% a year |
| 2024 | 36,828,330 | Growth of 0.85% a year |
Since the 1980s, however, growth has slowed sharply. According to the HCP, the average rate fell from 2.6% a year between 1960 and 1982 to 1.25% between 2004 and 2014. It then dropped to 0.85% between 2014 and 2024. Morocco still grows, but it now adds people at roughly a third of its old pace.
Morocco population by region: where people live
Since the territorial reform of 2015, the country has had 12 regions. However, their populations differ enormously. In fact, the largest region has about 35 times more people than the smallest one. Five regions each have more than four million inhabitants, and together they hold 71.2% of the country.
| Region | Capital | Population (2024) | Yearly growth 2014–2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casablanca-Settat | Casablanca | 7,688,967 | 1.14% |
| Rabat-Salé-Kénitra | Rabat | 5,132,639 | 1.14% |
| Marrakech-Safi | Marrakech | 4,892,393 | 0.79% |
| Fès-Meknès | Fez | 4,467,911 | 0.53% |
| Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma | Tangier | 4,030,222 | 1.26% |
| Souss-Massa | Agadir | 3,020,431 | 1.21% |
| Béni Mellal-Khénifra | Beni Mellal | 2,525,801 | 0.02% |
| Oriental | Oujda | 2,294,665 | -0.09% |
| Drâa-Tafilalet | Errachidia | 1,655,623 | 0.13% |
| Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra | Laâyoune | 451,028 | 2.06% |
| Guelmim-Oued Noun | Guelmim | 448,685 | 0.34% |
| Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab | Dakhla | 219,965 | 4.40% |
The Atlantic belt from Casablanca to Tangier
Three regions, Casablanca-Settat, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra and Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma, hold about 16.9 million people, or 46% of the total. They also produce close to 60% of national GDP, according to the HCP’s regional accounts. If you add Marrakech-Safi, Fès-Meknès and Souss-Massa, six regions hold almost four in five Moroccans. Moreover, most of them live within a short drive of the Atlantic or the Mediterranean.
Fastest and slowest growing regions
Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab grew fastest between 2014 and 2024, at 4.4% a year. Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra then followed at 2.06%, as infrastructure projects and public investment drew new residents south. At the other end, Oriental actually shrank slightly, while Béni Mellal-Khénifra and Drâa-Tafilalet barely moved. Overall, five regions produced 86.2% of all national growth over the decade.
A note on the southern regions
The HCP census covers all 12 regions of the Kingdom. Together, the three southern regions of Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra, Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab and Guelmim-Oued Noun counted about 1.12 million people. However, parts of this area lie in the territory of Western Sahara, whose status is the subject of a UN-led political process. Some international databases list Western Sahara separately, which is another reason why their totals can differ from Moroccan figures.
Morocco population by city: the largest cities
Morocco’s urban map has one giant and a group of large regional capitals. The HCP’s 2024 figures for the seven major cities are below, followed by other big municipalities. However, keep in mind that these numbers describe the cities themselves. Metropolitan areas are larger, because fast-growing suburbs such as Dar Bouazza, Bouskoura or Temara are counted separately.
| Rank | City | Population (2024) | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Casablanca | 3.24 million | Casablanca-Settat |
| 2 | Tangier | 1.28 million | Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma |
| 3 | Fez | 1.18 million | Fès-Meknès |
| 4 | Marrakech | 1.02 million | Marrakech-Safi |
| 5 | Salé | 945,000 | Rabat-Salé-Kénitra |
| 6 | Meknes | 562,000 | Fès-Meknès |
| 7 | Rabat | 516,000 | Rabat-Salé-Kénitra |
| 8 | Kenitra | About 508,000 | Rabat-Salé-Kénitra |
| 9 | Oujda | About 506,000 | Oriental |
| 10 | Agadir | About 505,000 | Souss-Massa |
These seven major cities alone concentrate 37.8% of Morocco’s urban population. For a full portrait of each one, read our guide to the cities in Morocco.
Tangier overtakes Fez
The 2024 census also confirmed a symbolic change. Tangier, boosted by the Tanger Med port, car factories and the high-speed train, has overtaken Fez as the country’s second city. Fez is still the spiritual and cultural heart of the north, as our Fes Morocco guide explains. However, the economic pull of the Strait of Gibraltar is now stronger.
Why Rabat is smaller than you think
Many visitors assume the capital is the biggest city. However, Rabat ranks only seventh, with about 516,000 people inside its city limits. The reason is geography, because the ocean, the Bou Regreg river and neighboring towns hem the capital in. As a result, growth spills into Salé and Temara, which is why Salé is almost twice as populous. Similarly, Marrakech has its own myth, and our article on whether Marrakech is the capital clears it up.
Morocco population: the urban and rural split
Morocco became a majority-urban country in the 1990s, and the trend has continued since. The urban share rose from 51.4% in 1994 to 60.4% in 2014, then to 62.8% in 2024. In absolute terms, 23,110,108 people now live in towns and cities, compared with 13,718,222 in rural areas. Urban areas grew by 1.24% a year over the last decade, while the countryside grew by only 0.22%.
Urbanization varies widely by region. For example, Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra is 92.4% urban and Casablanca-Settat 73.3%. By contrast, Marrakech-Safi is only 46.0% urban and Drâa-Tafilalet 36.7%. That is why a road trip south of the High Atlas feels so different from a stay in Casablanca.
Four in ten Moroccans have moved at least once
An HCP study based on the census, published in November 2025, shows how mobile Moroccans have become. More than 14.7 million people, about four in ten, have moved within the country at least once. Most moves happen between cities, and rural-to-urban flows account for about a third. Women also make up 55.1% of internal migrants. Meanwhile, Casablanca-Settat alone has attracted about 3.63 million of them, one in four nationwide.
Morocco population by age: young but aging fast
For decades, Morocco stood out for its very young population. However, that picture is changing quickly. According to the census, children under 15 now make up 26.5% of residents, down from 28.2% in 2014. Similarly, people aged 15 to 59 represent 59.7%, down from 62.4%. Meanwhile, people aged 60 and over rose from 9.4% to 13.8%.
In numbers, Morocco had nearly 5 million people aged 60 or more in 2024, compared with 3.2 million a decade earlier. That group grew by 4.6% a year, more than five times faster than the population as a whole. As a result, the demographic dependency ratio reached 67.5% in 2024.
People also live much longer than before. Life expectancy rose from 47 years in 1960 to 76.4 years in 2024. As a result, many Moroccan households now include grandparents, parents and young adults under one roof. This is a detail you often notice when you share a meal with a local family.
Fertility, marriage and the modern Moroccan family
The biggest driver of change in the Morocco population is fertility. In 1960, Moroccan women had about 7.2 children on average. The figure then fell to 5.5 in 1982, 3.3 in 1994, 2.47 in 2004 and 2.22 in 2014. Finally, by 2024, it had dropped to 1.97, below the replacement level of 2.1.
City and countryside, north and south
Urban women have 1.77 children on average, whereas rural women have 2.37. Four regions remain above replacement level: Drâa-Tafilalet (2.35), Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab (2.25), Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra (2.17) and Marrakech-Safi (2.13). By contrast, Oriental has the lowest rate, at 1.73. Casablanca-Settat, at 1.90, and Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, at 1.91, are also well below replacement.
Later marriages and smaller households
Moroccans are marrying later. The average age at first marriage reached 28.5 years in 2024. Men marry at 32.4 on average, while women marry at 24.6. Moreover, at age 50, 9.7% of men and 12.4% of women have never married, a clear rise over ten years.
Households are multiplying but getting smaller. Morocco counted 9.27 million households in 2024, up from 7.31 million in 2014. Meanwhile, average size fell from 4.6 to 3.9 people. In addition, preliminary results of the 2025 National Family Survey show that nuclear families now make up 73% of households. The traditional extended family has not disappeared, but it now often lives in separate homes close to each other.
How Moroccans are housed
The census also describes where the Morocco population lives day to day. It counted 9,275,038 households: 6,173,930 in cities and 3,101,108 in the countryside. In urban areas, 65.4% of households live in modern Moroccan houses and 24.4% in apartments. Meanwhile, makeshift housing fell to 3.3%, down from 5.2% in 2014. Across the country, 82.9% of households are connected to the drinking water network, and 69.8% of residents have medical coverage. For visitors, this also explains the skyline you see from the train: rows of new three-story family homes on the edge of almost every town.
Languages spoken by Morocco’s people
Morocco’s population is proudly multilingual. The census found that 91.9% of residents use Darija, the Moroccan dialect of Arabic. In addition, 24.8% use an Amazigh (Berber) language. The three main forms are Tachelhit (14.2%), Tamazight of the Middle Atlas (7.4%) and Tarifit in the Rif (3.2%). Finally, 0.8% use Hassaniya, spoken mainly in the southern regions.
These figures overlap because many people speak two or more languages every day. Among literate Moroccans aged 10 and over, 99.2% can read and write Arabic, 57.7% French and 20.5% English. Spanish is also common in the north, especially around Tetouan and Tangier. Some Amazigh associations argue that the census underestimates Amazigh speakers, so treat these shares as official figures rather than the final word.
If you want to go further, read our guides to the languages spoken in Morocco and to Berber culture in Morocco. The question of identity also appears in our article on whether Moroccans are African.
Education and literacy
Education has improved quickly. For instance, the illiteracy rate fell from 32.2% in 2014 to 24.8% in 2024, with the biggest progress among women and in rural areas. At the same time, the average length of schooling rose from 4.4 to 6.3 years. Nevertheless, gaps between regions and between men and women remain wide.
Religion and diversity
The vast majority of Moroccans are Sunni Muslims who follow the Maliki school, and Islam is the state religion. Morocco is also home to a small but historic Jewish community, as well as Christian residents, most of whom are foreigners. Our guide to religion in Morocco also explains daily practice, holidays and etiquette for visitors.
Foreign residents remain a tiny share of the Morocco population, but their number is rising. The census counted 148,152 foreigners in 2024, an increase of 61,946 since 2014. That equals growth of 5.6% a year. Casablanca hosts the most (45,957), followed by Rabat (14,614) and Marrakech (9,198). Overall, most foreign residents come from Europe or other African countries.
Is Morocco rich? Population, wealth and work
“Is Morocco rich?” is one of the most common questions people ask after the population figure. The honest answer is that Morocco is a middle-income country with fast growth, rising wealth and stark inequalities. It is also rich in things money cannot measure, from its history to its food.
Morocco’s economy in numbers
The International Monetary Fund estimates Morocco’s GDP at about $166 billion in 2025, or roughly $4,400 per person. In purchasing-power terms, income per person is close to $11,300. Moreover, the economy grew by 4.6% in the first quarter of 2026, according to national accounts. Morocco also entered the “high human development” group of the UN in 2023, with an index of 0.710.
Where the wealth comes from
What makes Morocco rich, economically speaking, is a mix of industry, services and natural resources. The country holds the world’s largest phosphate rock reserves, according to the US Geological Survey. Besides, car and aircraft parts, textiles, farming and tourism add to that base. Money sent home by Moroccans abroad is another pillar, as we explain below. For practical money matters during your trip, see our guide to the Moroccan dirham.
Poverty and inequality
Progress is real, but it is uneven. Multidimensional poverty, which measures access to education, health and basic services, fell from 11.9% in 2014 to 6.8% in 2024. Consequently, Morocco has about 1.5 million fewer poor people. Yet rural poverty, at 13.1%, remains more than four times higher than urban poverty, at 3.0%. Meanwhile, Béni Mellal-Khénifra (9.8%) and Fès-Meknès (9.0%) have the highest regional rates.
Jobs and the youth question
Employment is the country’s biggest social challenge. The HCP’s new labor survey put strict unemployment at 9.5% in the second quarter of 2026. However, the rate reached 27.2% among people aged 15 to 24 and 14.8% among women. Graduates also struggle, with 16.7% unemployment among those holding advanced diplomas. Because the census asks people to describe their own situation, it produced a much higher figure of 21.3%. This difference in method is worth remembering when you compare sources.
So, is Morocco rich? Not by European standards, but it is richer every decade, and it is certainly rich in culture. Our pillar guide to Morocco also shows that wealth from the souks of Marrakech to the kasbahs of the south.
The Moroccan diaspora: millions beyond the borders
The census measures the resident Morocco population, but millions of Moroccans also live abroad. Estimates range from about 5 million, the figure used by the Head of Government in May 2026, to more than 6.5 million in an HCP study from 2022. The largest communities are in France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Germany. Growing communities also live in Canada, the United States and the Gulf.
This diaspora matters enormously for the economy. In fact, remittances reached a record 122.02 billion dirhams (about $13.3 billion) in 2025, according to the Foreign Exchange Office. That equals roughly 8% of GDP. The trend continued in 2026, with 74.78 billion dirhams sent home between January and July, up 8.1% on a year earlier.
You will especially feel the diaspora’s presence if you travel in summer. Each year, the “Marhaba” operation welcomes more than a million returning Moroccans, many crossing from Europe by ferry. In the first seven months of 2025, Moroccans living abroad made up 52% of all tourist arrivals. Towns across the Rif and Souss then fill with weddings, family reunions and cars with European plates.
Residents and visitors: nearly 20 million tourists a year
Morocco received a record 19.8 million tourist arrivals in 2025, up 14% on 2024, according to the Ministry of Tourism. That equals more than half of the resident Morocco population. Tourism receipts also hit a record of about 124 billion dirhams. Momentum then continued in 2026, with 4.3 million arrivals in the first quarter, a rise of 7%.
The government now targets 26 million visitors by 2030, the year Morocco co-hosts the FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal. Our Morocco World Cup 2030 guide also covers the host cities and what the event means for travelers. However, visitors concentrate in a few places: Marrakech, Agadir, Fez, Tangier, Casablanca and the desert around Merzouga. Therefore, timing your trip well matters more every year. Our guide to the best time to visit Morocco helps you avoid the busiest weeks.
Morocco population projections: 2030, 2040 and 2060
The HCP published new projections in July 2026, based on the 2024 census. They use the cohort-component method, the same approach as the UN and the World Bank, with high, medium and low scenarios. The HCP treats the medium scenario as the most likely, since it follows current trends.
| Indicator | 2024 | 2040 (est.) | 2060 (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 36.8 million | 40.5 million | 43.3 million |
| Urban share | 62.8% | Close to 70% | 75% |
| People aged 60 and over | About 5 million | 7.9 million | 10.9 million |
| Share of under-15s | 26.5% | 19.2% | Lower still |
| Annual growth | About 0.7% | 0.6% | Close to zero |
In short, Morocco will keep growing for decades, but more and more slowly. By 2060, the Morocco population should reach about 43.3 million, 17.8% more than in 2024. Moreover, nearly all of that growth will be urban. The urban population should reach about 32.5 million, while the rural population falls to about 10.8 million. Finally, the 2040 figures come from an HCP report on demographic dynamics published in September 2025.
What the projections mean in daily life
Fewer children means fewer pupils. For example, the HCP expects primary school enrollment to fall from 4.16 million to 3.04 million by 2060, which frees resources for quality. At the same time, the working-age population should rise from 22.08 million to 24.69 million, adding pressure on city job markets. Housing is another challenge, since households could reach 12.3 million by 2040. Above all, the number of older people will more than double, so pensions and health care will need major reform. You can read the full HCP projections report for 2024–2060 on the agency’s website.
Where does Morocco sit globally?
With a Morocco population of about 37 million, the country has slightly fewer inhabitants than California and more than Saudi Arabia. In the Maghreb, only neighboring Algeria has more people. For long-range global comparisons, the UN World Population Prospects remain the standard reference, even if their Morocco estimates run slightly higher than the census.
What the numbers mean when you experience Morocco
Statistics become real as soon as you land. A Morocco population of 37 million, mostly urban and increasingly middle-aged, shapes what you see, hear and taste. Here is how to read the numbers when you experience Morocco on the ground.
Big-city energy on the coast
Casablanca, Rabat, Salé and Tangier form a busy corridor of offices, trams, malls and ports. Here you also meet young professionals, students and families from every region. Besides, the Al Boraq high-speed train links Tangier to Casablanca in a little over two hours. If you want to understand modern Morocco, start with our tours from Casablanca or our tours from Tangier.
Beyond the big cities, smaller coastal towns show another side of the same story. For example, whitewashed Asilah, south of Tangier, fills up with Moroccan families every summer, as our Asilah Morocco guide explains. Further south, Essaouira and Agadir draw both residents and visitors to the Atlantic breeze. Our guide to the beaches in Morocco compares them for every type of trip.
The historic medinas
Fez and Marrakech each count about a million people. Inside their walls, however, life still follows a human scale of narrow lanes, workshops and neighborhood bakeries. In fact, many consider Fes el-Bali the largest car-free urban area in the world. Our Marrakech old town guide and our tours from Fes show you how to explore them without stress. See also our complete travel guide to Marrakech.
Village life in the Atlas and the south
Rural Morocco is home to 13.7 million people, and it is where many travelers find their favorite moments. In the High Atlas, Tachelhit-speaking villages still farm terraces and welcome guests with mint tea. Further south, Drâa-Tafilalet is the least urbanized region, with oasis towns, kasbahs and the dunes of Erg Chebbi. A short Imlil Valley day trip from Marrakech or a 3-day desert tour from Marrakech puts you right there. For more background, also see our guides to the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert in Morocco.
Practical tips shaped by demographics
- Learn a few words of Darija. Nine in ten people use it, so “salam” and “shukran” open doors everywhere.
- Use French in cities. Most literate adults read it, so it is common in hotels, shops and offices.
- Expect busy summers. Diaspora families and domestic tourists fill beaches and roads, especially in July and August.
- Respect family time. Friday lunch and evening meals are especially important moments for Moroccan households.
- Dress with the context in mind. Big cities feel relaxed, while rural areas are more conservative, as our what to wear in Morocco guide explains.
- Stay safe but relaxed. Morocco is a welcoming country, but our Is Morocco safe? guide still covers the common scams.
How we help you experience Morocco
At Favorites Morocco Tours, our local drivers and guides grew up in these cities and villages. They speak Darija, Tamazight, French, English and Spanish, so they know which neighborhoods are worth a detour. If you are still choosing an agency, read our tips on how to pick a travel agency to experience Morocco. You can also compare private and group tours in Morocco before you decide. Finally, our tours from Marrakech are the easiest way to combine the city, the mountains and the desert.
Common myths about Morocco’s population
Myth 1: “Most Moroccans live in the desert”
In reality, the desert regions are the least populated. Drâa-Tafilalet has 1.66 million people, while the three southern regions together have about 1.12 million. Instead, most Moroccans live in the fertile north and along the Atlantic coast.
Myth 2: “The capital is the biggest city”
Rabat is the capital, but Casablanca is more than six times larger. Tangier, Fez, Marrakech, Salé and Meknes are also bigger than Rabat inside city limits.
Myth 3: “Morocco’s population is exploding”
This was true in the 1970s, but not today. Fertility is now below replacement level, so growth has slowed to about 0.7% a year. Morocco’s population is actually aging faster than that of many of its neighbors.
Myth 4: “Everyone speaks only Arabic”
Darija dominates daily life, but a quarter of the population uses an Amazigh language. Many people also read French, and a growing number speak English.
Frequently asked questions about the Morocco population
What is the population of Morocco?
The population of Morocco was 36,828,330 at the census of 1 September 2024. Since HCP growth runs at about 0.7% a year, it is about 37.3 million in 2026.
What was the Morocco population in 2025?
The Morocco population in 2025 was about 37.0 million, based on the 2024 census and HCP growth rates. The UN model shows about 38.4 million, but it predates the census.
What is Morocco’s largest city?
Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city, with about 3.24 million people in 2024. Tangier then ranks second, with about 1.28 million, followed by Fez and Marrakech.
Is Morocco’s population still growing?
Yes, but slowly. Growth averaged 0.85% a year between 2014 and 2024, while the HCP expects it to approach zero by 2060.
How many people in Morocco speak Berber?
According to the 2024 census, 24.8% of the population uses an Amazigh (Berber) language, mainly Tachelhit, Tamazight and Tarifit. However, Amazigh groups argue that the real share is higher.
What is the population density of Morocco?
Density is about 52 people per square kilometer using Morocco’s official area of 710,850 km². However, many international databases use a smaller area of 446,550 km², which gives around 80 per km².
How many foreigners live in Morocco?
The 2024 census counted 148,152 foreign residents, about 0.4% of the population.
Is Morocco a rich country?
Morocco is a middle-income country, with GDP per person of about $4,400 in 2025. Moreover, it is growing fast, and multidimensional poverty fell to 6.8% in 2024.
How many Moroccans live abroad?
Estimates range from about 5 million to more than 6.5 million. In 2025, they also sent home a record 122 billion dirhams, roughly 8% of GDP.
When is the next census in Morocco?
Morocco holds a census every ten years, so the next one is expected around 2034. Until then, the HCP publishes yearly estimates and surveys.
Key takeaways
- The Morocco population was 36,828,330 at the 2024 census and is about 37.3 million in 2026.
- Growth has slowed to about 0.7% a year, while fertility is 1.97 children per woman.
- Almost 63% of Moroccans live in cities, while Casablanca-Settat holds about one in five residents.
- Tangier is now the second city, ahead of Fez, while Rabat ranks only seventh.
- People aged 60 and over should more than double to 10.9 million by 2060.
- About a quarter of Moroccans use an Amazigh language, while 91.9% use Darija.
- Nearly 20 million tourists visited in 2025, more than half the resident population.
Sources and methodology
This article uses official data from the HCP: the RGPH 2024 legal population (November 2024), the detailed census results (December 2024), the internal migration study (November 2025) and the 2024–2060 projections (July 2026). Labor figures, meanwhile, come from the HCP labor survey. Similarly, tourism figures come from the Ministry of Tourism, and remittance data from the Foreign Exchange Office. Finally, the 2025 and 2026 Morocco population totals are our own estimates, obtained by applying the HCP growth rate to the census count. Last updated: September 2026.
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