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.

Lower house elections were last held in September 2002, while upper house elections were last held in September 2006.

Source: CIA World Fact Book

Population: 33,757,175 (July 2007 est.)

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Age structure: 0-14 years: 31% (male 5,339,730/female 5,140,482) 15-64 years: 63.9% (male 10,750,240/female 10,815,470) 65 years and over: 5.1% (male 740,686/female 970,567) (2007 est.)

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Median age: total: 24.3 years male: 23.8 years female: 24.8 years (2007 est.)

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Population growth rate: 1.528% (2007 est.)

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Birth rate: 21.64 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Death rate: 5.54 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Net migration rate: -0.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.039 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.994 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.763 male(s)/female total population: 0.994 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

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Infant mortality rate: total: 38.85 deaths/1,000 live births male: 42.56 deaths/1,000 live births female: 34.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

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Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.22 years male: 68.88 years female: 73.67 years (2007 est.)

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Total fertility rate: 2.62 children born/woman (2007 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2001 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 15,000 (2001 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

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Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: may be a significant risk in some locations during the transmission season (typically April through November) (2007)

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Nationality: noun: Moroccan(s) adjective: Moroccan

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Ethnic groups: Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%

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Religions: Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%

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Languages: Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy

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Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 52.3% male: 65.7% female: 39.6% (2004 census)

Moroccan economic policies brought macroeconomic stability to the country in the early 1990s but have not spurred growth sufficient to reduce unemployment that nears 20% in urban areas. Poverty has increased due to the volatile nature of GDP, Morocco's continued dependence on foreign energy, and its inability to promote the growth of small and medium size enterprises. However, GDP growth rebounded to 6.7% in 2006 due to high rainfall, which resulted in a strong second harvest. Despite structural adjustment programs supported by the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club, the dirham is only fully convertible for current account transactions and Morocco's financial sector is rudimentary. Moroccan authorities understand that reducing poverty and providing jobs is key to domestic security and development. In 2004, Moroccan authorities instituted measures to boost foreign direct investment and trade by signing a free trade agreement with the US, which entered into force in January 2006, and sold government shares in the state telecommunications company and in the largest state-owned bank. Long-term challenges include preparing the economy for freer trade with the US and European Union, improving education and job prospects for Morocco's youth, and raising living standards, which the government hopes to achieve by increasing tourist arrivals and boosting competitiveness in textiles.

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GDP (purchasing power parity): $152.5 billion (2006 est.)

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GDP (official exchange rate): $58.13 billion (2006 est.)

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GDP - real growth rate: 9.4% (2006 est.)

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GDP - per capita (PPP): $4,600 (2006 est.)

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GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13.3% industry: 31.2% services: 55.5% (2006 est.)

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Labor force: 11.25 million (2006 est.)

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Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 40% industry: 15% services: 45% (2003 est.)

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Unemployment rate: 7.7% (2006 est.)

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Population below poverty line: 19% (2005 est.)

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Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 30.9% (1998-99)

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Distribution of family income - Gini index: 40 (2005 est.)

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Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (2006 est.)

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Investment (gross fixed): 21.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

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Budget: revenues: $15.85 billion expenditures: $20.39 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.19 billion (2006 est.)

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Public debt: 70.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

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Agriculture - products: barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock

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Industries: phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism

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Industrial production growth rate: 4% (2004 est.)

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Electricity - production: 18.48 billion kWh (2004)

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Electricity - consumption: 18.89 billion kWh (2004)

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Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2004)

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Electricity - imports: 1.7 billion kWh (2004)

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Oil - production: 300 bbl/day (2005 est.)

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Oil - consumption: 170,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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Oil - exports: 21,890 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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Oil - imports: 186,100 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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Oil - proved reserves: 100 million bbl (2006 est.)

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Natural gas - production: 50 million cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - consumption: 50 million cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - proved reserves: 1.218 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

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Current account balance: $389 million (2006 est.)

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Exports: $11.72 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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Exports - commodities: clothing, fish, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, fruits, vegetables

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Exports - partners: France 21.2%, Spain 20.3%, UK 4.8%, Italy 4.7%, India 4% (2006)

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Imports: $21.22 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics

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Imports - partners: France 17.5%, Spain 13.4%, Saudi Arabia 6.9%, China 6.8%, Italy 6.3%, Germany 5.9% (2006)

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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $18.21 billion (2006 est.)

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Debt - external: $17.9 billion (2006 est.)

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Economic aid - recipient: ODA, $706 million (2004)

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Currency (code): Moroccan dirham (MAD)

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Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.7722 (2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.574 (2003), 11.021 (2002)

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Fiscal year: calendar year