Morocco Population 2026: A Kingdom at the Crossroads of Three Continents
Morocco sits at the northwestern corner of Africa, separated from Spain by just 14 kilometers across the Strait of Gibraltar. The country’s demographic patterns reflect its position at the intersection of Arab, Berber, African, European, and Mediterranean influences accumulated across more than a millennium.
The Moroccan population in 2026 stands at approximately 38 million according to the live counters on worldpopulationclock.net, drawing on the United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 revision and the High Commission for Planning (HCP), Morocco’s national statistics agency. The country crossed the 37 million mark around 2024 and continues to grow modestly.
Morocco is one of the older monarchies in the world, with the current Alaouite dynasty having ruled since 1666. The country’s modern demographic story has been shaped by post 1956 independence development, gradual urbanization, the fertility transition that has produced one of the more advanced demographic profiles in North Africa, and substantial migration to Europe, particularly to France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
This article examines the Moroccan population through the lens of the country’s tricontinental position, the regional distribution across 12 administrative regions, the Berber (Amazigh) population component, and the trajectory through 2050 and beyond.
A Population That Has Quadrupled in Seventy Years
Morocco’s population stood at approximately 9 million at independence from France in 1956. The country has grown more than fourfold across seven decades, with growth slowing in recent decades as the fertility transition has advanced.
A condensed Moroccan demographic timeline:
- 1956: 9 million residents at independence
- 1970: 16 million
- 1990: 25 million
- 2010: 32 million
- 2020: 36 million
- 2026: 38 million
The growth rate has slowed from above 2.5 percent annually in the 1970s to approximately 1.1 percent in 2026. Total fertility has declined from above 7 children per woman in the 1970s to approximately 2.2 in 2026, one of the more advanced fertility transitions in North Africa.
Morocco Population by Region: A Detailed Breakdown
Morocco is divided into 12 administrative regions following the 2015 territorial reform that reduced the number of regions from 16 to 12. The regional structure reflects centuries of settlement patterns from the Atlantic coast through the Atlas mountain ranges to the Saharan southern provinces.
| Region | 2026 Population (Est.) | Capital City |
|---|---|---|
| Casablanca Settat | 7.45 million | Casablanca |
| Rabat Sale Kenitra | 5.05 million | Rabat |
| Marrakech Safi | 4.85 million | Marrakech |
| Fes Meknes | 4.4 million | Fes |
| Tangier Tetouan Al Hoceima | 3.95 million | Tangier |
| Souss Massa | 3.0 million | Agadir |
| Beni Mellal Khenifra | 2.6 million | Beni Mellal |
| Oriental | 2.5 million | Oujda |
| Draa Tafilalet | 1.8 million | Errachidia |
| Laayoune Sakia El Hamra | 405,000 | Laayoune |
| Guelmim Oued Noun | 470,000 | Guelmim |
| Dakhla Oued Ed Dahab | 175,000 | Dakhla |
Source: High Commission for Planning (HCP), Morocco 2024 census preliminary results and 2025 estimates.
Casablanca Settat region holds approximately 7.45 million residents, including Casablanca (Morocco’s largest city at approximately 3.7 million in the city proper and over 4 million in the broader metropolitan area). Rabat Sale Kenitra region, anchored by the capital Rabat, holds approximately 5.05 million.
The three southern regions (Laayoune, Sakia El Hamra, Guelmim Oued Noun, Dakhla Oued Ed Dahab) include most of the Western Sahara territory, which Morocco administers but whose international status remains contested. The combined Saharan population is approximately 1 million on a vast territory.
The 2024 Moroccan general census, conducted in September 2024, provided updated baseline data including detailed demographic, social, and economic characteristics. Final results have been progressively released through 2025 and 2026.
The Berber (Amazigh) Population
Approximately 35 to 40 percent of Moroccans identify as Berber (Amazigh) by ethnicity, language, or cultural identification. The Berber population is concentrated particularly in the Atlas mountain regions, the Rif mountains in the north, and various rural areas across the country. The 2011 Moroccan constitution recognized Tamazight (the Berber language complex) as an official language alongside Arabic, marking a significant shift from previous policies that had emphasized Arabic exclusively.
The Berber language and cultural distinction operate alongside an extensive shared Moroccan national identity, with most Berber Moroccans also speaking Arabic and identifying as fully Moroccan. Berber demographic patterns show somewhat higher rural concentration and slightly higher fertility than Arabized Moroccan populations, although the differences have narrowed over recent decades.
Demographic Profile in 2026
Moroccan total fertility sits at approximately 2.2 children per woman in 2026, very close to the 2.1 replacement threshold. The figure has continued declining from approximately 2.5 a decade ago, with significant urban-rural variation (urban fertility below 2.0, rural fertility above 2.5).
The median age in Morocco was approximately 30 years in 2026. Approximately 8 percent of Moroccan residents are aged 65 or older.
Life expectancy at birth in Morocco stands at approximately 77 years overall, with women averaging approximately 79 years and men approximately 75 years.
The Moroccan Diaspora
The Moroccan diaspora abroad numbers approximately 5.5 to 6 million in 2026, including:
- France: approximately 1.5 million
- Spain: approximately 850,000
- Italy: approximately 480,000
- Netherlands: approximately 425,000
- Belgium: approximately 325,000
- Germany: approximately 240,000
- United States: approximately 100,000
- Canada: approximately 110,000
- Various other destinations
Moroccan remittances total approximately 12 billion U.S. dollars annually, equivalent to roughly 8 percent of GDP. Remittances are central to household income across many Moroccan rural and provincial areas.
Future Projections
| Year | Projected Morocco Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 40 million | Continued growth |
| 2040 | 43 million | Approaching peak |
| 2050 | 45 million | Near peak |
| 2075 | 43 million | Slow decline |
| 2100 | 39 million | Loss of 6 million from peak |
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium variant.
Projections from the UN World Population Prospects 2024 revision suggest the Moroccan population will reach approximately 40 million by 2030, peak around 45 million in the 2050s, and decline to approximately 39 million by 2100. The trajectory assumes continued fertility decline below replacement, sustained mortality improvements, and modest net emigration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Morocco in 2026?
Morocco’s population in 2026 stands at approximately 38 million residents. The figure draws on the UN World Population Prospects 2024 revision and Moroccan High Commission for Planning estimates, including the September 2024 census preliminary results.
Which Moroccan region has the largest population?
Casablanca Settat region has the largest population at approximately 7.45 million residents, including Casablanca (the largest Moroccan city, with approximately 3.7 million in the city proper). Rabat Sale Kenitra follows at 5.05 million.
What is Morocco’s fertility rate?
Morocco’s total fertility rate sits at approximately 2.2 children per woman in 2026, very close to the 2.1 replacement threshold. The figure has declined from above 7 in the 1970s.
How many Moroccans live abroad?
The Moroccan diaspora abroad numbers approximately 5.5 to 6 million in 2026, with the largest community in France (1.5 million), followed by Spain (850,000), Italy (480,000), the Netherlands (425,000), and Belgium (325,000).
What percentage of Moroccans are Berber?
Approximately 35 to 40 percent of Moroccans identify as Berber (Amazigh) by ethnicity, language, or cultural identification. Tamazight has been an official Moroccan language alongside Arabic since the 2011 constitution.
What is the population of Casablanca?
Casablanca has approximately 3.7 million residents in the city proper, with the broader Casablanca metropolitan area exceeding 4 million. Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city and economic capital.
What is the median age in Morocco?
The median age in Morocco sits at approximately 30 years in 2026, with about 8 percent of residents aged 65 or older.
What is the life expectancy in Morocco?
Life expectancy at birth in Morocco stands at approximately 77 years overall, with women averaging approximately 79 years and men approximately 75 years.
How much do remittances contribute to Morocco’s economy?
Moroccan remittances total approximately 12 billion U.S. dollars annually, equivalent to roughly 8 percent of GDP. Remittances are central to household income across many Moroccan rural and provincial areas.
When will Morocco’s population peak?
Morocco’s population is projected to peak around 45 million in the 2050s before beginning a gradual decline, falling to approximately 39 million by 2100 under the UN medium variant.
Sources
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division.
- World Population Prospects 2024 revision.
- High Commission for Planning (HCP), Morocco, 2024
- General Population and Housing Census Preliminary Results and 2025 Estimates.
- World Bank Open Data, World Development Indicators, 2024 and 2025 updates.
- Bank Al Maghrib, Remittance Statistics 2024.
- Live national and regional counters at worldpopulationclock.net.