Morocco - Population

The population of Morocco, including Western Sahara, was estimated by the United Nations at 30,566,000 in 2003, which placed it as number 37 in population among the 193 nations of the world. In that year approximately 5% of the population was over 65 years of age, with another 32% of the population under 15 years of age. There were an equal number of males and females in the country in 2003. According to the UN, the annual population growth rate for 2000–2005 is 1.62%, with the projected population for the year 2015 at 36,496,000. The population density in 2002 was 66 per sq km (172 per sq mi); however, the population density is highest in the plains and coastal areas of northwestern Morocco. Most of the population lives in the fertile plains or near the Mediterranean coast.

It was estimated by the Population Reference Bureau that 56% of the population lived in urban areas in 2001. The capital city, Rabat, had a population of 1,453,000 in that year. Other major cities are Marrakech, 1,517,000; Fès (Fez), 1,012,000; Meknès, 750,000; Tangier, 554,000; Oujda, 962,000; Tétouan, 856,000; Safi, 845,000; and Kénitra, 905,000. According to the United Nations, the urban population growth rate for 2000–2005 was2.8%.