Morocco
Morocco is a constitutional monarchy located in North Africa. It is governed by an elected government, with the King holding major executive power. Morocco has close to 38 million inhabitants. Due to its location near the Strait of Gibraltar, the country has seen extensive migration.
Morocco’s economy benefits from low labour costs and its proximity to Europe. The country is one of the largest exporters of phosphate, a raw material that has secured economic stability over many years.
SOS Children’s Villages has been supporting children and young people without parental care, or at risk of losing it, in Morocco since 1985.
Villages in Morocco
Children are at risk
There are over 11 million children under the age of 14 in Morocco. Many children are affected by increasing poverty and neglect. Although Morocco has taken important steps in the area of child protection, thousands of children continue to face difficulties in their daily lives. Child trafficking and high rates of child poverty and illiteracy, especially in rural areas, are major problems.
54%
Of people living in rural areas consider themselves poor
Rural poverty
Although not to the same extent as in many neighbouring countries, poverty in Morocco does exist. It is predominantly a rural phenomenon.
Over recent years, there have been noticeable improvements, but the gap between urban and rural areas has widened.
54.3% of those living in rural areas considered themselves poor in 2014, overall more people than a decade earlier.
121st
Out of 198 countries in the ranking of the HDI
Human rights
Although the human rights situation in Morocco has improved over recent years, freedom of the press is still limited. Today, the country ranks 121st in the United Nation’s Human Development Index (HDI), which placed the country in the medium category of human development. Recent constitutional reforms have improved provisions on human rights. However, further reforms are needed to ensure that these provisions are implemented.
78%
Of Moroccan women between 15 and 65 are unemployed
Women at work
The COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in unemployment as many people lost their jobs. Employment conditions worsened particularly in regions with more informal and vulnerable work sectors. Women experienced the sharpest increase in unemployment rate from 9.2% in 2019 to 12.3% in 2020.
Historically, women already had low participation in the labour market: 78.4% of women between 15 and 65 years old are neither employed nor looking for a job.
Together we can make a difference for children in Morocco
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170
Families
Can stay together
370
Children
Grow up in our care
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140
Children and young people
Are supported on their way to independence
