Living in Morocco: the ultimate expat guide

Geography and landscape of Morocco

The bulk of Morocco's geography consists of mountains with slopes, dominating the northern central part of the country (notably the Atlas mountains), also the source of most rivers in the country, notably the Moulouya River, flowing from the Atlas to the Mediterranean sea, and desert and plains dominating the southern. The metropolitan areas are mostly closer to the coasts, both in the west and the north, which is also dominated by the Rif mountains. The highest point in Morocco is the peak of Jebel Toubkal at an altitude of 4,165 m (13,664 ft), which is part of the Atlas Mountains. In contrast, the lowest point is Sebkhat Tah, flat sand situated near the city of Tarfaya in the south of the country (Sahara desert), at 55 meters (180 ft) below sea level.

Demography of Morocco

Morocco has a population of over 35 million inhabitants, including a large number of expatriates. The official languages are Arabic and Berber. Most Moroccans speak a dialect of Arabic that is quite different from Standard Arabic. Arabic is the administrative language, and French is the language of business and university studies, as well as English. Spanish is also spoken in some cities (mostly in the north of the country).

Economy of Morocco

Morocco has been developing very quickly over the past few years. The country ranks in the sixth position among the most powerful economies of the African continent, with a GDP of more than $100 billion. The country's economy is mainly based on the export of phosphates, as well as the agricultural sector. As of recently, the service sector (outsourcing of telecommunication) recorded the highest growth, accounting for just over half of the country's GDP

Policy of Morocco

Morocco has a constitutional monarchy regime. The king of the country is King Mohammed VI, and Saadeddine Othmani has been elected Prime Minister. Morocco is a member of the African Union, the United Nations, the Arab League, the Arab Maghreb Union, and the International Organisation of the Francophonie.

Climate of Morocco

Morocco's climate varies greatly by region. You can find a hot, dry climate in the Sahara and southern regions, where summers are very hot and winters are only slightly cooler. At the other extreme, temperatures in the Atlas Mountains go below freezing in the winter, and some areas even get snow during the winter months. The coastal areas are warm and humid in the summer and get cooler and rainy in the winter. Make sure to bring lots of layers when visiting Morocco, as it is possible to visit the dry, hot desert and cold, snowy mountain areas all in one day!

Immigration in Morocco

Since the beginning of the 21st century, Morocco has welcomed a large number of migrants mostly from Subsaharan countries trying to reach Europe and from middle eastern ones impacted by the conflict in Syria and Iraq. However, over the last few years, Morocco has become a default destination for Subsaharan people who chose to stay in the country by their own volition. There is a large Subsaharan community, mostly Senegalese, Congolese, and Ivorian, in many metropolitan cities like Casablanca, Rabat and Tangier.

Morocco is also a growing destination for many American and European expatriates. There are large American, French and Belgian communities in Casablanca, Rabat, Agadir, Essaouira and some Spanish communities in northern cities like Tangier.

Culture in Morocco

Morocco is known for its rich and diverse cultural landscape which is mainly due to its geographical location and history. It has been a host for many people through history including Arabs, Phoenicians, Romans and others. Each region in Morocco has its own cultural norms, cuisine, attire, traditional musical styles, and in some cases, even the dialect differs.

Since its independence in 1956, Morocco has developed a large art scene in painting, filmmaking, music, sculpture and theatre. There are film festivals year-round in all major and small cities, and theatre productions in all major cities. Morocco is also host to many big music festivals like Essaouira Gnawa Music Festival and Mawazine Festival and Visa For Music in Rabat as well as traditional music festivals like the Fes Sacred Music Festival.

Social life in Morocco

Morocco is quite a peaceful country. You'll find that most Moroccans live in large family households and are quite welcoming. Religion is an important part of life in Morocco as well as the country's identity, and despite being open to international cultures and markets, it's still a conservative country. You'll find that most middle-aged women wear headscarf outdoors and traditional clothing, and in some neighbourhoods, wearing anything above the knee for females could attract some unwanted attention. On the other hand, most major cities have a vibrant nightlife, cool bars and pubs, and many places where you can go out, have fun and meet new people.