37 provinces and 2 wilayas*; Agadir, Al Hoceima, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Srarhna, Er Rachidia, Essaouira, Fes, Figuig, Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech, Meknes, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat, Sidi Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan, Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit.
note: three additional provinces of Ad Dakhla (Oued Eddahab), Boujdour, and Es Smara as well as parts of Tan-Tan and Laayoune fall within Moroccan-claimed Western Sahara; decentralization/regionalization law passed by the legislature in March 1997 creating many new provinces/regions; specific details and scope of the reorganization not yet available.
Population:
30,645,305 (July 2001 est.)
Currency:
Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Languages:
Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy
Elevation:
highest point: Jbel Toubkal 4,165 m
lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m
Natural hazards:
northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts
Climate:
Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
Morocco faces the problems typical of developing countries - restraining government spending, reducing constraints on private activity and foreign trade, and achieving sustainable economic growth. Following structural adjustment programs supported by the IMF, World Bank, and the Paris Club, the dirham is now fully convertible for current account transactions, and reforms of the financial sector have been implemented. Drought conditions depressed activity in the key agricultural sector and contributed to a stagnant economy in 1999 and 2000. During that time, however, Morocco reported large foreign exchange inflows from the sale of a mobile telephone license and partial privatization of the state-owned telecommunications company. Favorable rainfalls have led Morocco to predict a growth of 1% for 2001. Formidable long-term challenges include
Industry:
phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism
Ethnicgroups:
Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
Vaccination requirements:
No vaccination requirements for any international traveller.
Malaria:
Very limited malaria risk—exclusively due to P. vivax—may exist from May to October in certain rural areas of Khourigba Province. Risk for travellers in such areas extremely low.
