Généralités

 

Morocco: Facts and figures

Morocco is in North-West Africa. Most of the country’s coastline is Atlantic, and to the east of the Strait of Gibraltar a part lies in the Mediterranean. Inhabited since prehistoric times by Berber peoples, the country has successively also been settled by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines and Arabs.

 

Dates in history

11^th century BC: Phoenicians settle on the coast

Second century BC: Beginning of the Roman area

681: Arab conquest and conversion of Berber populations to Islam

1636: The Alaouite dynasty gains power

1912: Installation of the French protectorate (Spanish forces were already present in the North)

1956: Declaration of independence. Sultan Sidi Mohammed ben Youssef takes the title of King Mohammed V

1958: Morocco becomes a constitutional monarchy

1961: Crowing of King Hassan II

1999: After the death of his father, King Mohamed VI is crowned

 

Useful information

Surface area: 446 550 km2

Population: 32 725 847 (2005 estimate)

Capital: Rabat

Official language: Arabic

Other languages: Berber dialects and French

Currency: Moroccan dirham

Time zone: GMT with daylight savings time

Form of government: Constitutional monarchy

GDP per inhabitant: 1 664 USD (in constant 2000 dollars)

 

Sovereign debt ratings

Standard & Poor’s: BB+

Moodys: Ba1

FITCH Ratings: BBB-