Report: Implications of the General Population and Housing Census on Moroccan Families and Economic-Social Conditions
Ossar Ahmed / Express TV: On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, Naima Ben Yahiya, Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration, and Family, presented a report to the Social Sectors Committee in the House of Representatives on “the potential implications of the census results on Moroccan families and their overall economic and social effects.”
Demographic Transformations and Social Changes
The results of the General Population and Housing Census for 2024 revealed significant socio-demographic transformations, notably an increase in the percentage of households headed by women. This percentage rose from 16.2% in 2014 to 19.2% in 2024, with a remarkable growth in urban areas where the rate reached 21.6%, compared to 14.5% in rural areas. This increase reflects significant development in the social and economic roles of women, indicating structural changes in Moroccan family dynamics.
Fertility and Its Implications for Population Growth
Morocco has experienced a continuous decline in the fertility rate, with the total fertility rate dropping from 2.5 children per woman in 2004 to 1.97 in 2024, reflecting a decline below the replacement level of 2.1 children. In urban areas, the decrease was even more pronounced, where the number of children per woman fell from 2.01 in 2014 to 1.77 in 2024, while the rural rate fell from 2.55 to 2.37 during the same period. Forecasts suggest that the rate will continue to decline, reaching 1.65 by 2050, raising questions about the impact of these changes on future population balance.
Aging Population and New Challenges
On another note, Morocco has witnessed a notable increase in the elderly population. By 2024, the number of people aged 60 and over reached approximately 5 million, representing 12.9% of the total population, with around 2.3 million elderly women. Additionally, there is a rising prevalence of disability among the elderly, with an incidence rate of 18.5% among individuals over 60.
Education and Technology: Opportunities and Challenges
In terms of childhood, the census results recorded a decrease in the proportion of children under 15 years old from 28.2% in 2014 to 26.5% in 2024, reflecting a decline in child numbers due to decreasing fertility rates. Simultaneously, progress has been achieved in the field of education, with the enrollment rate of girls in rural areas showing a significant increase from 90% in 2014 to 95.1% in 2024, reflecting ongoing efforts to improve educational conditions in rural areas.
The Internet and Youth: Digital Trends
The census results also indicate that the age group between 15 and 34 years old is the most frequent users of the internet, with a usage rate of 76.9%. This development reflects a shift in youth behavior towards digital engagement and raises questions about its impact on the digital economy and future job opportunities in this field.
