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Morocco is moving towards rapid urbanization: Official figures reveal deep demographic transformations
The High Commissioner for Planning, Chakib Benmoussa, presented the outlines of major demographic changes taking place in Morocco during a seminar held in Rabat. He confirmed that the country is experiencing a noticeable acceleration in urbanization, with the urbanization rate expected to rise from 62.8% in 2024 to around 69.2% by 2040. This reflects a profound change in the living patterns and spatial distribution of Moroccans.
In this context, Benmoussa highlighted a significant increase in the urban population, which has grown from 16.5 million in 2004 to 23.1 million in 2024, with projections estimating it will reach 28 million by 2040. Conversely, the rural population is expected to gradually decline to around 12.5 million, after experiencing nearly stable numbers over the past two decades.
The official also pointed out a structural transformation in Moroccan family composition, with the number of households projected to reach 12.3 million by 2040, up from 9.3 million currently—an increase of more than 32%. Meanwhile, the average household size is anticipated to decrease from 3.9 to 3.3 individuals, indicating deep social and economic changes within Moroccan society.
Regionally, five major regions—Casablanca-Settat, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Marrakech-Safi, Fez-Meknes, and Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceima—continue to dominate demographically, collectively accounting for over 86% of population growth over the past decade. This raises increasing challenges in areas like urban planning, infrastructure, and achieving spatial balance.
