Morocco's Rapid Urbanization: Opportunities and Challenges
Morocco has experienced rapid urbanization over the past few decades, with the urban population increasing from 38% in 1975 to 65.2% in 2024, according to a report published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This urban population is expected to reach 67.8% of the total population by 2030.
Urbanization is a driver of economic development and growth in this North African country, as 80% of productive activity and 75% of jobs are concentrated in cities. However, the economic development of cities is hindered by several obstacles, including a lack of transportation infrastructure, which reduces the potential benefits of agglomeration economies inherent to urban centers. Moreover, access to employment in urban areas remains deeply unequal, with women and young people facing the most difficulties in entering the labor market and being the most affected by unemployment.
Furthermore, despite the benefits brought about by urbanization, such as the emergence of new infrastructure and improved access to public services, rapid urban growth has also led to numerous challenges, including metropolitanization, peri-urbanization, coastalization, informal housing issues, territorial disparities, and mobility-related problems such as congestion and increased pollution.
Recently, the Al Haouz earthquake in September 2023 highlighted certain vulnerabilities in Morocco's urban planning model and city management approaches.
