Population & Culture

Morocco is filled with welcoming people that are devoutly attached to age-old traditions such as weekly souks or moussems. The ethnic diversity is apparent in the variety of costumes, whether they be rifain, saharas or others, and also in the type of residences that can be found either on the side of mountains in the northern part of the country or in tight-knit ksours (in the valleys of Dadès or Draâ).

Demography
The Moroccan population has been expanding rqpidly: it has tripled within half a century and was estimated at 28.7 million residents in 2000. This rapid increase of the population can be explained by a strong increase due to a high birthrate and a low mortality rate.

In Casablanca, the economic capital of the kingdom, the population density is at 1,600 residents per square kilometre. Arab is the official language of the country. A significant part of the population speaks French while Spanish is also generally spoken by populations in the north and in the south. Both English and German are taught in schools.

The mortality rate went from 2.5% in 1950 to 0.51% in 1999 thanks to improved nutrition and sanitary conditions that came with the end of epidemics and the elimination of diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis. The birth rate (2.28% in 1998) remains high (3.2 children per woman).