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moroccomore about morocco

morocco


  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Morocco  \Mo*roc"co\,  n.  [Named  from  Morocco,  the  country.  Cf 
  {Morris}  the  dance.] 
  A  fine  kind  of  leather,  prepared  commonly  from  goatskin 
  (though  an  inferior  kind  is  made  of  sheepskin),  and  tanned 
  with  sumac  and  dyed  of  various  colors;  --  said  to  have  been 
  first  made  by  the  Moors. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  Morocco 
  n  1:  a  kingdom  (constitutional  monarchy)  in  northwestern  Africa 
  [syn:  {Morocco},  {Maroc},  {Marruecos},  {Al-Magrib}] 
  2:  a  soft  pebble-grained  leather  made  from  goatskin;  used  for 
  shoes  and  book  bindings  etc 
 
  From  U.S.  Gazetteer  (1990)  [gazetteer]: 
 
  Morocco,  IN  (town,  FIPS  51138) 
  Location:  40.94561  N,  87.45269  W 
  Population  (1990):  1044  (502  housing  units) 
  Area:  1.5  sq  km  (land),  0.0  sq  km  (water) 
  Zip  code(s):  47963 
 
  From  The  CIA  World  Factbook  (1995)  [world95]: 
 
  Morocco 
 
  Morocco:Geography 
 
  Location:  Northern  Africa,  bordering  the  North  Atlantic  Ocean  and  the 
  Mediterranean  Sea,  between  Algeria  and  Western  Sahara 
 
  Map  references:  Africa 
 
  Area: 
  total  area:  446,550  sq  km 
  land  area:  446,300  sq  km 
  comparative  area:  slightly  larger  than  California 
 
  Land  boundaries:  total  2,002  km  Algeria  1,559  km  Western  Sahara  443 
  km 
 
  Coastline:  1,835  km 
 
  Maritime  claims: 
  contiguous  zone:  24  nm 
  continental  shelf:  200-m  depth  or  to  the  depth  of  exploitation 
  exclusive  economic  zone:  200  nm 
  territorial  sea:  12  nm 
 
  International  disputes:  claims  and  administers  Western  Sahara,  but 
  sovereignty  is  unresolved;  the  UN  is  attempting  to  hold  a  referendum; 
  the  UN-administered  cease-fire  has  been  currently  in  effect  since 
  September  1991;  Spain  controls  five  places  of  sovereignty  (plazas  de 
  soberania)  on  and  off  the  coast  of  Morocco  -  the  coastal  enclaves  of 
  Ceuta  and  Melilla  which  Morocco  contests  as  well  as  the  islands  of 
  Penon  de  Alhucemas  Penon  de  Velez  de  la  Gomera,  and  Islas  Chafarinas 
 
  Climate:  Mediterranean,  becoming  more  extreme  in  the  interior 
 
  Terrain:  northern  coast  and  interior  are  mountainous  with  large  areas 
  of  bordering  plateaus,  intermontane  valleys,  and  rich  coastal  plains 
 
  Natural  resources:  phosphates,  iron  ore,  manganese,  lead,  zinc,  fish, 
  salt 
 
  Land  use: 
  arable  land:  18% 
  permanent  crops:  1% 
  meadows  and  pastures:  28% 
  forest  and  woodland:  12% 
  other:  41% 
 
  Irrigated  land:  12,650  sq  km  (1989  est.) 
 
  Environment: 
  current  issues:  land  degradation/desertification  (soil  erosion 
  resulting  from  farming  of  marginal  areas,  overgrazing  destruction  of 
  vegetation);  water  supplies  contaminated  by  raw  sewage;  siltation  of 
  reservoirs;  oil  pollution  of  coastal  waters 
  natural  hazards:  northern  mountains  geologically  unstable  and  subject 
  to  earthquakes;  periodic  droughts 
  international  agreements:  party  to  -  Endangered  Species,  Marine 
  Dumping,  Nuclear  Test  Ban,  Ship  Pollution,  Wetlands;  signed,  but  not 
  ratified  -  Biodiversity,  Climate  Change,  Desertification 
  Environmental  Modification,  Law  of  the  Sea,  Ozone  Layer  Protection 
 
  Note:  strategic  location  along  Strait  of  Gibraltar 
 
  Morocco:People 
 
  Population:  29,168,848  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Age  structure: 
  0-14  years:  38%  (female  5,486,176;  male  5,659,410) 
  15-64  years:  58%  (female  8,456,525;  male  8,327,560) 
  65  years  and  over:  4%  (female  641,236;  male  597,941)  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Population  growth  rate:  2.09%  (1995  est.) 
 
  Birth  rate:  27.93  births/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Death  rate:  5.97  deaths/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Net  migration  rate:  -1.08  migrant(s)/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Infant  mortality  rate:  45.8  deaths/1,000  live  births  (1995  est.) 
 
  Life  expectancy  at  birth: 
  total  population:  68.98  years 
  male:  67.03  years 
  female:  71.02  years  (1995  est.) 
 
  Total  fertility  rate:  3.69  children  born/woman  (1995  est.) 
 
  Nationality: 
  noun:  Moroccan(s) 
  adjective:  Moroccan 
 
  Ethnic  divisions:  Arab-Berber  99.1%,  other  0.7%,  Jewish  0.2% 
 
  Religions:  Muslim  98.7%,  Christian  1.1%,  Jewish  0.2% 
 
  Languages:  Arabic  (official),  Berber  dialects,  French  often  the 
  language  of  business,  government,  and  diplomacy 
 
  Literacy:  age  15  and  over  can  read  and  write  (1990) 
  total  population:  50% 
  male:  61% 
  female:  38% 
 
  Labor  force:  7.4  million 
  by  occupation:  agriculture  50%,  services  26%,  industry  15%,  other  9% 
  (1985) 
 
  Morocco:Government 
 
  Names: 
  conventional  long  form:  Kingdom  of  Morocco 
  conventional  short  form:  Morocco 
  local  long  form:  Al  Mamlakah  al  Maghribiyah 
  local  short  form:  Al  Maghrib 
 
  Digraph:  MO 
 
  Type:  constitutional  monarchy 
 
  Capital:  Rabat 
 
  Administrative  divisions:  36  provinces  and  5  wilayas*;  Agadir  Al 
  Hoceima  Assa-Zag,  Azilal  Beni  Mellal,  Ben  Slimane  Boulemane 
  Casablanca*,  Chaouen  El  Jadida,  El  Kelaa  des  Sraghna  Er  Rachidia, 
  Essaouira  Es  Smara,  Fes*,  Figuig  Guelmim  Ifrane  Kenitra 
  Khemisset  Khenifra  Khouribga  Laayoune  Larache,  Marrakech*, 
  Meknes*,  Nador,  Ouarzazate  Oujda  Rabat-Sale*,  Safi,  Settat  Sidi 
  Kacem  Tanger,  Tan-Tan,  Taounate  Taroudannt  Tata,  Taza,  Tetouan 
  Tiznit 
 
  Independence:  2  March  1956  (from  France) 
 
  National  holiday:  National  Day  3  March  (1961)  (anniversary  of  King 
  Hassan  II's  accession  to  the  throne) 
 
  Constitution:  10  March  1972,  revised  4  September  1992 
 
  Legal  system:  based  on  Islamic  law  and  French  and  Spanish  civil  law 
  system;  judicial  review  of  legislative  acts  in  Constitutional  Chamber 
  of  Supreme  Court 
 
  Suffrage:  21  years  of  age;  universal 
 
  Executive  branch: 
  chief  of  state:  King  HASSAN  II  (since  3  March  1961) 
  head  of  government:  Prime  Minister  Abdellatif  FILALI  (since  29  May 
  1994) 
  cabinet:  Council  of  Ministers;  appointed  by  the  King 
 
  Legislative  branch:  unicameral 
  Chamber  of  Representatives  (Majlis  Nawab):  two-thirds  elected  by 
  direct,  universal  suffrage  and  one-third  by  an  electoral  college  of 
  government,  professional,  and  labor  representatives;  direct,  popular 
  elections  last  held  15  June  1993  (next  to  be  held  NA  1999);  results  - 
  percent  of  vote  by  party  NA  seats  (333  total,  222  directly  elected) 
  USFP  48,  IP  43,  MP  33,  RNI  28,  UC  27,  PND  14,  MNP  14,  PPS  6,  PDI  3, 
  SAP  2,  PA  2,  OADP  2;  indirect,  special  interest  elections  last  held  17 
  September  1993  (next  to  be  held  NA  1999);  results  -  percent  of  vote  by 
  party  NA  seats  -  (333  total,  111  indirectly  elected)  UC  27,  MP  18, 
  RNI  13,  MNP  11,  PND  10,  IP  7,  Party  of  Shura  and  Istiqlal  6,  USFP  4, 
  PPS  4,  CDT  4,  UTM  3,  UGTM  2,  SAP  2 
 
  Judicial  branch:  Supreme  Court 
 
  Political  parties  and  leaders: 
  opposition:  Socialist  Union  of  Popular  Forces  (USFP),  Mohammad 
  al-YAZGHI;  Istiqlal  Party  (IP),  M'Hamed  BOUCETTA  Party  of  Progress 
  and  Socialism  (PPS),  Ali  YATA;  Organization  of  Democratic  and  Popular 
  Action  (OADP),  leader  NA 
  pro-government:  Constitutional  Union  (UC),  Maati  BOUABID  Popular 
  Movement  (MP),  Mohamed  LAENSER  National  Democratic  Party  (PND), 
  Mohamed  Arsalane  EL-JADIDI;  National  Popular  Movement  (MNP),  Mahjoubi 
  AHARDANE 
  independents:  National  Rally  of  Independents  (RNI),  Ahmed  OSMAN; 
  Democracy  and  Istiqlal  Party  (PDI),  leader  NA  Action  Party  (PA), 
  Abdullah  SENHAJI  Non-Obedience  Candidates  (SAP),  leader  NA 
  labor  unions  and  community  organizations  (indirect  elections)  only): 
  Democratic  Confederation  of  Labor  (CDT),  Nabir  AMAOUI  General  Union 
  of  Moroccan  Workers  (UGTM),  Abderrazzak  AFILAL  Moroccan  Union  of 
  Workers  (UTM),  leader  NA  Party  of  Shura  and  Istiqlal  leader  NA 
 
  Member  of:  ABEDA,  ACCT  (associate),  AfDB  AFESD  AL  AMF,  AMU,  CCC, 
  EBRD,  ECA,  FAO,  G-77,  GATT,  IAEA,  IBRD,  ICAO,  ICC,  ICFTU  ICRM,  IDA, 
  IDB,  IFAD,  IFC,  IFRCS  ILO,  IMF,  IMO,  INTELSAT,  INTERPOL,  IOC,  IOM 
  (observer),  ISO,  ITU,  NAM,  OAS  (observer),  OIC,  UN  UNAVEM  II  UNCTAD 
  UNESCO,  UNHCR  UNIDO  UPU,  WHO  WIPO,  WMO,  WTO 
 
  Diplomatic  representation  in  US: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Mohamed  BENAISSA 
  chancery:  1601  21st  Street  NW  Washington,  DC  20009 
  telephone:  [1]  (202)  462-7979  through  7982 
  FAX:  [1]  (202)  265-0161 
  consulate(s)  general:  New  York 
 
  US  diplomatic  representation: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Marc  C.  GINSBERG 
  embassy:  2  Avenue  de  Marrakech,  Rabat 
  mailing  address:  PSC  74,  Box  003,  APO  AE  09718 
  telephone:  [212]  (7)  76  22  65 
  FAX:  [212]  (7)  76  56  61 
  consulate(s)  general:  Casablanca 
 
  Flag:  red  with  a  green  pentacle  (five-pointed,  linear  star)  known  as 
  Solomon's  seal  in  the  center  of  the  flag;  green  is  the  traditional 
  color  of  Islam 
 
  Economy 
 
  Overview:  Morocco  faces  the  typical  problems  of  developing  countries  - 
  restraining  government  spending,  reducing  constraints  on  private 
  activity  and  foreign  trade  and  keeping  inflation  within  bounds.  Since 
  the  early  1980s  the  government  has  pursued  an  economic  program  toward 
  these  objectives  with  the  support  of  the  IMF,  the  World  Bank,  and  the 
  Paris  Club  of  creditors.  The  economy  has  substantial  assets  to  draw 
  on:  the  world's  largest  phosphate  reserves,  diverse  agricultural  and 
  fishing  resources,  a  sizable  tourist  industry,  a  growing  manufacturing 
  sector,  and  remittances  from  Moroccans  working  abroad.  A  severe 
  drought  in  1992-93  depressed  economic  activity  and  held  down  exports. 
  Real  GDP  contracted  by  4.4%  in  1992  and  1.1%  in  1993.  Despite  these 
  setbacks,  initiatives  to  relax  capital  controls,  strengthen  the 
  banking  sector,  and  privatize  state  enterprises  went  forward  in 
  1993-94.  Favorable  rainfall  in  1994  boosted  agricultural  production  by 
  40%.  Servicing  the  large  debt,  high  unemployment,  and  vulnerability  to 
  external  economic  forces  remain  long-term  problems  for  Morocco. 
 
  National  product:  GDP  -  purchasing  power  parity  -  $87.5  billion  (1994 
  est.) 
 
  National  product  real  growth  rate:  8%  (1994  est.) 
 
  National  product  per  capita:  $3,060  (1994  est.) 
 
  Inflation  rate  (consumer  prices):  5.4%  (1994) 
 
  Unemployment  rate:  16%  (1994  est.) 
 
  Budget: 
  revenues:  $8.1  billion 
  expenditures:  $8.9  billion  (1994  est.) 
 
  Exports:  $4.1  billion  (f.o.b.,  1994  est.) 
  commodities:  food  and  beverages  30%,  semiprocessed  goods  23%,  consumer 
  goods  21%,  phosphates  17% 
  partners:  EU  70%,  Japan  5%,  US  4%,  Libya  3%,  India  2%  (1993) 
 
  Imports:  $7.5  billion  (c.i.f.,  1994  est.) 
  commodities:  capital  goods  24%,  semiprocessed  goods  22%,  raw  materials 
  16%,  fuel  and  lubricants  16%,  food  and  beverages  13%,  consumer  goods 
  9% 
  partners:  EC  59%,  US  8%,  Saudi  Arabia  5%,  UAE  3%,  Russia  2%  (1993) 
 
  External  debt:  $20.5  billion  (1994  est.) 
 
  Industrial  production:  growth  rate  0.1%  accounts  for  28%  of  GDP 
 
  Electricity: 
  capacity:  2,620,000  kW 
  production:  9.9  billion  kWh 
  consumption  per  capita:  361  kWh  (1993) 
 
  Industries:  phosphate  rock  mining  and  processing,  food  processing, 
  leather  goods,  textiles,  construction,  tourism 
 
  Agriculture:  accounts  for  15%  of  GDP,  50%  of  employment,  and  30%  of 
  export  value;  not  self-sufficient  in  food;  cereal  farming  and 
  livestock  raising  predominate;  barley,  wheat,  citrus  fruit,  wine, 
  vegetables,  olives 
 
  Illicit  drugs:  illicit  producer  of  hashish;  trafficking  on  the 
  increase  for  both  domestic  and  international  drug  markets;  shipments 
  of  hashish  mostly  directed  to  Western  Europe;  transit  point  for 
  cocaine  from  South  America  destined  for  Western  Europe 
 
  Economic  aid: 
  recipient:  US  commitments,  including  Ex-Im  (FY70-89),  $1.3  billion;  US 
  commitments,  including  Ex-Im  (1992),  $123.6  million;  Western  (non-US) 
  countries,  ODA  and  OOF  bilateral  commitments  (1970-89),  $7.5  billion; 
  OPEC  bilateral  aid  (1979-89),  $4.8  billion;  Communist  countries 
  (1970-89),  $2.5  billion 
  note:  $2.8  billion  debt  canceled  by  Saudi  Arabia  (1991);  IMF  standby 
  agreement  worth  $13  million;  World  Bank,  $450  million  (1991) 
 
  Currency:  1  Moroccan  dirham  DH  =  100  centimes 
 
  Exchange  rates:  Moroccan  dirhams  DH  per  US$1  -  2.892  (January  1995), 
  9.203  (1994),  9.299  (1993),  8.538  (1992),  8.707  (1991),  8.242  (1990) 
 
  Fiscal  year:  calendar  year 
 
  Morocco:Transportation 
 
  Railroads: 
  total:  1,893  km 
  standard  gauge:  1,893  km  1.435-m  gauge  (974  km  electrified;  246  km 
  double  track) 
 
  Highways: 
  total:  59,474  km 
  paved:  29,440  km 
  unpaved:  gravel,  crushed  stone,  improved  earth,  unimproved  earth 
  30,034  km 
 
  Pipelines:  crude  oil  362  km  petroleum  products  (abandoned)  491  km 
  natural  gas  241  km 
 
  Ports:  Agadir  Al  Jadida,  Casablanca,  El  Jorf  Lasfar,  Kenitra 
  Mohammedia  Nador,  Rabat,  Safi,  Tangier;  also  Spanish-controlled  Ceuta 
  and  Melilla 
 
  Merchant  marine: 
  total:  38  ships  (1,000  GRT  or  over)  totaling  183,951  GRT/273,057  DWT 
  ships  by  type:  cargo  6,  chemical  tanker  9,  container  2,  oil  tanker  4, 
  refrigerated  cargo  10,  roll-on/roll-off  cargo  6,  short-sea  passenger  1 
 
  Airports: 
  total:  74 
  with  paved  runways  over  3,047  m:  11 
  with  paved  runways  2,438  to  3,047  m:  4 
  with  paved  runways  1,524  to  2,437  m:  8 
  with  paved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  3 
  with  paved  runways  under  914  m:  13 
  with  unpaved  runways  2,438  to  3,047  m:  1 
  with  unpaved  runways  1,524  to  2,438  m:  10 
  with  unpaved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  24 
 
  Morocco:Communications 
 
  Telephone  system:  280,000  telephones;  10.5  telephones/1,000  persons 
  local:  NA 
  intercity:  good  system  composed  of  wire  lines,  cables,  and  microwave 
  radio  relay  links;  principal  centers  are  Casablanca  and  Rabat; 
  secondary  centers  are  Fes,  Marrakech,  Oujda  Tangier,  and  Tetouan 
  international:  5  submarine  cables;  2  INTELSAT  (Atlantic  Ocean)  and  1 
  ARABSAT  earth  station;  microwave  radio  relay  to  Gibraltar,  Spain,  and 
  Western  Sahara;  coaxial  cable  and  microwave  radio  relay  to  Algeria; 
  microwave  radio  relay  network  linking  Syria,  Jordan,  Egypt,  Libya, 
  Tunisia,  Algeria,  and  Morocco 
 
  Radio: 
  broadcast  stations:  AM  20,  FM  7,  shortwave  0 
  radios:  NA 
 
  Television: 
  broadcast  stations:  26  (repeaters  26) 
  televisions:  NA 
 
  Morocco:Defense  Forces 
 
  Branches:  Royal  Moroccan  Army,  Royal  Moroccan  Navy,  Royal  Moroccan  Air 
  Force,  Royal  Gendarmerie,  Auxiliary  Forces 
 
  Manpower  availability:  males  age  15-49  7,307,076;  males  fit  for 
  military  service  4,637,453;  males  reach  military  age  (18)  annually 
  323,921  (1995  est.) 
 
  Defense  expenditures:  exchange  rate  conversion  -  $1.3  billion,  3.8%  of 
  GDP  (1994) 
 
 
 




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