Morocco
sovereign state in North Africa / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Morocco,[lower-alpha 1] officially the Kingdom of Morocco,[lower-alpha 2] is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. It has a population of roughly 37 million. The official and predominant religion is Islam, and the official languages are Arabic and Berber. Moroccan identity and culture is a mix of Berber/Amazigh, Arab, African and European cultures. Its capital is Rabat, while its largest city is Casablanca.[7]
Kingdom of Morocco | |
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Motto: الله، الوطن، الملك (Arabic)
Allāh, al-Waṭan, al-Malik ⴰⴽⵓⵛ, ⴰⵎⵓⵔ, ⴰⴳⵍⵍⵉⴷ (Tamazight)
"God, Homeland, King"Akuc, Amur, Agllid | |
Anthem: النشيد الوطني المغربي (Arabic) Cherifian Anthem | |
Capital | Rabat 34°2′N 6°51′W |
Largest city | Casablanca |
Official languages | Arabic and Berber |
National languages |
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Other languages |
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Ethnic groups | 1% Other |
Demonym(s) | Moroccan |
Government | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy[1] |
• King | Mohammed VI |
Aziz Akhannouch | |
Legislature | Parliament |
House of Councillors | |
House of Representatives | |
Independence | |
• from France | March 2, 1956 |
• from Spain | April 7, 1956 |
Area | |
• Total | 446,550 km2 (172,410 sq mi)[f] or 710,850 km2 [f] (58th or 40th) |
• Water (%) | 0.056 (250 km2) |
Population | |
• 2013 estimate | 32,878,400 (38th) |
• Density | 73.1/km2 (189.3/sq mi) (122nd) |
GDP (PPP) | 2013 estimate |
• Total | $181.9 billion[2] (56th) |
• Per capita | $5,537[2] (114th) |
GDP (nominal) | 2013 estimate |
• Total | $107.1 billion[2] (59th) |
• Per capita | $3,260[2] (117th) |
Gini (2007) | 40.9[3] medium |
HDI (2013) | 0.591 medium · 130th |
Currency | Moroccan dirham (MAD) |
Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
UTC+1 (GMT) | |
Driving side | right |
Calling code | +212 |
ISO 3166 code | MA |
Internet TLD | .ma, المغرب. |
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The indigenous people of Morocco are Berbers, whose monarchs ruled the territory from the 3rd century BCE until 40 CE, when it was annexed to the Roman Empire. Arabs under the Umayyad Caliphate conquered the area in the 8th century, bringing Islam, Arab culture, and the Arabic language to the region. Later, Arab dynasties such as the Idrisids and 'Alawites, and Berber dynasties such as the Almoravids and Almohads, arose; the Almoravids and Almohads controlled Al-Andalus in Europe and the Maghreb.[8] The 'Alawi dynasty seized power in 1631, and over the next two centuries expanded diplomatic and commercial relations with the Western world. In 1912, France and Spain divided the country into respective protectorates, reserving an international zone in Tangier. Following intermittent riots and revolts, in 1956, Morocco regained its independence and reunified.
Morocco claims ownership of the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara, which it has designated its Southern Provinces. Today, Morocco occupies two-thirds of the territory.