A new map of multidimensional poverty in Morocco, released by the High Commission for Planning, reveals a significant decline in the poverty rate, from 11.9% in 2014 to 6.8% in 2024. Despite improvements across all regions, spatial disparities remain marked, particularly between urban and rural areas. The High Commission for Planning (HCP) has unveiled a new map of multidimensional poverty in Morocco, drawing on data from the 2014 and 2024 general censuses. This initiative aims to offer a clearer picture of the various forms of deprivation tied to deficits in education, health, housing, and access to basic infrastructure. According to HCP, Morocco has seen a substantial decline in multidimensional poverty between 2014 and 2024. The proportion of the population experiencing poverty fell from 11.9% to 6.8%, representing a drop from around 4 million to 2.5 million people. The intensity of poverty, measured by the average deprivation rate, also saw a slight decrease, from 38.1% to 36.7%. As a result, the overall Multidimensional Poverty Index was nearly cut in half, falling from 4.5% to 2.5%. Persistent Regional Disparities and a Rural Concentration Despite this progress, regional inequalities remain. Multidimensional poverty continues to be predominantly rural. In 2024, 72% of those affected lived in rural areas, down from 79% in 2014. Poverty in rural regions fell from 23.6% to 13.1%, yet remains more than four times higher than in urban areas, where the rate dropped from 4.1% to 3.0%. The vulnerability rate, reflecting the share of the population exposed to moderate levels of deprivation, also declined, from 11.7% in 2014 to 8.1% in 2024. Roughly three million people remain vulnerable, with 82% residing in rural areas, underscoring the persistent risk of rural households falling into poverty. National Improvements Mask Uneven Regional Progress All regions of Morocco recorded a decline in multidimensional poverty, particularly those that had the highest rates in 2014. Significant improvements were seen in Marrakech-Safi (down 7.9 percentage points), Beni Mellal-Khenifra (down 7.5 points), Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (down 6.8 points), and Draa-Tafilalet (down 6.7 points). Regions that previously had lower poverty rates saw more modest progress, such as Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra (down 0.9 points), Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab (down 2.0 points), Casablanca-Settat (down 2.4 points), and Rabat-Salé-Kénitra (down 3.4 points). As of 2024, six regions still exceeded the national poverty rate of 6.8%, with Beni Mellal-Khenifra (9.8%) and Fes-Meknes (9.0%) among the highest. The lowest rates were recorded in Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra (2.4%) and Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab (2.5%). Approximately 70% of Morocco's poor are concentrated in five regions: Fes-Meknes (16.2%), Marrakech-Safi (15.7%), Casablanca-Settat (13.5%), Rabat-Salé-Kénitra (11.9%), and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (11.5%). Vulnerability Remains Widespread in Specific Regions Vulnerability to multidimensional poverty also varies considerably by region. Two regions recorded double-digit vulnerability rates in 2024: Draa-Tafilalet (11.8%) and Marrakech-Safi (11.5%). Three others—Fes-Meknes (9.1%), Beni Mellal-Khenifra (9.0%), and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (8.8%)—exceeded the national average of 8.1%. Together, these five regions are home to nearly 60% of the country's vulnerable population, or about 1.7 million people. Provincial Gains and Urban-Rural Divide At the provincial level, all 75 provinces and districts reported a decline in multidimensional poverty, though the extent of improvement varied. Some of the most significant gains were observed in previously impoverished provinces such as Azilal (down 16.7 points), Chichaoua (down 14.8 points), Essaouira (down 13.8 points), Figuig (down 12.5 points), Fahs-Anjra and Chefchaouen (both down 12.4 points), Youssoufia (down 11.8 points), Midelt (down 11.5 points), Al Haouz (down 11.0 points), Assa-Zag (down 10.9 points), and Guercif (down 10.3 points). In contrast, wealthier urban provinces saw limited change, with declines of less than 1 percentage point in Casablanca (down 0.3), Rabat (down 0.5), Laayoune (down 0.6), and Mohammedia (down 0.8).
