Morocco's lived poverty rate drops to 22%
Afrobarometer report shows 8 million Moroccans still face deprivation in basic necessities.
Morocco has seen its lived poverty rate fall by six percentage points over the last decade, reaching 22% of the population, according to a new Afrobarometer report. This means approximately 8 million people, out of Morocco's 37 million population, continue to experience moderate or high levels of deprivation. Morocco ranks among the top three African countries with the lowest lived poverty rates, following Seychelles at 7% and Mauritius at 12%.
The report measures lived poverty by how often households lack food, clean water, medical care, cooking fuel, and cash income. In Morocco, 12% of respondents reported frequent shortages of cash income, and 7% lacked medicine or medical care. Water shortages affected 3% of households, while 2% lacked cooking fuel and 1% insufficient food. These figures reflect those who went without these necessities many times or always in the past year.
Afrobarometer's findings indicate that material hardship is closely tied to employment, education, and public service access. Across surveyed African nations, 66% of unemployed individuals faced moderate to high lived poverty, compared to 48% of employed people. Rural residents reported higher rates at 68% versus 53% in urban areas. Difficulty obtaining medical care was reported by 63% of those in high lived poverty.
Why it mattersAbout 8 million Moroccans are still affected by moderate or high levels of deprivation in basic necessities like food, water, and medical care.