Morocco’s wealth concentrates in coastal hubs, regional disparities deepen

Morocco’s economic geography reveals a tale of two countries: thriving coastal hubs generating most national wealth while interior regions struggle with decline, according to new regional accounts from the High Commission for Planning.

Casablanca-Settat remains the undisputed economic powerhouse, contributing 31.4 percent of national GDP and over a quarter of household consumption. Yet this dominance masks troubling stagnation—the region managed only 0.2 percent growth in 2022, suggesting even Morocco’s economic engine faces headwinds.

Meanwhile, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra surges ahead with 5.2 percent growth, powered by public and private services comprising 65 percent of its economy. Further north, Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima leverages its strategic position through Tanger Med port—among Africa’s busiest—and the Mohammed VI Tanger Tech industrial zone, cementing its role in global automotive and textile chains.

Tourism drives Marrakech-Safi’s 4.6 percent expansion, with Marrakech alone capturing nearly one-third of Morocco’s tourist nights. Souss-Massa leads all regions at 7.5 percent growth, combining agricultural exports with emerging renewable energy projects.

The success stories throw struggling regions into sharp relief. Fès-Meknès contracted 1.9 percent despite cultural heritage assets, while Béni Mellal-Khénifra plummeted 4.7 percent, hampered by weak infrastructure and fragile agriculture. Drâa-Tafilalet’s vast Saharan tourism potential remains largely untapped, constrained by inadequate transport and accommodation.
Southern provinces present mixed fortunes: Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab boasts Morocco’s highest per-capita GDP through fishing and port investments, while Oriental region battles unemployment and poverty despite hosting 85,000 businesses concentrated in the Oujda-Nador corridor.

These disparities challenge Morocco’s advanced regionalization model, raising questions about whether decentralization alone can bridge development gaps without targeted interventions to spread prosperity beyond established economic centers.