Morocco moves up in ranking of elite quality, but struggles remain on fairness and innovation

Morocco has climbed four spots in the 2025 Global Elite Quality Index, securing the 87th position out of 151 countries. 

The report, published by the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, highlights a slight improvement in how Morocco’s most influential institutions, such as major companies, banks, unions, and state bodies, are performing. 

These groups are seen as key drivers of innovation, stability, and sustainable investment.

Despite the progress, the report paints a mixed picture for Morocco. The country improved in the “power” category, now ranking 66th globally. This suggests Moroccan elites have become more effective in using their political and institutional influence. 

However, in the critical area of “value creation,” Morocco slid back to 106th place, meaning that while elites are gaining influence, this isn’t yet translating into meaningful, broad-based economic progress.

The report also reveals that Morocco is still facing serious gaps in fairness and opportunity. 

The country dropped to 77th in the “fair opportunities” indicator, reflecting persistent inequality in how economic chances are distributed. 

This could pose a challenge for the country’s goal of achieving more inclusive and sustainable development.

Looking at sector-specific scores, Morocco ranked 95th in “innovation and technology,” with a low score of 35.5 out of 100. 

Morocco also lags behind in artificial intelligence, where it sits again at 95th place. The report warns that the global race for leadership in AI is heating up, with countries like the U.S., Singapore, and South Korea now topping the charts thanks to heavy investments in cutting-edge tech.

Morocco performed better in health and well-being, landing at 54th place. Education and human capital also saw Morocco in 54th place, reflecting a balanced, though modest, match between available skills and economic opportunities.

Environmental sustainability, however, remains a weak spot. Morocco ranked 93rd in “natural capital and environment,” indicating the urgent need for stronger green policies and eco-friendly infrastructure. 

The report stresses that countries with high-quality elites tend to perform better in environmental fields, contributing to long-term stability, while weaker elites often fall into patterns of resource extraction and short-term gain.

Regionally, Morocco is doing better than its neighbors Algeria (123rd) and Tunisia (129th), but still lags behind emerging African economies like Senegal (56th), Ghana (78th), and Kenya (105th).