UNHCR reports nearly 20,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Morocco by end of July 2025

Morocco hosted 19,756 refugees and asylum seekers by the end of July 2025, according to the latest report from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The figure marks a slight increase from June (19,382) and includes 2,268 individuals identified as persons with specific needs requiring special care due to their vulnerable situations.

Syrians remain the largest refugee group with 5,149 individuals, followed by nationals from the Central African Republic (1,241) and Sudan (815). Other groups include Yemenis (512), South Sudanese (275), Ivorians (194), Palestinians (125) and Congolese from the DRC (116), alongside smaller numbers from Guinea, Mali, Somalia, Cameroon, Senegal, Nigeria and Chad.

The report noted that men represent the majority of refugees (5,696 compared to 3,390 women), with adults aged 18 to 59 accounting for 65.1 percent of the total. Children aged 6 to 12 make up 13.4 percent, teenagers 8.1 percent, seniors 2.9 percent and children under five number 952.

In terms of education, 24 percent of refugees have no schooling, while 33 percent completed primary education, 23 percent secondary and 18 percent hold university degrees. Before displacement, 28.4 percent were unemployed, 25.9 percent worked in the tertiary sector, 7.5 percent in the primary sector and 1.8 percent in the secondary sector, while around 10 percent were students.

Refugees are concentrated in major cities, with Rabat hosting 1,357 people, Oujda 1,014 and Casablanca 977. Other centers include Marrakech (533), Kenitra (474), Meknes (447), Fez (442) and Salé (409). Vulnerable groups include 555 at-risk children, 443 with serious health conditions, 143 women in precarious situations, 68 unaccompanied minors, 104 torture victims and 52 elderly at risk.

Asylum seekers numbered 10,660 by end-July, mainly from Sudan (2,377), Guinea (2,229), Senegal (1,538), Côte d’Ivoire (1,523) and Mali (633).