Report: Morocco ranks 9th in Africa for citizens identifying as non-religious

Morocco has been ranked ninth among African countries with the highest proportion of citizens who describe themselves as non-religious, according to a recent report by The African Exponent, a platform specializing in economic and social analysis on the continent.

The outlet said more than 35% of Moroccans identify as non-religious, though the percentage of those openly declaring atheism remains negligible. It described Morocco as an “exceptional case in Africa,” where more than a third of the population distances itself from formal religious affiliation, despite Islam being a central part of the country’s national and legal identity.

The report noted that low rates of declared atheism in Morocco are tied to heavy social consequences. Still, the high share of non-religious individuals reflects “a growing gap between public cultural practices and private belief,” especially among young people in Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakech, influenced by higher education and global media.

Tunisia topped the continental list, with about 2.2% of its citizens identifying as atheists and nearly 35% as non-religious. The platform attributed this trend to the country’s political and social history, from former President Habib Bourguiba’s secular reforms to the 2011 revolution that opened debates on identity and religion.

Egypt ranked seventh, with 0.1% atheists and nearly 25% identifying as non-religious, mainly among youth in Cairo, Alexandria and Giza. Libya came in fourth, reporting 0.3% atheists and more than 23% non-religious citizens.

Elsewhere, the list included Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and Kenya. Nigeria ranked second, with 0.4% of citizens identifying as atheists and 5% as non-religious, despite legal and social pressures in northern states where Islamic law is enforced.

The report emphasized that open declarations of atheism remain rare across much of Africa due to stigma and, in some countries, legal risks. However, it said the rise in people identifying as non-religious,  particularly in North Africa, highlights “subtle shifts in how faith and identity are expressed.”

It concluded that while explicit atheism remains marginal on the continent, growing non-religious identities suggest Africa is undergoing gradual but notable cultural change.