The World Bank has revised upward its 2025 growth forecast for the region covering the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENAAP), including Morocco, projecting the Kingdom’s economy to expand by 4.4 percent, an increase of 0.8 percentage points from its June 2025 estimate.
In its “MENAAP Economic Update” report released Tuesday, October 7, the World Bank said the revision reflects stronger performance among oil-importing countries, driven by rising consumption, private investment, and a rebound in agriculture and tourism.
The trends align with Morocco’s recent economic indicators, which show significant growth in agricultural value added and record tourism revenues this year, supported by an influx of international visitors and robust sectoral recovery.
According to the report, Morocco is expected to maintain a steady and upward growth trajectory through the end of 2025, signaling improved economic performance compared with mid-year projections.
Fifth-fastest-growing economy in the Arab world
An analysis of the World Bank data shows that Morocco ranks as the fifth-fastest-growing economy in the Arab world for 2025, with a 4.4 percent growth forecast. The top spots are held by Libya (13.3 percent), Djibouti (6 percent), the United Arab Emirates (4.8 percent), and Egypt (4.5 percent).
By contrast, Morocco’s projected performance outpaces that of Algeria, Tunisia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, whose growth rates remain more modest.
The World Bank report, titled “Jobs and Women: Untapped Talent, Unrealized Growth,” forecasts that the region’s overall GDP growth will reach 2.8 percent in 2025, rising to 3.3 percent in 2026, both higher than earlier June estimates.
However, the Washington-based institution cautioned that “risks remain elevated amid global uncertainty, trade disruptions, ongoing conflicts, and displacement across parts of the region.”
Roberta Gatti, the World Bank’s Chief Economist for the MENA region and one of the report’s authors, stressed that greater female labor participation could yield significant economic benefits. “Removing barriers that prevent women from accessing jobs could raise per capita GDP by 20 to 30 percent in some economies,” she said.
For 2026, the World Bank slightly downgraded regional growth projections, citing ongoing conflicts and reduced oil output in Iran and Libya. The report also warned that developing oil-exporting nations are likely to face slower growth due to conflict-related disruptions and production cuts.
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