Morocco’s High Commission for Planning said the number of foreign residents is expected to continue rising over the medium and long term, driven by political stability, economic prospects, geographic position and the country’s role in international and regional migration cooperation.
In a new study based on data from the 2024 population and housing census, the agency said Morocco now hosts 148,152 foreign residents, representing about 0.4 percent of the total population, consolidating the country’s position as a migration hub in North Africa.
The report shows sharp differences by nationality and region. Among Europeans, French citizens account for 68 percent of residents. Syrians lead among Levant nationals with 41 percent.
Within North African nationals, Mauritanians represent 31.7 percent, followed by Algerians at 31.4 percent. From sub-Saharan Africa, Senegalese nationals top the list at 30.8 percent, followed by Ivorians at 28.9 percent, with Guineans and Malians also present in large numbers.
The commission said the diversity of origins reflects a reshaping of Morocco’s migration profile, with sub-Saharan Africans now forming the largest group, followed by Europeans and nationals from North Africa and the Levant.
Geographically, 95 percent of foreign residents live in urban areas, concentrated in the Casablanca Settat, Rabat Salé Kenitra, Marrakesh Safi and Souss Massa regions, where economic activity, education and services are most developed.
Housing data show that 57.9 percent of foreign households live in apartments, 24.6 percent in modern houses and 13 percent in villas, indicating varied living standards and degrees of settlement. Men slightly outnumber women at 55.9 percent, but the study points to a growing female presence, particularly among Ivorian and Filipino nationals, linked to demand in care and domestic services.
The agency said the trend creates economic and social opportunities but also requires stronger governance of migration, social cohesion measures and equitable access to rights, alongside policies to encourage a more balanced territorial distribution.
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