Morocco has been ranked at a medium level of readiness to face natural disasters, according to a new scientific study published in Scientific Reports, part of the Nature group.
The research introduces a new index that measures how prepared countries in the Middle East and North Africa are to deal with disasters, before, during, and after they strike.
The study places Morocco in the same group as Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt, with North Africa scoring an average of 0.420. Morocco’s individual score stands at 0.384, which puts it in the middle of the regional scale, neither highly resilient nor dangerously fragile.
This ranking comes as the region is seeing more frequent and more intense natural disasters. Between 2010 and 2022, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, and extreme heat waves hit the region at rising rates, pushing disaster preparedness higher on national agendas.
The new index does not rely on just one indicator. Instead, it uses 10 different factors to build a broad picture of resilience. These include the strength of institutions, economic stability, social conditions, agriculture, human capital, and the ability of emergency services to respond quickly.
The index also introduces two new measures: natural disaster risk and geographic resilience, based on mapping, infrastructure, road networks, terrain, and access to services.
Morocco recorded a 0.452 score in natural disaster risk, which means the country has a significant level of exposure to hazards. Its geographic resilience score reached 0.549, reflecting how location, elevation, and infrastructure shape vulnerability in different regions.
One of Morocco’s strongest points is its emergency response workforce. The country scored 0.776 in this category, one of the higher results in the region. This reflects the presence of trained staff in health care, civil protection, and rescue services.
The study links strong emergency teams directly to lower death tolls and faster response times during disasters.
Morocco also performed relatively well in human capital, with a score of 0.634. This indicator reflects education, skills, and the availability of trained people who can support recovery efforts. According to the study, countries that score higher in this area tend to suffer fewer disaster-related deaths over time.
Morocco scored only 0.108 in social resilience, pointing to limits in community solidarity, public awareness, and the ability of society to act together in emergencies.
Even more concerning is the low institutional resilience score of 0.264, which reflects gaps in governance, regulation, and the overall ability of institutions to manage risk efficiently.
These weak points could slow down decision-making and coordination in large-scale disasters, according to the study, especially in moments where every hour matters.
On the economic side, Morocco’s 0.401 score shows a moderate ability to absorb shocks. The researchers warn that economies with limited diversification are more vulnerable when disasters hit alongside economic pressure.
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