Morocco’s High Commission for Planning has highlighted significant disparities between urban and rural areas in the prevalence and conditions of people with disabilities, according to a recent study based on the 2024 national census.
The findings show a notable increase in the number of people with disabilities in rural areas, exceeding 761,000 individuals, or 43.9% of the national total—up 4.8% compared with the 2014 census.
The prevalence rate in rural areas stands at 5.6%, higher than the 4.2% recorded in urban areas, reflecting a greater concentration of disability in the countryside. The gap is particularly pronounced among older populations, with disability rates reaching 22.8% in rural areas compared with 16.1% in cities.
The study attributes the rise in rural disability to a complex interplay of demographic, health and environmental factors.
Chronic diseases and epidemiological shifts in rural areas are among the main drivers. Limited access to early detection and preventive care, along with delays in medical diagnosis in remote areas, reduce the effectiveness of treatment and increase the risk of long-term disability.
The report notes that 4% of people with disabilities in rural areas receive no medical treatment at all, a higher rate than in urban areas, leading to the worsening of otherwise manageable conditions.
Age structure also plays a key role. Rural areas have a higher proportion of elderly residents, contributing to increased disability rates, particularly in the absence of specialized care.
Environmental and housing conditions further exacerbate the issue. Only 50.3% of rural households in this category have access to running water, while just 7.1% are connected to public sanitation systems.
The lack of basic infrastructure creates unhealthy living conditions, raising the risk of disease and complications that can lead to disability. It also makes self-care more difficult, with rural areas recording the highest rate of severe dependency at 0.74%.
The study also points to a significant education gap. Literacy rates in rural areas do not exceed 23%, compared with 45.1% in urban centers, with rural women disproportionately affected. This contributes to social isolation and limits access to preventive health information.
On the economic and digital fronts, people with disabilities in rural areas face near-total technological exclusion. Only 9.3% use the internet. Economic participation is largely limited to self-employment, which accounts for 40.4% of activity, leaving many dependent on family support.
To address these challenges, the report calls for a rights-based approach that goes beyond medical care and aligns national legislation with international conventions. It also stresses the need to target rural and mountainous areas to reduce disparities in access to services.
Recommendations include promoting inclusive education, adapting curricula, particularly for rural girls, strengthening health care systems to ensure early diagnosis, reducing the digital divide, and improving accessibility and infrastructure in rural areas.
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