Walking remains most common commute method in Morocco, HCP census finds

Walking remains the primary mode of transport for commuting to work in Morocco, according to a recent report by the High Commission for Planning based on findings from the 2024 General Population and Housing Census.

The report found that 35.8% of employed Moroccans aged 15 and above rely on walking to travel between home and work, making it the most widely used commuting method nationwide.

Private cars rank second at 14.6%, followed by motorcycles and bicycles at 12.3%, and taxis at 10%. Employer- or institution-provided transport covers 9.5% of workers.

Formal public transport use remains low overall. Buses are used by 6% of working commuters, trams by 0.5%, and trains by just 0.4%. Informal transport accounts for 2.5%, reflecting persistent alternative mobility solutions in areas underserved by organised networks.

The report highlights notable gender gaps across several transport modes. Women use private cars at a higher rate than men (17.6% vs. 13.9%), and rely more on buses (8.4% vs. 5.4%). Men, by contrast, use motorcycles and bicycles far more (14.8% vs. 1.9% for women) and taxis at a higher rate (17.1% vs. 8.3%). The HCP attributes women’s greater use of organised or collective mechanical transport to factors potentially linked to safety concerns, distance from workplaces, or the need to balance professional and family responsibilities.

Animal transport, though marginal at 0.9%, persists in some rural areas where modern infrastructure and transport options remain limited.

Some 6.8% of employed workers reported no commute, citing home-based work, remote work, or activities conducted at their place of residence.

The HCP said the findings reveal a mobility structure dominated by short-distance travel and individual transport modes, reflecting Morocco’s territorial realities, the socioeconomic conditions of its working population, and unequal access to public transport infrastructure.