Moroccan Diaspora Surpasses 5 Million, Majority in Europe, Study Finds

The survey reveals that the kingdom has more than five million Moroccans living abroad (MRE). More than four-fifths are settled in Europe, the HCP points out, noting that Moroccan migration abroad has evolved over the past decades. The numbers of this migration have increased considerably despite the multiplication of obstacles to immigration.

Over the years, the level of education and training has been strengthened. Moroccan migrants were initially present in Europe (France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany) but increasingly in new immigration countries, particularly Mediterranean (Italy and Spain), North America (Canada and United States) and the Gulf countries.

While it is true that Moroccans are numerous to emigrate to these countries, Morocco remains a country of transit and immigration. According to the 2014 general census of population and housing, there are 86,000 from the South, particularly from sub-Saharan countries, the HCP points out.

Immigration from the South is emerging to the point that Morocco had to adopt a national immigration and asylum policy at the end of 2013. Similarly, the Moroccan authorities have carried out two regularization operations of 50,000 foreigners between 2014 and 2018.