Moroccan Families Spend 5,800 Dirhams Annually on Food, Government Data Shows

The share of food expenditure in the household budget has increased from 37% to 41% nationwide, between 2001 and 2014, but with a noted disparity between urban and rural areas, i.e. 33% versus 47.3%. This is the main point to remember from the response of the Minister of Economy and Finance, Mohamed Benchaaboun, to a written question from a parliamentarian regarding the increase in the volume of Moroccan families’ food expenditure.

This disparity is explained by the fact that 10% of the wealthiest devote 26% of their budgets to food, while the least well-off spend half of their budgets to meet their food needs.

According to the minister, the average annual per capita expenditure on food has increased from 4,553 to 5,847 dirhams, between 2007 and 2014, an increase of 3.8%. Expenditure on education, culture and entertainment has increased by 9.3%. As for the other expenditure items, housing and energy as well as hygiene and health care, they have also recorded increases over the same period, with respective rates of 7% and 8%.