Morocco Achieves High Human Development Status for First Time, UN Report Shows

Morocco changes its status. According to the global human development report titled "A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of Artificial Intelligence" by UNDP, the kingdom maintains its 120th position in the world ranking for the second consecutive year. However, the kingdom has recorded a historic advancement: its HDI, which jumped from 0.456 in 1990 to 0.710 in 2023, exceeds, for the first time, the threshold of 0.700, thus marking its entry into the category of countries with high human development. "This improvement reflects significant advances in the fundamental dimensions of human development: health, education, and standard of living," says Otmane Gair, president of the National Observatory for Human Development (ONDH).

This historic advancement is explained by three decades of constant and structural progress. "This evolution is the result of public policies oriented towards strengthening human capital, an essential condition for inclusive and sustainable growth," says Otmane Gair. The report positions Morocco "among the countries with low incidence of multidimensional poverty," testifying to a general improvement in living conditions for a large part of the population.

While Morocco has crossed the threshold of 0.700, it must address persistent challenges. The Gender Inequality Index (GII) shows "a downward trend," thus "a progressive improvement in gender equality." However, "the Kingdom’s efforts must focus on reducing maternal mortality rates, increasing women’s representation in decision-making bodies, and improving their access to education and the labor market," estimate UNDP experts.