Morocco’s Rural Women: 6.5 Million Strong, Facing Demographic Shifts

According to data from the High Commission for Planning (HCP) published by the MAP, in 2019, the population of rural women of childbearing age (15-49 years) stands at 3.3 million people, while they are 6.2 million in urban areas and 9.5 million at the national level.

According to the same source, the life expectancy at birth of rural women is estimated at 75.3 years in 2019 against 79.6 years for urban women and 78.2 years on average nationally.

59.4% of these rural women are of working age (15-59 years), compared to 29.6% under 15 and 11% aged 60 and over, according to the Plan Briefs "About the Rural Woman in Morocco", published on the occasion of the International Day of the Rural Woman, celebrated on October 15 each year.

As for access to education, the difficulties remain significant in the rural world, even if, in recent years, the HCP has noted notable advances. After primary school, the rural girl’s access to other cycles of education remains limited.

In terms of health services, the HCP points out that, while the maternal mortality rate has been reduced, at the national level, to 72.6 deaths per 100,000 live births and to 44.6 deaths in urban areas, its level remains unfortunately high in rural areas. The data published by the institution speak of 111.1 deaths.

And, the proportion of rural women who have benefited from qualified prenatal care is 79.6%, compared to 95.6% of urban women and 88.5% at the national level, according to the same source.

And that’s not all. 73.7% of births in rural areas take place in health facilities, compared to 96.0% in urban areas and 86.1% at the national level.

As one might expect, the contraceptive use rate is 70.3% among rural women, compared to 71.1% among urban women.

These data published by the HCP have the merit of showing a rural female population in full mutation but with limited access to education and health services compared to the urban female population.