Pandemic and Inflation Push 3.2 Million Moroccans into Poverty, Study Finds

In its report on the evolution of social inequalities in a context marked by the effects of the pandemic and rising prices, the HCP has revealed a worrying report on poverty in Morocco. The study carried out by the institution is based on a survey of 12,000 households, from October 11, 2021 to February 10 last. It aimed to apprehend the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the living conditions of the population.

More precisely, nearly 45% of this deterioration in poverty and vulnerability is due to the effect of the pandemic and 55% to the effect of the rise in consumer prices, the note indicates, specifying that this corresponds to a loss of "nearly seven years of progress towards the elimination of poverty and vulnerability". This year, Morocco finds itself with the level of poverty and vulnerability of 2014, it is added.

In detail, these various external shocks mentioned above would have led to a decrease in the standard of living per person, in real terms, of 7.2% at the national level, between 2019 and 2022, going from 20,400 DH to 18,940 DH, from 6.6% to 23,000 DH in urban areas and from 8.9% to 11,650 DH in rural areas. As a result, food expenditure would have fallen by 11% to 6,640 DH per person nationally in 2022, by 10.1% to 7,380 DH in urban areas and by 12.9% to 5,320 DH in rural areas, concludes the same source.