Survey: One-Third of Moroccans Express Desire to Emigrate, Citing France and Canada as Top Destinations

The survey was conducted in 2021 and 2022 among more than 23,000 people in 10 countries in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region as part of the 7th edition of the Arab Barometer’s annual report, a research network based at Princeton University in the United States. It reveals that 34% of Moroccans (one Moroccan in three) wish to emigrate. 22% of Moroccans said they want to migrate to France, 21% want to settle in Canada, 19% have chosen Germany and only 15% want to leave Morocco for the United States, details the Arab Barometer.

28% of Moroccans who want to emigrate are over 30 years old, while 47% are between 18 and 29 years old. As for their level of education, 40% of them hold a university degree, and 32% have a high school diploma or less.

The survey also reveals that 66% of Moroccans want to leave Morocco for economic reasons, 19% want to pursue their studies abroad, only 3% want to migrate for security reasons and that 53% of respondents want to emigrate without even having legal papers.