GDP per Capita · Data & Comparison
Morocco GDP per Capita
Morocco's GDP per capita: what does $4,225 (nominal) or $10,604 (PPP) actually buy?
Morocco’s GDP per capita in 2024 was $4,225 at nominal exchange rates, while its PPP-adjusted GDP per capita stood at $10,604. The ratio between the two, 2.51, reflects the gap between domestic purchasing power and the value of output at market exchange rates. Over the decade to 2024, nominal GDP per capita rose 27.2% from $3,322 in 2020, and PPP GDP per capita increased 35.4% from $7,831 over the same period. These figures place Morocco in the lower-middle-income group, with income per person still below the levels of many emerging-market peers. The long-run series shows nominal GDP per capita growing from $1,168 in 1980 to $4,225 in 2024, a 3.6-fold increase, while PPP GDP per capita rose from $1,476 to $10,604, a 7.2-fold increase. This page examines the latest nominal and PPP figures, the decade-by-decade path since 1980, the structural drivers behind Morocco’s income per person, and how the country compares with peers. It also considers what GDP per capita does not capture, including GNI per capita of $3,840 in 2024 and the distribution of income.
What is GDP per capita (nominal)?
GDP per capita is a country's GDP divided by its midyear population. It is the most common shorthand for average income or output per person.
How it is measured. Nominal GDP in current US dollars divided by midyear population. Because it uses market exchange rates, it ignores price-level differences between countries and says nothing about how income is distributed.
How to read it. Use it to compare average economic output per person. A high value can reflect high productivity or a small population with large resource or financial income, and it is not the same as median household income.
Source: World Bank WDI. See our methodology.
Current GDP per capita: nominal vs PPP
Latest nominal and PPP readings
Morocco's GDP per capita stood at USD 4,225.46 in 2024 on a nominal basis, up from USD 3,321.73 in 2020, a rise of 27.2 per cent across the five recorded years of the decade. The purchasing power parity (PPP) measure for the same year is USD 10,604.34, or roughly 2.5 times the nominal figure. The PPP series rose 35.4 per cent between 2020 and 2024, from USD 7,831.46, a faster proportional gain than the nominal series over the identical period.
Why the two measures diverge
The gap reflects relative price levels. Nominal GDP per capita converts output at market exchange rates, so it captures the dollar value of goods and services produced per person at prevailing rates. PPP converts using price-adjusted rates that equalise the cost of a representative basket across countries. Because non-traded goods and services are generally cheaper in Morocco than in the United States, the PPP conversion lifts the measured value. The 2024 ratio of 2.51 between the two series is a direct expression of that price differential.
What each measure captures
Nominal GDP per capita is the relevant figure for cross-border transactions, external debt service and dollar-denominated comparisons, and it underpins GNI per capita, which reached USD 3,840.00 in 2024. PPP GDP per capita is the better guide to domestic living standards and real consumption capacity, since it strips out exchange-rate and price-level distortions. The nominal series grew from USD 1,167.52 in 1980 to USD 4,225.46 in 2024, while the PPP series moved from USD 1,475.87 to USD 10,604.34 over the same 44 years.
Decade trajectories compared
The two series have not moved in lockstep. Nominal GDP per capita fell 1.9 per cent across the 1980s, from USD 1,167.52 to USD 1,145.88, whereas the PPP measure rose 64.4 per cent, from USD 1,475.87 to USD 2,426.15. The 2000s produced the largest nominal expansion, 111.1 per cent, from USD 1,488.21 to USD 3,141.22, against 69.3 per cent for PPP. In the 2010s nominal growth slowed to 15.0 per cent while PPP added 24.0 per cent, and the 2020s show 27.2 per cent nominal against 35.4 per cent PPP.
Reading the 2024 position
The 2024 nominal figure of USD 4,225.46 sits above the 2020s mean of USD 3,759.25, and the PPP figure of USD 10,604.34 exceeds its decade mean of USD 9,347.06. Both series therefore closed the period above their five-year averages. Real GDP growth of 3.79 per cent in 2024 supported the per capita gains, following a contraction of 7.18 per cent in 2020. The PPP reading above USD 10,600 places Morocco's domestic purchasing capacity well ahead of what the nominal USD 4,225 figure implies.
- Nominal 2024: USD 4,225.46 per capita at market exchange rates.
- PPP 2024: USD 10,604.34 per capita at price-adjusted rates.
- Ratio: PPP is 2.51 times nominal, reflecting lower domestic price levels.
- GNI 2024: USD 3,840.00 per capita, below nominal GDP per capita.
Morocco GDP per capita, nominal and PPP, selected years
| Year | GDP per capita (USD) | GDP per capita PPP (USD) | PPP/nominal ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1167.52 | 1475.87 | 1.26 |
| 1990 | 1290.28 | 2692.65 | 2.09 |
| 2000 | 1488.21 | 3762.37 | 2.53 |
| 2010 | 3101.34 | 6593.75 | 2.13 |
| 2024 | 4225.46 | 10604.34 | 2.51 |
The long arc since 1980: decade by decade
1980s: a lost decade in nominal terms
Nominal GDP per capita opened the 1980s at USD 1,167.52 (1980) and closed at USD 1,145.88 (1989), a decline of 1.9 per cent across the decade. The trough of USD 707.48 sat well below the decadal mean of USD 940.42. The PPP series diverged sharply, rising from USD 1,475.87 to USD 2,426.15, a gain of 64.4 per cent. The gap between the two measures reflects exchange rate movements and relative price effects rather than a divergence in real output.
1990s: stabilisation and recovery
The 1990s reversed the nominal contraction. GDP per capita rose from USD 1,290.28 (1990) to USD 1,619.97 (1999), growth of 25.6 per cent, with a decadal mean of USD 1,470.26. The PPP measure advanced 35.7 per cent, from USD 2,692.65 to USD 3,653.75. GNI per capita climbed 31.4 per cent over the same period. The decade's growth was modest but consistent, and it established the base from which the 2000s expansion ran.
2000s: the fastest nominal expansion on record
Nominal GDP per capita more than doubled, from USD 1,488.21 (2000) to USD 3,141.22 (2009), growth of 111.1 per cent. The decadal mean of USD 2,241.50 sits between those endpoints. PPP per capita rose 69.3 per cent, from USD 3,762.37 to USD 6,368.13. Total GDP grew 137.1 per cent across the decade. This was the steepest per capita expansion in the series, and it moved Morocco into a different nominal range entirely.
2010s: slower nominal growth, steady PPP gains
The 2010s delivered a marked deceleration. Nominal GDP per capita moved from USD 3,101.34 (2010) to USD 3,565.39 (2019), growth of 15.0 per cent, the weakest full-decade gain since the 1980s. PPP per capita rose 24.0 per cent, from USD 6,593.75 to USD 8,177.63. GNI per capita grew just 10.0 per cent. The nominal series peaked at its 2019 endpoint, meaning the decade contained no higher reading than its final year.
2020s: pandemic shock and rebound
The 2020s opened with a contraction: GDP growth of -7.18 per cent in 2020 pulled nominal per capita to USD 3,321.73 from the 2019 level of USD 3,565.39. Recovery followed. By 2024 nominal per capita reached USD 4,225.46, a 27.2 per cent gain over the 2020 opening value and the highest reading in the series. PPP per capita crossed USD 10,000 for the first time, at USD 10,604.34, up 35.4 per cent from USD 7,831.46 in 2020. GDP growth for 2024 stood at 3.79 per cent.
Turning points across four decades
- Nominal per capita rose from USD 1,167.52 (1980) to USD 4,225.46 (2024), a multiple of roughly 3.6.
- PPP per capita rose from USD 1,475.87 (1980) to USD 10,604.34 (2024), a multiple of roughly 7.2.
- The 2000s supplied the largest single-decade nominal gain at 111.1 per cent; the 1980s the only decline at -1.9 per cent.
- The 2020 shock of -7.18 per cent GDP growth was the deepest annual contraction in the recorded series.
Decade averages and growth of GDP per capita, nominal and PPP
| Decade | Nominal mean (USD) | Nominal growth (%) | PPP mean (USD) | PPP growth (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 940.42 | -1.9 | 1931.89 | 64.4 |
| 1990s | 1470.26 | 25.6 | 3167.67 | 35.7 |
| 2000s | 2241.50 | 111.1 | 5037.72 | 69.3 |
| 2010s | 3338.15 | 15.0 | 7562.91 | 24.0 |
| 2020s | 3759.25 | 27.2 | 9347.06 | 35.4 |
What drives Morocco’s income per person
Exports and industrial base
Morocco's GDP per capita reached USD 4,225.46 in 2024, up from USD 3,321.73 in 2020, a 27.2 per cent rise across five years. That expansion rests on a narrow export base. Phosphates and derived products remain the country's largest goods export, while automotive assembly has become the leading manufacturing export since the mid-2010s, with Renault and Stellantis plants near Tangier and Kenitra. The 2000s illustrate the leverage: GDP per capita rose 111.1 per cent over the decade, from USD 1,488.21 to USD 3,141.22, a period when total GDP grew 137.1 per cent. Export orientation, not domestic demand, carried that decade.
Agriculture and drought exposure
Agriculture employs a large share of the labour force but contributes a small share of output, leaving rural incomes exposed to rainfall. Cereal harvests swing widely with drought, and the sector's volatility transmits directly into headline growth. GDP growth averaged 4.79 per cent in the 2000s but fell to 3.50 per cent in the 2010s and 2.05 per cent in the 2020s, a decade that opened with a 7.18 per cent contraction in 2020. The 2010s GDP per capita gain of 15.0 per cent, from USD 3,101.34 to USD 3,565.39, was the weakest full-decade advance since the 1980s.
Informal sector and youth unemployment
A substantial share of employment sits outside formal contracts, concentrated in trade, construction and small manufacturing. Informal work limits tax receipts and productivity growth, and it distorts the per capita picture because output is under-recorded. Youth unemployment remains high, particularly among graduates, and female labour force participation is low by regional comparison. GNI per capita of USD 3,840.00 in 2024 sits below GDP per capita of USD 4,225.46, a gap consistent with net factor income flowing abroad. The 2010s GNI per capita gain of 10.0 per cent, from USD 3,190.00 to USD 3,510.00, lagged the 15.0 per cent GDP per capita rise.
Energy imports and the external constraint
Morocco imports close to all of its liquid fuels and a large share of its electricity, so the per capita income path tracks energy prices. Purchasing power parity GDP per capita reached USD 10,604.34 in 2024 against USD 4,225.46 at market exchange rates, a ratio of roughly 2.5, reflecting lower domestic price levels. The PPP measure rose 35.4 per cent over 2020 to 2024, faster than the market-rate series, as the dirham's managed float and subsidy reform altered relative prices. Import dependence leaves the current account and the currency exposed to oil price shocks, which feed through to household purchasing power.
Morocco GDP and GDP per capita, selected years
| Year | GDP (USD billion) | GDP per capita (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 22.77 | 1167.52 |
| 1990 | 31.42 | 1290.28 |
| 2000 | 42.54 | 1488.21 |
| 2010 | 100.87 | 3101.34 |
| 2024 | 160.61 | 4225.46 |
How Morocco compares with peers and what GDP per capita misses
Regional context and peer comparison
Morocco's GDP per capita reached USD 4,225 in 2024, up from USD 3,102 in 2010 and USD 1,488 in 2000. In purchasing power parity terms the figure is USD 10,604 for 2024, against USD 6,594 in 2010. On both measures Morocco sits in the lower-middle-income band. Comparable North African economies such as Egypt and Tunisia have historically recorded PPP per capita figures in a similar USD 9,000 to 13,000 range, while Jordan and Lebanon have traded above Morocco for much of the period. The Moroccan path is one of steady convergence within its income group rather than a break into upper-middle-income territory.
Growth record against the peer group
Morocco's real GDP growth averaged 4.79 per cent in the 2000s, 3.50 per cent in the 2010s and 2.05 per cent across 2020 to 2024, a period distorted by the 7.18 per cent contraction in 2020. The 2000s expansion lifted GDP per capita by 111.1 per cent over the decade, the strongest in the series. The 2010s delivered only 15.0 per cent. Peer economies with higher oil or tourism exposure have shown sharper but more volatile profiles. Morocco's comparatively low volatility, with growth ranging from 0.52 per cent to 5.39 per cent in the 2010s, is a distinguishing feature rather than a growth advantage.
GNI per capita and the gap with GDP
GNI per capita stood at USD 3,840 in 2024, below the USD 4,225 GDP per capita figure. The gap reflects net factor income flows, including remittances and returns on foreign investment, which do not accrue fully to residents. GNI per capita rose 17.8 per cent across 2020 to 2024, against 27.2 per cent for GDP per capita over the same span. The 2000s show a similar pattern, with GNI per capita growing 99.4 per cent against 111.1 per cent for GDP per capita. The divergence is modest but persistent.
What the averages conceal
National averages mask wide dispersion. Urban and rural consumption levels in Morocco differ substantially, and the informal sector employs a large share of the labour force, activity that national accounts capture imperfectly. A GDP per capita of USD 4,225 says nothing about the median household. Distributional data, including Gini coefficients and poverty headcounts, are needed to interpret the headline. The 2020 contraction of 7.18 per cent illustrates the exposure: a single shock can erase several years of per capita gains, and recovery is uneven across regions and sectors.
Measurement caveats
- PPP conversion adjusts for price-level differences, lifting Morocco from USD 4,225 to USD 10,604 in 2024.
- GNI per capita of USD 3,840 excludes income remitted abroad and includes inflows from Moroccans resident overseas.
- Decade growth rates of 111.1 per cent (2000s) and 15.0 per cent (2010s) show how sensitive comparisons are to the chosen base year.
Morocco GNI per capita and GDP per capita, selected years
| Year | GNI per capita (USD) | GDP per capita (USD) | GNI/GDP ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1000.00 | 1167.52 | 0.86 |
| 1990 | 1180.00 | 1290.28 | 0.91 |
| 2000 | 1580.00 | 1488.21 | 1.06 |
| 2010 | 3190.00 | 3101.34 | 1.03 |
| 2024 | 3840.00 | 4225.46 | 0.91 |
Frequently asked questions
What is Morocco's GDP per capita in current US dollars?
Morocco's GDP per capita was about USD 3,700 in 2023, up from roughly USD 3,100 in 2019, according to World Bank current-price data. The figure remains below the Middle East and North Africa average, which stood near USD 8,000 in the same year. Nominal GDP reached approximately USD 141 billion in 2023, against a population of about 37.5 million. Exchange-rate movements matter: the dirham's value against the dollar shifts the dollar figure even when real output is unchanged. Current-price data therefore overstate or understate living standards relative to purchasing-power figures, which place Morocco near USD 10,000 per capita.
What is Morocco's GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power?
On a purchasing-power-parity basis, Morocco's GDP per capita was approximately USD 10,400 in 2023, roughly 2.8 times the nominal dollar figure. The gap reflects lower domestic price levels, particularly for non-traded services, which raise real consumption relative to the current-dollar measure. The IMF projects PPP GDP per capita rising towards USD 12,000 by 2028, assuming average real growth near 3.5 per cent. Morocco's PPP figure remains below that of Tunisia, at about USD 13,200 in 2023, and well below the world average near USD 17,000. PPP data are better suited to comparisons of living standards than nominal dollar figures.
How fast has Morocco's GDP per capita grown over the past decade?
Morocco's real GDP per capita grew at an average of about 1.4 per cent annually between 2013 and 2023, well below the roughly 3.0 per cent average real GDP growth recorded over the same period. The difference reflects population growth of approximately 1.0 per cent per year. Growth was uneven: per capita output fell by about 7 per cent in 2020 during the pandemic, then recovered by roughly 7 per cent in 2021. Drought cycles, which cut agricultural value added, weigh on the series because agriculture accounts for around 12 per cent of GDP and a larger share of employment. Per capita income in 2023 was only about 15 per cent above its 2013 level.
Is Morocco's GDP per capita growing or shrinking?
Morocco's GDP per capita is growing, though slowly. Real GDP expanded by 3.4 per cent in 2023, against population growth near 1.0 per cent, implying per capita growth of roughly 2.4 per cent. In 2022 the equivalent figure was about 0.6 per cent, as real GDP rose 1.3 per cent. The trajectory is positive but volatile, driven by rainfall and European demand for Moroccan exports and tourism. The IMF's 2024 Article IV projection put medium-term real growth near 3.5 per cent, which would yield per capita gains of about 2.5 per cent annually if population growth holds. Sustained per capita convergence with upper-middle-income peers is not yet established.
How does Morocco's GDP per capita compare with other North African economies?
Morocco's nominal GDP per capita of about USD 3,700 in 2023 sits below Algeria, at roughly USD 5,300, and above Egypt, at about USD 3,500. Libya's figure, near USD 7,300, reflects hydrocarbon rents and is not comparable in structure. On PPP terms Morocco records about USD 10,400, against Egypt's roughly USD 17,600 and Algeria's near USD 15,700. Morocco's position is therefore mid-ranking regionally on nominal terms but lower on PPP, reflecting price levels and the weight of low-productivity agriculture. Tunisia, at about USD 4,200 nominal, exceeds Morocco on both measures. Regional comparisons are sensitive to exchange-rate regimes and subsidy structures.
What drives changes in Morocco's GDP per capita?
Agriculture contributes around 12 per cent of GDP but employs roughly 30 per cent of the labour force, so rainfall variability moves national output by up to 1.5 percentage points in a single year. Tourism receipts reached about USD 10.5 billion in 2023, equal to roughly 7 per cent of GDP. Remittances added approximately USD 11 billion, near 8 per cent of GDP, supporting household consumption. Manufacturing, led by automotive exports of about USD 14 billion in 2023, underpins productivity gains. Population growth near 1.0 per cent annually sets the per capita threshold: real GDP growth must exceed that rate for living standards to rise. Employment growth has lagged output, with unemployment near 13 per cent in 2023.