ONDH Report Shows Half of Moroccans Consider Themselves ‘Poor’

Rabat – Morocco’s National Human Development Observatory (ONDH) discussed a report from 2012-2019 outlining the “Dynamics of Poverty” in Morocco during a webinar on Tuesday. The survey does not account for the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Morocco’s economy.

The report’s main finding is that “poverty concerns one in two Moroccans.”

Since 2012, the absolute poverty rate in Morocco has fallen from 20.4% to 17.7%. However, the starkest contrast in data appears in the rift between the urban and rural population.

According to the report, the relative national poverty rate has fallen from 20.4% to 17.7% since 2001. Of those living in rural areas, 36.8% fell below the national poverty rate while just 6.4% of residents of urban areas fell below the threshold.

Morocco’s poverty line lies at an annual income of MAD 14,667.

Based on this figure, 45% of Moroccans in the survey considered themselves poor. A breakdown of the data showed that 58.4% of the rural population considers themselves poor in comparison to 38.6% of residents of urban areas.

Data comparing the economic disparities between the urban and rural populations have shown a similar trend for decades.

Since 2012, 18.2% of Moroccans suffered from chronic poverty, meaning they could not escape the poverty line.

In addition, the report showed that 55.7% of those suffering from chronic poverty could escape poverty. However, the report added that once an individual falls below the poverty line, they are considered “at-risk” for falling below the poverty line again.

86.3% of those that are not at risk of falling below the poverty line will remain in this relatively secure position, according to the report.

The Moroccan government has worked diligently to reduce the poverty rate in Morocco. Programs such as the new development model and social initiatives that target the most impoverished in Morocco have been effective in changing the country’s economy for the better.

Wladna, a program that seeks to end the extortion of minors through panhandling, will expand government child protection services to more cities throughout Morocco and will be nationalized by 2025.