Household Expenditure Disparities Widen Across Moroccan Regions in 2021

Disparities in per capita final household consumption expenditure across Moroccan regions continued to grow in 2021, according to a report from the Higher Commission for Planning (HCP).

Rabat – Disparities in per capita final household consumption expenditure across Moroccan regions continued to grow in 2021, according to a report from the Higher Commission for Planning (HCP).

The results of the HCP report reflect the uneven distribution of economic resources and opportunities within the country.

HCP data indicate that the average per capita household expenditures in 2021 stood at MAD 3,155 ($314), up from the MAD 2,885 ($287) recorded in the preceding year.

The report also shows that three regions – Casablanca-Settat, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, and Fes-Meknes – accounted for over half – 51% – of total household consumption expenditures in 2021.

“In 2021, final household consumption expenditures (FHCE), at the national level, reached an impressive MAD 751.5 billion ($75.1 billion),” the report says.

“The lion’s share of this expenditure, approximately 51.5%, was concentrated in three regions: Casablanca-Settat with 25.3%, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra with 14.7%, and Fès-Meknès with 11.6%,” the HCP report adds.

The regions of Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima and Marrakech-Safi followed behind, accounting for 22.6% of FHCE, distributed at 11.4% and 11.2%, respectively.

Noting the overall state of the economy in 2021, the HCP report shows that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached MAD 1,244.9 billion ($124 billion) in 2021, with a growth rate of 8% following a deep recession of 7.2% in 2020, caused by the COVID outbreak.

The report shows a significant disparity in GDP growth across different regions. The Casablanca-Settat region was responsible for almost a third (32.2%) of national GDP, while two regions of Rabat-Sale-Kenitra and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima created just over a quarter (26.4%) of national wealth, at 15.9% and 10.5% respectively.