Morocco Drops to 98th in Global Knowledge Index 2024

Rabat – Morocco has experienced a notable decline in the 2024 Global Knowledge Index (GKI), ranking 98th out of 141 countries.

This marks a six-place decline from position in 2023, with the country ranking 92nd last year.

Developed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in collaboration with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Knowledge, the GKI assesses countries on the basis of their knowledge-based development across sectors such as education, research, innovation, and technology.

Morocco’s performance, with a score of 42.8 points below the global average of 47.8, reveals ongoing challenges in key areas, including higher education, gender equity, and economic competitiveness, affecting its ability to advance toward a stronger knowledge-driven economy.

Morocco’s development in need of reform

Morocco scored 42.8 in this year’s Global Knowledge Index, below the global average of 47.8, ranking 98th globally and 7th among medium human development nations. The country showed strengths in areas such as government investment in education and industrial design applications, suggesting potential for innovation in specific sectors.

However, systemic challenges persist. High unemployment among educated individuals reflects a disconnect between higher education outputs and labor market needs, while severe gender disparities, particularly in workforce participation, limit inclusive growth.

These issues point to the need for targeted reforms to align education with economic demands and address structural inequalities for broader development.

Regional context and global leaders

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) topped the rankings in the Arab world, placing 26th globally with 60.9 points. Qatar followed in 39th place with 55.5 points, and Saudi Arabia came in 41st with 54.8 points.

Sweden ranked first worldwide with a score of 68.28, followed by Finland with 67.99, and Switzerland with 67.91.

Morocco’s sectoral performance

In pre-university education, Morocco ranked 93rd globally with a score of 58, indicating weaknesses in foundational education. The country also placed 95th for knowledge capital with 57.7 points and 92nd for its educational enabling environment with 58.4 points, reflecting ongoing challenges in preparing students for higher education and the workforce.

In Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Morocco ranked 100th with a score of 45.2, highlighting gaps in skills development for employment. The country’s TVET components ranked 87th with 40.1 points, while its alignment with the labor market lagged behind, placing 107th with 50.3 points.

Higher education posed significant challenges for Morocco, which ranked 102nd with a score of 37.7. While inputs, such as infrastructure and funding, ranked relatively higher at 48th with 44.8 points, the learning environment ranked 109th with 39.4 points. Additionally, outputs, such as graduate employability, were alarmingly low, placing 136th with 28.9 points.

In research, development, and innovation, Morocco ranked 96th with a score of 26.2. Inputs, including resources and investments, ranked 65th with 28.2 points. However, the country struggled with research outputs, placing 91st with 31.7 points, and the impact of its research remained limited, ranked 112th with 18.6 points.

Meanwhile, in information and communications technology (ICT), Morocco ranked 77th globally with a score of 46.3, showing moderate progress. Infrastructure ranked 82nd with 50.9 points, access to digital technologies placed 67th with 45.5 points, and usage lagged behind at 84th with 42.7 points.

The economy placed Morocco 96th with a score of 46.3, reflecting challenges in competitiveness and value-added production. While the country ranked 68th for economic competitiveness with 53.9 points, it faced struggles in economic openness, where it ranked 100th with 42.3 points, and in domestic value-added financing, ranking 114th with 42.6 points.

Turning to the enabling environment, Morocco secured 95th place with a score of 49.5. In terms of governance, the country ranked 84th with 39.1 points, while socio-economic conditions were slightly worse at 102nd with 46.7 points. On a more positive note, health and environmental factors performed relatively better, with Morocco ranking 86th and scoring 62.7 points.

Morocco ranked 122nd on gender equity, revealing alarming disparities between men and women. The country’s female-to-male labor force participation was particularly low, placing 136th with 29.5 points.

However, there were some areas of improvement, with Morocco ranking 83rd for female representation in parliament (32.1 points) and 78th for female-to-male internet usage, where near parity was achieved with a score of 96 points.

Addressing the challenges

Morocco’s decline in the GKI points to the dire need for reforms in education, research, innovation, and gender equality. To build a competitive knowledge economy, addressing unemployment among educated individuals and reducing gender disparities is essential.

The disconnect between higher education outputs and labor market needs calls for stronger links between education and industry, as well as improved vocational training.

Closing the gender gap in the workforce and leadership roles is also crucial. Initiatives to promote equal education opportunities, support female entrepreneurship, and improve workplace equality can help reduce these disparities.

Strengthening collaboration between educational institutions, research bodies, and the private sector can also help unlock Morocco’s full-fledged potential on the innovation front.