Rabat – A new national survey conducted by Morocco’s High Commission for Planning (HCP) shows a concerning rise in vulnerability to poverty, particularly in urban areas.
The survey, covering 18,000 households between March 2022 and March 2023, revealed that the percentage of the population at risk of falling into poverty has increased slightly from 12.5% in 2014 to 12.9% in 2022.
This shift reflects a broader trend of growing economic vulnerability, especially in urban centers where a substantial portion of Morocco’s population resides.
The overall national poverty rate has decreased, with the absolute poverty rate dropping from 4.8% in 2014 to 3.9% in 2022. However, urban areas have not seen similar improvements.
In fact, poverty in cities has risen slightly, from 1.6% in 2014 to 2.2% in 2022. This means that more people in urban areas are at risk of slipping into poverty, while poverty rates have steadily declined in rural areas.
The survey noted the important role social safety nets have played in reducing poverty among Morocco’s most vulnerable populations. It said that government programs targeted at the poorest households have had tangible effects.
Despite these efforts, the increasing vulnerability of urban populations suggests that many households still do not benefit from these protections, said the report.
HCP notes that urban areas are witnessing a significant rise in economic vulnerability. In 2014, 7.9% of the urban population was vulnerable to poverty, but by 2022, this figure had climbed to 9.5%. In rural areas, while the vulnerability rate remains high at 19.2%, it has remained relatively stable compared to previous years.
The rising vulnerability in cities is also reflected in shifts in household spending. While urban families continue to face higher living costs, including increased spending on food and housing, their incomes have not kept pace with these rising expenses.
The survey shows that the share of household budgets spent on food has risen from 37% in 2014 to 38.2% in 2022, and housing costs have increased as well.
A rising number of Moroccan households have been struggling to make ends meet in recent years in the wake of soaring inflation and increasing commodity prices.
