Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Rabat — A new poll has revealed that more than one-quarter of Moroccans think about leaving their homeland, with most looking toward Europe as their preferred destination.
The Afrobarometer survey, conducted in February 2024 as part of its tenth round of public opinion research in Morocco, found that 26.8% of participants have considered emigrating to varying degrees. The poll shows clear patterns in who wants to leave and where they want to go.
Men more likely to consider leaving
The survey found striking differences between men and women when it comes to migration thoughts. Men show much stronger interest in leaving Morocco than women do.
About 21.1% of men say they think “a lot” about emigrating, compared to just 10.7% of women. When researchers asked about thinking “somewhat” about leaving, 10.9% of all respondents said yes.
Women, on the other hand, show more contentment with staying put. The survey found that 62.5% of women have never thought about leaving Morocco, compared to 48.4% of men. Overall, more than half of all participants (55.4%) say they have never considered emigrating.
City residents dream of departure more than rural residents
Where people live also affects their migration thoughts. Urban residents express stronger desires to leave than those living in rural areas.
The poll found that 16.8% of city residents think frequently or somewhat about emigrating. In contrast, only 12.1% of rural residents share these thoughts about leaving Morocco.
Europe tops the list of dream destinations
When asked where to emigrate, Moroccans think of Europe as a top destination. The survey shows that 26.2% of those considering migration want to head to European countries.
Men favor Europe even more strongly than women do. About 31.9% of men who want to emigrate choose Europe as their destination, while 20.4% of women make the same choice.
North America ranks second as a preferred destination, attracting 12.3% of potential emigrants. Central and South America barely register as options, with only 1.4% of respondents choosing these regions.
Jobs drive migration dreams
The search for better work opportunities fuels most migration thoughts among Moroccans. The survey found that 22.1% of those considering emigration cite the desire for better jobs and improved working conditions as their main reason.
This job-focused motivation affects men more than women, with about 27.4% of men mentioning work-related reasons for wanting to leave, compared to 16.8% of women.
Economic concerns beyond just jobs also play a role. Some respondents mentioned wanting to improve their overall economic situation (2.4%) or escape poverty and hardship (3.1%).
Other reasons for leaving
The survey uncovered several other motivations for considering emigration. Education draws some potential emigrants, with 3.5% saying they want to pursue better study opportunities abroad.
Business opportunities attract 5.3% of those thinking about leaving. Some Moroccans also want to join family members who have already emigrated, though this represented a smaller group at 0.9% of respondents.
The Afrobarometer findings paint a picture of a country where many citizens, particularly young men in cities, are increasingly looking beyond Morocco’s borders for better opportunities.
What this means is that the pull of Europe and the push of limited job prospects at home create a powerful combination that continues to drive migration thoughts among Moroccans.
