Rabat– Morocco’s publishing industry is undergoing significant changes, marked by the growing influence of digital publishing, particularly in the fields of literature, humanities, and social sciences.
Although the sector still faces challenges related to production, distribution, and circulation, ongoing efforts by public institutions, universities, and cultural associations have helped to invigorate the industry.
These initiatives are contributing to a diversification of Morocco’s literary and academic output, with digital formats playing an increasingly central role in the dissemination of knowledge and cultural content.
A report published in April 2025 by King Abdulaziz Al Saud sheds light on the current state of publishing in Morocco for the 2023-2024 period.
The report reveals that approximately 8.97% of Morocco’s total publishing output now consists of digital publications. Notably, 6.3% of the total digital publications are exclusive to digital formats, with a substantial portion of these works focused on academic and scholarly content, particularly in the humanities and social sciences.
One of the key insights from the report is the publication of academic theses, which play an important role in the country’s publishing landscape. In the reporting period, 1.18% of all publications were academic theses, including 37 doctoral theses and one master’s thesis. This reflects the significant academic contribution to the literary and scholarly production in Morocco.
The report also talks about the contributions of public institutions, ministries, and cultural associations to the overall publishing output. Public institutions and ministries published 95 works, while universities produced 31 publications.
Cultural and professional associations were responsible for publishing 59 works. These contributions underscore the growing collaboration between various sectors, from academia to culture, in the advancement of the publishing industry in Morocco.
In terms of language distribution, the report notes that French-language titles remain dominant in digital publications, with 89 works published in French, followed by 72 titles in Arabic and 41 in English. Arabic-language digital publications accounted for approximately 35.64% of the total, with public institutions and research entities being the primary contributors to this output.
In the digital publishing sector, economic and social studies have emerged as the leading fields of focus. The Center for Policies for New Southern Africa contributed 48.51% of the digital publications in economic studies, followed by social studies, which accounted for around 25% of the digital output.
Notable contributions in social studies came from institutions such as the High Council for Education, Training, and Scientific Research, further highlighting the importance of academic and policy-driven research in the digital publishing landscape.
Despite the challenges faced by the sector, individual initiatives continue to drive growth in the Moroccan publishing industry. These efforts are helping to shape a dynamic and evolving literary and academic environment, with digital publications playing a critical role in expanding access to knowledge and research.
The report provides valuable insights into the ongoing developments in the industry, emphasizing the significant contributions of academic theses and the increasing importance of digital publications in Morocco’s publishing scene.
