Morocco - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Morocco was 23,450,020 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 23,450,020 in 2020 and a minimum value of 3,619,287 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 3,619,287
1961 3,793,983
1962 3,973,644
1963 4,157,555
1964 4,344,791
1965 4,534,015
1966 4,725,537
1967 4,919,280
1968 5,115,536
1969 5,314,873
1970 5,517,951
1971 5,724,771
1972 5,956,616
1973 6,196,968
1974 6,447,915
1975 6,711,648
1976 6,989,263
1977 7,280,268
1978 7,585,408
1979 7,904,752
1980 8,237,881
1981 8,585,094
1982 8,946,328
1983 9,317,476
1984 9,695,024
1985 10,074,880
1986 10,455,590
1987 10,837,090
1988 11,221,060
1989 11,609,350
1990 12,004,580
1991 12,407,150
1992 12,815,600
1993 13,226,430
1994 13,636,510
1995 13,953,870
1996 14,245,430
1997 14,529,520
1998 14,808,020
1999 15,083,410
2000 15,357,110
2001 15,629,770
2002 15,902,630
2003 16,177,170
2004 16,456,150
2005 16,803,550
2006 17,172,380
2007 17,550,440
2008 17,940,030
2009 18,343,900
2010 18,764,980
2011 19,203,940
2012 19,659,920
2013 20,128,280
2014 20,602,950
2015 21,078,590
2016 21,553,480
2017 22,027,640
2018 22,501,250
2019 22,975,020
2020 23,450,020

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization