RGPH 2024: 19.2% of Moroccan households are headed by women
Moroccan demographics are experiencing profound transformation. This change can be seen through declining fertility and shifting family structures; moreover, over the past decade Moroccan households witnessed notable transition with significant increases in women leading their households from 16.2 percent in 2014 up to 19.2 percent by 2024 as reported by HCP (High Commission for Planning).
On Wednesday, December 17 2024, HCP hosted a press event where major findings of General Population and Housing Census 2024 (RGPH) were unveiled to highlight major transformations within both economic and social structures within Morocco. These results illustrated significant alterations within economic and societal structures of Morocco. Morocco currently boasts an estimated total population of 36,828,330 residents with an increase in numbers by 2,980,088 since 2014. Morocco recorded an annual average growth rate of 0.85% since 2004, less than 1.25 if any. This shift can likely be explained by urban population growth from 20,432,439 in 2014 to 23,110,108 by 2024 – an annual average increase of 1.24 percent according to Chakib Benmoussa of Planning’s high commission for Planning. Rural population increased gradually between 13,415,803 and 13,718,222 people at 0.22 percent annually according to Chakib.
Geographic analysis indicates a remarkable concentration of 71.2 percent of population living in five most populous areas: Casablanca-Settat is at the top, with 7.689 million. Rabat-SaleKenitra (5.133 million), Marrakech-Safi (4.892 million) Fez-Meknes (4.468 million), Tangier-Tetouan al Hoceima (4.0030 million) are also considered highly populous areas, though estimates vary widely from 3.020 million people living there to 2199655 living there
According to a government official, Morocco’s population boom can be observed most clearly along three axes – Rabat-Sale Kenitra, Casablanca-Settat and Tangier-Tetouanal Hoceima axes – along with Marrakech Safi and Souss-Massa, each accounting for 86.2 percent of population increase – more than double than Morocco as a whole. Furthermore, cities saw urban dweller rates jump from 60.4 in 2014 to 62.8 by 2024 with Laayoune Sakia Hamra reaching 92.4 percent while Dakhla Oued Ed-Dahab saw 80.4 percentage rise – this trend reaching 92.4 percent for Laayoune Sakia Hamra reaching 92.4 and Dakhla Oued Ed-Dahab reaching 80.4 percentage in 2024 respectively.
One factor behind population slowdown is declining fertility: TFR dropped from 2.5 mothers per child during 2004 to 1.97 in 2024 – less than generation replacement threshold of 2.1, Benmoussa noted. This pattern can be observed both urban regions (1.77 in 2024 vs 2.01 for 2014) as well as rural ones (2.37 as opposed to 2.55).
Geographic distributions of fertility vary dramatically across regions with Draa-Tafilalet showing significant fertility indices above replacement, Oriental (1.73) and Casablanca-Settat (1.90) experiencing significant drops as a result, according to He added.
Changes to marital status have had a dramatic impact, such as lowering the age at which women can legally get married from 25.7 prior to this change, as well as increasing use of contraceptives, both having had significant effects on population trends. One such change saw permanent celibacy rates for 55 year-old women reach 9.4% by 2024 reflecting this trend which affects 11.1 percent of all women (with this figure particularly strong among urban areas).
However, according to The High Commissioner of Planning’s analysis of household transformations in 2024 there will be 9275,038 households and 7,313,806 in 2014 median size declined from 4.6 persons down to 3.9 persons and there has been nearly doubled number of one person households reaching 11.1% which indicates significant shifts in how families live together and their roles within it.
As a result of these shifts, women’s participation in households has steadily increased from 16.2 per cent in 2014 to 19.2 per cent by 2024, driven by changes to economic and social roles played by women, as well as changes to family dynamics as explained. This pattern can particularly be observed in cities; households headed by female heads is expected to reach 21.6 percent by 2024 while 14.5 per cent remains true of rural areas.