Steep increase in overall unemployment and decline in population growth

According to Benmoussa, the 2024 census stood out for the integration of advanced technological tools, in particular thanks to the development of an inclusive IT system. This covered cartographic work and the geographical location of economic establishments, thus facilitating the work of researchers.

Data was collected from households using two forms: the first gathered information on demographic structures, while the second focused on new themes, such as social security coverage, use of information technology. information and communication (ICT) and environmental data, he said.

The results of the census, published on November 7, made it possible to quickly establish, in just two months, the legal population (37 million inhabitants), a time significantly shorter than the two years necessary in 2014. This performance can be explained through the digitalization of data collection systems. Lahlimi’s successor also announced that other socio-economic indicators would be accessible from today on a dedicated interactive platform. This data will be offered in various formats: downloadable tables, interactive maps and, from 2025, thematic studies and in-depth statistical indicators will also be available.

Benmoussa presented the main results of the RGPH 2024, revealing a significant slowdown in population growth, with an increase rate reduced to 0.85%. Furthermore, the urbanization rate has continued to increase, reaching 62.8% in 2024 compared to 51.4% in the early 1990s. The fertility index has also fallen, falling to less than two children per woman.

In addition, the age pyramid in Morocco is undergoing significant transformations: the demographic weight of young people under 15 years old as well as people of working age is decreasing, while that of individuals over 60 years old is increasing.

the High Commissioner for Planning also highlighted data relating to the languages ​​spoken in Morocco, indicating that 25% of the population speaks Amazigh and only 1% uses Hassaniyya. He also highlighted a marked improvement in literacy results.

In terms of employment, the situation remains alarming. The national unemployment rate rose to a record level of 21% in 2024 compared to 16.4% in 2014. A figure well above that of quarterly surveys, located at 13.6%. In urban areas, it increased from 19.3% to 21.2%, while in rural areas, it jumped from 10.5% to 21.4%.

Chabik Benmoussa qualified these results by specifying that the figures from the quarterly surveys are more reliable since they are based on rigorously sectioned samples while the overall unemployment rate is based on declarations collected by the HCP services from citizens.

Furthermore, the decline in the activity rate was accompanied by a significant increase in unemployment. In 2024, only 41.6% of people aged 15 and over are engaged in economic activity, compared to 47.6% in 2014. This decline particularly affects men, with an activity rate of 67.1% in 2024 compared to 75.5% in 2014, but also women, whose rate fell from 20.4% to 16.8%. The decrease is more marked in rural areas (37.6% in 2024 compared to 45.1% in 2014) than in urban areas (43.8% compared to 49.1%).

Regionally, unemployment is particularly high in the regions of:

– Guelmim-Oued Noun (31.5 %),
– l’Oriental (30,4 %),
– Béni Mellal-Khénifra (26.8%),
– Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra (26.6%),
– Fez-Meknes (23.3%).

On the other hand, it remains relatively lower in the regions of:

– Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab (10.6%),
– Casablanca-Settat (18.8%),
– Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma (19.6%),
– Souss-Massa (19.7%),
– Rabat-Salé-Kénitra (19.8%).