Morocco is a country located in northwest Africa, bordered by Algeria and Western Sahara, and is just across the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain.
Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara, and refers to the region as its Southern Provinces, and through Western Sahara, the country borders Mauritania. Western Sahara, however, has pushed for independence. Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara is hotly disputed, and remains unresolved, though Morocco effectively controls the majority of the territory.
Morocco is divided into sixteen regions, including its claims on Western Sahara. The country is further divided into prefectures and provinces. The regions of Oued Ed Dahab-Lagouira and Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra are Morocco’s Southern Provinces, which are claimed for Western Sahara, as well as part of Guelmim-Es Semara.
| Region | Pop-2004 | Pop-1994 | Area(km.²) | Area(mi.²) | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaouia – Ouardigha | 1,655,660 | 1,509,077 | 7,010 | 2,707 | Settat |
| Doukkala – Abda | 1,984,039 | 1,793,458 | 13,285 | 5,129 | Safi |
| Fes – Boulemane | 1,573,055 | 1,322,473 | 19,795 | 7,643 | Fes |
| Gharb – Chrarda – Beni Hssen | 1,859,540 | 1,625,082 | 8,805 | 3,400 | Kenitra |
| Grand Casablanca | 3,631,061 | 3,126,785 | 1,615 | 624 | Casablanca |
| Guelmim – Es-Semara | 462,410 | 386,075 | 122,825 | 47,423 | Guelmim |
| Laayoune – Boujdour – Sakia El Hamra | 256,152 | 175,669 | 139,480 | 53,854 | Laayoune |
| Marrakech – Tensift – Al Haouz | 3,102,652 | 2,724,204 | 31,160 | 12,031 | Marrakesh |
| Meknes – Tafilalet | 2,141,527 | 1,903,790 | 79,210 | 30,583 | Meknes |
| Oriental | 1,918,094 | 1,768,691 | 82,900 | 32,008 | Oujda |
| Oued Ed-Dahab – Lagouira | 99,367 | 36,751 | 50,880 | 19,645 | Dakhla |
| Rabat – Sale – Zemmour – Zaer | 2,366,494 | 1,985,602 | 9,580 | 3,699 | Rabat |
| Souss – Massa – Draa | 3,113,653 | 2,635,522 | 70,880 | 27,367 | Agadir |
| Tadla – Azilal | 1,450,519 | 1,324,662 | 17,125 | 6,612 | Beni Mellal |
| Tanger – Tetouan | 2,470,372 | 2,036,032 | 11,570 | 4,467 | Tanger |
| Taza – Al Hoceima – Taounate | 1,807,113 | 1,719,844 | 24,155 | 9,326 | Al Hoceima |
| 16 regions | 29,891,708 | 26,073,717 | 690,275 | 266,518 |