Morocco's fertility rate drops to 1.97 children per woman, below replacement level
via Le Matin2 min read
A recent study by the French National Institute of Demographic Studies indicates that Morocco's average number of children per woman has fallen to 1.97 in 2024. This figure places the Kingdom below the generational replacement threshold of 2.1 children per woman, suggesting a potential gradual decline in birth rates. Unlike neighboring Maghreb countries such as Algeria and Tunisia, which experienced periods of fertility increase in the 2000s and 2010s, Morocco has shown a consistent downward trend without significant rebounds. This decline is largely attributed to the increased use of contraception. In Morocco, 70% of married women aged 15 to 49 now use a contraceptive method, a significant rise from approximately 40% in the 1990s. Modern contraceptive methods, including the pill, IUD, injections, implants, and sterilization, are particularly prevalent, used by 58% of married women. This trend suggests that the decrease in Moroccan fertility is not primarily due to women marrying later. In fact, the average age for women at first marriage decreased from 26.3 years in 2004 to 24.6 years in 2024, while for men, it increased from 31.2 to 32.4 years over the same period. This indicates that couples are having fewer children and exercising greater control over births, with the peak fertility remaining concentrated among women aged 25 to 29, and the average age of maternity stable at around 30. The transformation also reflects broader societal factors. The rising cost of living, ex
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
The government is addressing repayment difficulties faced by some beneficiaries of the Forsa program, which has supported over 21,000 project holders since its launch. The program emphasizes accompaniment, with nearly 16,000 projects currently active due to monitoring, supervision, and coaching. For entrepreneurs experiencing constraints in meeting repayment deadlines, the government offers the option to request credit rescheduling based on individual situations, providing additional time to consolidate activities. Between June 2025 and June 2026, 4,600 rescheduling requests were filed. To date, approximately 1,400 beneficiaries have completed the necessary steps to defer loan repayments for up to twelve months, following an amendment to their loan and guarantee contracts. Other requests are still under review by financial institutions in coordination with regional stakeholders. The support system for the first edition of the program, launched in 2022, is provided by financial institutions and regional offices, while incubators support project holders from the second edition, initiated in 2023. These measures aim to sustain the entrepreneurial momentum of the Forsa program and reduce business failures, highlighting post-financing support as crucial for project longevity.
Meryem Belhoussine's research, based on testimonies from over 80 former Moroccan female parliamentarians, highlights the persistent exclusion of women from political governance. She identifies financial and sociocultural obstacles, such as limited resources for campaigns and gender stereotypes within parties, as well as "invisible resistances" like psychological violence and unfulfilled promises. Many women wait 30 to 35 years in activism before reaching parliament, revealing systemic dysfunctions. While quotas have significantly increased women's presence in parliament, they haven't transformed party operations, which remain opaque and influenced by informal networks. Quotas have often led to women being elected through reserved lists rather than competitive local constituencies, and are sometimes seen as political rent rather than merit-based promotion. Belhoussine notes that Moroccan political parties, despite constitutional reforms and legal requirements for female representation in leadership, often only partially adhere to these obligations without developing genuine strategies for promoting female leadership. She argues that the main challenge is no longer just getting women into institutions, but ensuring they have equal conditions, career prospects, and evaluation criteria as men. For the upcoming September 23, 2026 legislative elections, Belhoussine emphasizes that parties must invest in women in truly competitive constituencies. She advocates for democratizing the
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