Morocco's youth population projected to decline significantly by 2050, UN report indicates
via Le Matin2 min read
A United Nations report, "World Population Highlights 2026: Youth," forecasts a notable shift in Morocco's demographic trajectory, with the 15-24 age group expected to decrease from 6.2 million in 2025 to 5.6 million in 2050, a reduction of approximately 580,000 young people. This represents nearly a 9% decline and marks a significant change, as youth have historically been a dominant demographic in Morocco. Their proportion of the total population is projected to fall from 20.9% in 2000 to 14.1% in 2025, and further to 7.6% by 2050, moving Morocco away from a predominantly young society. This demographic transformation is driven by declining fertility rates since the 1990s and increased life expectancy due to health advancements. The age pyramid is narrowing at the base and widening at the top, indicating a gradual shift towards an older population. This trend aligns Morocco with upper-middle-income economies experiencing similar dynamics, where youth populations are generally declining, with an expected 24% drop by 2050. This contrasts sharply with many other African low-income countries, where youth populations continue to grow rapidly. While a smaller youth population might temporarily ease pressure on education and labor markets, it raises concerns about workforce renewal, social system financing, and economic growth in the medium term. The UN report emphasizes that the focus for public policies should shift from managing a growing youth population to maximizing the pote
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The AUSIM猫tre 2026 report indicates an improvement in the cybersecurity maturity of Moroccan organizations, with the overall maturity index reaching 56% compared to 49% the previous year. This progress is attributed to strengthened governance and increased investments in cybersecurity. However, the report highlights persistent weaknesses in digital sovereignty, revealing that only 35% of organizations in Morocco have mastered this aspect. The findings suggest that while organizations are enhancing their cybersecurity measures, there is still a significant gap in achieving full digital sovereignty.
In accordance with the High Instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, addressed to the Minister of Interior and the President of the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Central Election Monitoring Commission was activated on Monday, July 20, at the Ministry of Interior. This activation aims to ensure the sincerity and integrity of the legislative elections for the election of members of the House of Representatives, scheduled for September 23, 2026. Provincial election monitoring commissions were also activated across various prefectures, provinces, and district prefectures, comprising the Wali or Governor and the King's Attorney General or the King's Prosecutor. Regional commissions were also established to support the work of the provincial commissions. The primary mission of these commissions is to implement practical measures to preserve and guarantee the integrity and sincerity of electoral operations. They will monitor all stages of the electoral process, intervening against any potential disruptions from the current phase until election day and the proclamation of results. The commissions will operate in strict adherence to current laws and regulations, without prejudice to the powers of legislative, judicial, and administrative authorities. To safeguard the integrity of the upcoming electoral process and protect the free choice of voters, these commissions will promptly identify electoral offenses and initiate investigations or legal proceedings as necessary. The Cent
Casablanca's new seawater desalination plant, the largest in Morocco, is scheduled to commence operations in February 2027, according to Nizar Baraka, the Minister of Equipment and Water. The project, launched in June 2024 by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, represents an investment of approximately 11 billion dirhams through a public-private partnership. It is part of the National Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation Program 2020-2027. The plant will initially produce 200 million cubic meters of water annually, expanding to 300 million cubic meters after an extension. Most of this production will supply drinking water to Casablanca and surrounding areas, with the remainder used for agricultural irrigation to reduce pressure on conventional water sources. This initiative addresses several years of drought and declining dam levels, particularly in the Oum Er-Rbia basin, a key water source for the Casablanca-Settat region. The plant will utilize reverse osmosis technology and be powered by a wind farm to minimize its carbon footprint and production costs, aligning with national energy transition and sustainable development goals. The project also includes seawater intake structures, treated water discharge facilities, pumping stations, storage reservoirs, a control and management center, and a water transport network. This plant is a cornerstone of Morocco's water security policy, which emphasizes diversifying water resources, constructing dams, reusing treated