ABSTRACT
Its mixed Arab-Berber population has a literacy rate of 52.3 per cent, well below that of the other major Maghreb states (Tunisia 74.3 per cent and Algeria 69.9 per cent). The GDP per capita is also signifi cantly lower than that of those states, being barely more than half that of Tunisia and two-thirds that of Algeria. The key resource is phosphates, of which it has globally important reserves. Agriculture remains important and Morocco has approximately three times the irrigated areas of Algeria and Tunisia. Its trading pattern is more diverse than that of Tunisia but less cosmopolitan than that of Algeria. Another variable is the defence budget: Morocco’s is just under 40 per cent of that of Algeria but almost seven times that of Tunisia. On the Freedom in the World Rating, it ranks well above both Algeria and Tunisia. Given its proximity to the EU, Morocco strives for Western standards but has a low GDP per capita and remains a focus of illegal drugs trading.
