Morocco: cost of living

What is the poverty rate in Morocco?

The absolute poverty rate in Morocco was 3.9% in 2022, down from 4.8% in 2014, according to the High Commission for Planning's National Survey on Household Living Standards 2022-2023. It had fallen to 1.7% in 2019 before rising again. About 1.42 million people were poor in 2022: 512,000 in urban areas and 906,000 in rural areas.

The rural rate fell from 9.5% to 6.9% between 2014 and 2022, while the urban rate rose from 1.6% to 2.2%. Five regions were above the national average, led by Fès-Meknès at 9%. HCP also publishes a vulnerability rate for households at risk of falling into poverty, and a separate multidimensional poverty map based on the 2024 census.

Official sources: HCP: Enquête Nationale sur le Niveau de Vie des Ménages 2022-2023

Are food prices going up in Morocco?

Food prices in Morocco were 3.9% lower in August 2026 than a year earlier, according to the High Commission for Planning's consumer price index. Over the month from July, though, food prices rose by 0.9%, with fish and seafood and dairy products up 2.8%, meat up 2.2% and vegetables up 1.0%, while fruit fell by 1.9%.

Month-on-month changes reflect seasonal patterns, so the year-on-year figure is the better guide to the trend. Bank Al-Maghrib links the fall in food inflation partly to lower prices for olive oil and expects this effect to fade in 2027.

Official sources: HCP: Indice des prix à la consommation, août 2026 · Bank Al-Maghrib: Board meeting press release, 22 September 2026

How much does an average household spend in Morocco?

The average Moroccan household spent 83,713 dirhams a year in 2022, up from 76,317 dirhams in 2014, according to the High Commission for Planning's living standards survey 2022-2023. Urban households spent 95,386 dirhams and rural households 56,769 dirhams. Spending per person was 20,658 dirhams a year.

Food took 38.2% of household budgets in 2022 and housing and energy 25.4%, both larger shares than in 2014, while health care fell to 5.9% and transport to 5.8%. The amounts are in current prices. HCP's survey is carried out about every eight years, so for changes in prices since 2022 use the monthly consumer price index.

Official sources: HCP: Enquête Nationale sur le Niveau de Vie des Ménages 2022-2023

Are fuel and electricity prices rising in Morocco?

Non-food consumer prices in Morocco, which include fuel and energy, were 2.5% higher in August 2026 than a year earlier, according to the High Commission for Planning. Bank Al-Maghrib's statement of 22 September 2026 says the effect of higher world energy prices on domestic prices has been limited by subsidies to road transport operators and by keeping the prices of butane gas and electricity unchanged.

Pump prices for petrol and diesel are not regulated, so they follow world oil prices and the exchange rate. Bank Al-Maghrib expects Brent crude to average 87.2 dollars a barrel in 2026, against 68.2 dollars in 2025. Butane and electricity tariffs are set by the government.

Official sources: HCP: Indice des prix à la consommation, août 2026 · Bank Al-Maghrib: Board meeting press release, 22 September 2026

How unequal is income in Morocco?

Morocco's Gini index of living standards was 40.5% in 2022, up from 39.5% in 2014, according to the High Commission for Planning (HCP). The Gini index runs from 0, where everyone has the same living standard, to 100, where one household has everything.

HCP measures living standards by household spending per person rather than income. It reports that the living standard of the poorest 20% grew by 1.1% a year between 2014 and 2022, and that of the richest 20% by 1.4% a year, with both falling between 2019 and 2022. The middle group grew by 0.8% a year over the whole period.

Official sources: HCP: Enquête Nationale sur le Niveau de Vie des Ménages 2022-2023

How fast are prices rising in Morocco?

In 2025, consumer price inflation in Morocco was 0.7%, according to the IMF. The peak was 6.7% in 2022 and the low 0.3% in 2019. It is 15th highest of 18 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 1.9%. Worldwide: 140th of 165.

How much do households in Morocco spend per person?

In 2025, household consumption per person in Morocco was $2,115, according to the World Bank. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was $2,629, and Morocco placed 9th highest of 11. Of 124 countries with 2025 data, 86th highest.

How many people in Morocco are poor?

The World Bank puts the share of people below the national poverty line in Morocco at 3.9% in 2022. It was 4.8% in 2013. World rank, highest first: 51st of 52.