Regions of Morocco
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Regions are the highest administrative divisions of Morocco. Since the territorial reform of 2015, the country has been divided into 12 regions, including one (Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab) located entirely within the disputed territory of Western Sahara, and two (Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra and Guelmim-Oued Noun) located partially within it. The regions are subdivided into 75 second-level administrative divisions, consisting of prefectures and provinces.[1]
| Regions of Morocco جهات المغرب (Arabic) | |
|---|---|
Map of the regions of Morocco | |
| Category | Unitary state |
| Location | Kingdom of Morocco |
| Number | 12 |
| Populations | 142,955 (Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab) – 6,861,737 (Casablanca-Settat) |
| Government |
|
| Subdivisions | |
Each region is governed by a directly elected regional council. The president of the council is responsible for implementing its decisions. Prior to the 2011 constitutional reforms, this role was held by the Wali, the representative of the central government appointed by the King. The wali now plays a coordinating and supervisory role in regional administration.[2]
Regions since 2015
On 3 January 2010, the Moroccan government established the Consultative Commission for Regionalization (CCR), with the aim of promoting decentralization and granting greater autonomy to the regions, particularly in relation to the issue of Western Sahara. The commission proposed provisional names and boundaries for the new regions.[3]
The names and number of the regions were officially established by decree in the Bulletin Officiel dated 5 March 2015.[4]
Following the reform, the newly created regional councils elected their presidents on 14 September 2015,[5] and the regional governors (walis) were appointed on 13 October 2015.[6]
| Map number |
Region | Capital | Population (2014)[7] | Population (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima |  Tangier | 3,556,729 | 4,030,222 |
| 2 |  Oriental |  Oujda | 2,314,346 | 2,294,665 |
| 3 | Fès-Meknès |  Fès | 4,236,892 | 4,467,911 |
| 4 |  Rabat-Salé-Kénitra |  Rabat | 4,580,866 | 5,132,639 |
| 5 |  Béni Mellal-Khénifra | Beni Mellal | 2,520,776 | 2,525,801 |
| 6 |  Casablanca-Settat |  Casablanca | 6,861,739 | 7,688,967 |
| 7 |  Marrakesh-Safi |  Marrakesh | 4,520,569 | 4,892,393 |
| 8 | Drâa-Tafilalet | Errachidia | 1,635,008 | 1,655,623 |
| 9 |  Souss-Massa |  Agadir | 2,676,847 | 3,020,431 |
| 10 |  Guelmim-Oued Noun[A] | Guelmim | 433,757 | 448,685 |
| 11 |  Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra[A] | Laayoune | 367,758 | 451,028 |
| 12 |  Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab[A] | Dakhla | 142,955 | 219,965 |
A.^ Lies partially or completely within the disputed territory of Western Sahara.
1997 to 2015: Full unitary system
Between 1997 and 2015, Morocco had 16 regions.[8]
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The entirety of Oued Ed-Dahab-Lagouira (1), the vast majority of Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra (2), and part of Guelmim-Es Semara (3) were situated within the disputed territory of Western Sahara. The sovereignty of Western Sahara is disputed between Morocco and the Polisario Front which claims the territory as the independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Most of the region is administered by Morocco as its Southern Provinces. The Polisario Front, based in headquarters at Tindouf in south western Algeria, controls only those areas east of the Moroccan Wall.
Regions before 1997
Before 1997, Morocco was divided into seven regions: Central, Eastern, North-Central, Northwestern, South-Central, Southern, and Tansift.[9]
See also
- ISO 3166-2:EH – Entry for Western Sahara in ISO 3166-2
- ISO 3166-2:MA (2004)