Aging Morocco is a problem.
Morocco is experiencing a significant decline in its fertility rate, with women now having an average of just 1.97 children—below the replacement level of 2.1. A decade ago, this figure stood at 2.5. The demographic shift is evident as the share of children under 15 has dropped from 31% in 2004 to 26.5% today, while the percentage of citizens over 60 has nearly doubled from 8% to 13.8%. This equates to 5 million older people today, up from 3.2 million in 2004.
A grandmother in Rabat reflects on the change: “When I was young, big families were normal. Now, my daughter believes two children are enough. Life is harder now, and I understand.” 
The trend is more pronounced in urban areas, where women have an average of 1.77 children compared to 2.1 a decade ago. Even rural areas, traditionally known for larger families, have seen fertility drop from 3.1 in 2004 to 2.37 today.
Rising living costs are a major factor. Parents cite expenses like education, healthcare, and daily essentials as reasons to limit family size. A father in Casablanca explains: “We stopped at two kids to give them a better life. It’s not just about feeding them anymore.”
This demographic shift poses significant challenges. The aging Morocco population is growing at a much faster rate—4.6% in 2024, compared to an overall population growth of just 0.85%. This imbalance raises concerns about future support for the elderly as fewer young people enter the workforce.
Policymakers face mounting pressure to introduce strategies that support families and encourage higher birth rates to ensure long-term social and economic stability.
