Morocco fertility rate hits historic low: contraception boom reshapes Maghreb
A French study reveals a continuous decline in births across the Maghreb. Morocco’s fertility rate has hit a historic low, accelerating population aging amid longer education periods and massive contraceptive use.
The findings are conclusive. According to a study published this Wednesday by the National Institute for Demographic Studies, the number of births is collapsing rapidly and simultaneously across North Africa. Morocco stands out with a continuous and progressive decline since the 1990s, never experiencing the temporary rebounds observed in Algeria or Tunisia. As a direct consequence, Morocco’s fertility rate has reached an unprecedented low in 2024 with only 1.97 children per woman. A dramatic shift compared to the seventies, when the regional average ranged between seven and eight children.
On Bladi.net : Morocco’s Fertility Rate Falls Below Replacement: What It Means for the Future
This profound transformation is explained by evolving life choices. Young people, particularly women, pursue their education longer and enter the job market later. But the true specificity of the Kingdom lies in massive recourse to contraceptive methods. Today, 71% of married Moroccan women use contraceptives. This is significantly higher than their Algerian and Tunisian neighbors, where this proportion stagnates around 50 to 55%, whereas it reached 60 to 65% in the early 2000s.
On Bladi.net : Morocco no longer has enough children, aging is accelerating
This decline, described as "historic" by researchers, inevitably reshapes the age pyramid and slows overall demographic growth. While the region faces "long-term stable" aging, the phenomenon remains slightly more moderate in Morocco for now. In 2024, the share of people aged sixty and over stands at 13.8%, compared to 17% in Tunisia and 10.5% in Algeria a year earlier. However, experts warn that this aging pace will automatically accelerate over the coming years.
