Transformation of the Moroccan Economy: Key Drivers, Shifts, and Future Pathways

Morocco has emerged as one of Africa's success stories, achieving significant progress in economic transformation and the green transition over the past 25 years. Continuing and deepening this transformation is essential to reach the country’s goal of becoming a high-income economy in the coming decades. Significant challenges include managing the risk of the middle-income trap, addressing demographic pressures, promoting inclusive growth, ensuring environmental sustainability, and advancing the broader green transition. A vital part of this effort is developing innovation and technological capabilities, promoting sustainable industrialization, increasing productivity, tackling youth unemployment, and improving labor markets and workforce quality. Morocco’s experience offers valuable lessons for African economic development by demonstrating the potential for industrial transformation, challenging widespread pessimism about Africa’s prospects for industrialization, and positioning Morocco as a potential driver of growth. This paper reviews and synthesizes the transformation of the Moroccan economy, covering the period from 1970 to 2025 and examines government policies and provides insights into Moroccan economic change and lessons for Africa.