HCP: Moroccans’ living standards improved between 2014 and 2022

RABAT - Living standards of Moroccans improved between 2014 and 2022, according to the High Commission for Planning (HCP).

The average standard of living of Moroccan households, assessed through their consumption expenditure, amounted to 83,713 dirhams yearly at the national level (95,386 dirhams in urban areas and 56,769 dirhams in rural areas), HCP pointed out in its latest report.

This overall expenditure covers all goods and services consumed by households, whether purchased, self-consumed or received as gifts or wages in kind. It also includes the estimated rent that households would pay in a rental situation.

Noting that measuring the living standard is generally carried out according to the average annual expenditure per person, HCP pointed out that the average living standard per person increased from 15,876 dirhams per year in 2014 to 20,389 dirhams in 2019 and 20,658 dirhams in 2022. On a monthly basis, the average expenditure per person increased from 1,323 dirhams in 2014 to 1,699 dirhams in 2019 and to 1,722 dirhams in 2022.

In urban areas, the average annual expenditure per person increased from 19,513 dirhams in 2014 to 24,497 dirhams in 2019, reaching 24,898 dirhams in 2022.

In rural areas, after recording an increase from 10,425 dirhams in 2014 to 13,357 dirhams in 2019, the average annual expenditure per person slightly decreased to 13,010 dirhams in 2022.

The survey also reveals that nearly two-thirds of the population (69.9%) nationwide have a standard of living lower than the average annual expenditure per person. This proportion differs between urban (59.5%) and rural (88.6%) areas.

HCP also noted that half of the Moroccan population has a standard of living lower than 14,710 dirhams nationwide. This median value reaches 17,765 dirhams in urban areas and 10,773 dirhams in rural areas.

At constant prices, the standard of living improved at an annual rate of 1.1% between 2014 and 2022. This moderate improvement results from an increase of 3.1% between 2014 and 2019 and a decrease of 3.1% between 2019 and 2022.