Morocco Sees Significant Decline in Multidimensional Poverty

Morocco has made significant strides in reducing multidimensional poverty, according to the latest update of the 'Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2026' (MPI) report. The report, a joint effort by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative and the United Nations Development Programme, highlights Morocco's progress in decreasing deprivation across health, education, and living standards.

The report indicates that Morocco's MPI value was 0.027 in 2017/2018, with approximately 6.4% of the population, or around 2.27 million people, living in multidimensional poverty. This figure is projected to rise slightly to about 2.42 million by 2024. The average deprivation rate among the poor is 42.0%, with 1.4% of the population in severe poverty, and 10.9% at risk of falling into multidimensional poverty. Additionally, 3.9% of the population lives below the international poverty line of $3.00 per day.

Living standards contribute the most to multidimensional poverty in Morocco, at 46.8%, followed by health at 28.8%, and education at 24.4%. The report shows Morocco as a positive model for reducing poverty rates. In 2011, the MPI value was 0.078, with 17.3% of the population, or 5.68 million people, living in poverty. By 2017/2018, the MPI value had decreased to 0.033, with the poverty rate falling to 7.9%, or approximately 2.81 million people. The severity of deprivation also decreased from 45.5% in 2011 to 42.5% in the latest data.

The report also notes comprehensive reductions in deprivation across all indicators between 2011 and 2017/2018. In education, the deprivation rate related to years of schooling decreased from 13.7% to 5.4%, and school attendance deprivation fell from 6.8% to 3.1%. In health, nutritional indicators improved with a decrease in deprivation from 6.3% to 3.7%, and the poverty-related child mortality rate dropped from 6.6% to 3.6%.

CONTEXT: This matters because Morocco's progress in reducing multidimensional poverty serves as a benchmark for other developing countries. The data underscores the effectiveness of targeted policies in improving living standards, health, and education, which are crucial for sustainable development.