Over a quarter of Moroccans consider moving abroad, new survey finds

More than 25% of Moroccans are considering leaving their country, according to a new public opinion survey conducted by Afrobarometer and reported by Moroccan media.

The 2024 survey reveals a significant gender gap in migration intentions: 21% of men said they think “a lot” about emigrating, compared to just 10% of women. An additional 10% of all respondents said they “somewhat” think about leaving Morocco.

The primary motivation for those considering emigration is the pursuit of better job opportunities and improved working conditions. A smaller portion of respondents cited education and family reunification as reasons for wanting to live abroad.

Europe is the most preferred destination for potential migrants, followed by North America.

This trend continues a long history of Moroccan migration. Around 3 million Moroccans and their descendants currently live abroad, mostly in Western Europe. France and Spain each host over a million Moroccan expatriates. Many first migrated between 1949 and 1962, when post-war Europe sought labor to support reconstruction efforts.