Page 12 - Contributed Paper Session (CPS) - Volume 1

CPS651 El Mostafa T.

Ageing population in Morocco: Reality and
challenges
El Mostafa TOGUI
High Commission for Planning, Rabat, Morocco

Abstract
The process and mechanisms of ageing are ongoing in Moroccan society. The
extreme speed and extent of the phenomenon requires highlighting different
aspects that characterize it. While in 2014 people aged 60 and over represent
9.6% of all the entire population of Morocco, this proportion is expected to
increase by half between now and 2020. In 2050 one Moroccan in 4 will be
over 60. Though individual situations differ greatly, the Moroccan elderly
population is currently characterized by a feeble coverage of retirement
schemes and health insurances. Several indicators emphasize the vulnerability
of this age group especially women. Moreover, family solidarity modes are
subjected to different influences and changes in parallel with all the societal
changes. So, we note that this field, as in several countries, suffers from a very
obvious lack of updated statistics. Indeed, an Integrated National Strategy
based on several action plans with an adequate regulatory framework seems
unavoidable to face the realities and challenges of demographic
metamorphosis in the future, in particular, the social welfare system.

Keywords
Ageing population; Living Conditions; Family Support; Social Security;
Retirement

1. Introduction
Many countries are currently experiencing, to varying degrees more or less
advanced, the phenomenon of population ageing. The number of over 60
years in the world should at least double, from 900 million in 2015 to 2 billion
in 2050. Demographically, Morocco is often presented as a "young" country
to the extent that nearly one out of three is under 15 years. Over the decades,
Morocco hasn’t escaped this phenomenon since its elderly population
represents a proportion increasingly important and is growing at an
unprecedented pace. Thus, the share of people aged 60 and over represented
9.6% in 2014 versus 8.1% in 2004. This proportion should increase to half by
2020. In 2050, 1 Moroccan out of 4 will be over 60. As it was noted by the
1
CERED (2005, p. 58), "the ageing population represents, undoubtedly, the

1 Center for Studies and Research in Demography

1 | I S I W S C 2 0 1 9