As of 2019, there was a total of 246,000 armed forces personnel in the country. The number increased from 245,800 in the previous year. Throughout the period reviewed, the military labor force in Morocco remained above 240,000. In 2021, Morocco ranked as the 5th most powerful military in Africa after Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, and Nigeria.
Government spending on defense
The overall military spending of the government reached approximately 3.72 billion U.S. dollars as of 2019, increasing slightly from 3.7 billion U.S. dollars in the previous year. The government expenditure on the defense industry remained between three percent and four percent of Morocco's gross domestic product (GDP) in recent years. Furthermore, as of 2020, Morocco was one of the leading military spenders in Africa. The ranking was topped by Botswana, Algeria, and Seychelles, which allocated the highest per capita expenditure to the military industry.
Reinforcing military equipment
In 2022, Morocco had nearly 250 military aircrafts, compared to 552 in Algeria and 1,062 in Egypt. Additionally, between 2010 and 2019, Morocco had more than 11,700 military vehicles, including 8,000 armored vehicles and around 3,000 battle tanks. To boost its military strength, the country extensively imports arms. The value of imported arms in Morocco fluctuated significantly in recent decades, peaking at over 1.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2011.
Number of armed forces personnel in Morocco from 2000 to 2019
The source defines Armed forces personnel as: "Active duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces if the training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces."
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World Bank. (December 22, 2022). Number of armed forces personnel in Morocco from 2000 to 2019 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 24, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1220199/number-of-armed-forces-personnel-in-morocco/
World Bank. "Number of armed forces personnel in Morocco from 2000 to 2019." Chart. December 22, 2022. Statista. Accessed August 24, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1220199/number-of-armed-forces-personnel-in-morocco/
World Bank. (2022). Number of armed forces personnel in Morocco from 2000 to 2019. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 24, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1220199/number-of-armed-forces-personnel-in-morocco/
World Bank. "Number of Armed Forces Personnel in Morocco from 2000 to 2019." Statista, Statista Inc., 22 Dec 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1220199/number-of-armed-forces-personnel-in-morocco/
World Bank, Number of armed forces personnel in Morocco from 2000 to 2019 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1220199/number-of-armed-forces-personnel-in-morocco/ (last visited August 24, 2024)
Number of armed forces personnel in Morocco from 2000 to 2019 [Graph], World Bank, December 22, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1220199/number-of-armed-forces-personnel-in-morocco/