2025 country profile

How democratic is
Morocco?

Morocco scores 52.7 out of 100 and ranks 96 of 179 in our independent 2025 democracy measure. Its lowest-scoring test is free and fair elections. Explore the evidence and history below.

Democracys.org beta estimate, derived from V-Dem v16. A measure of political institutions and conditions—not a percentage of democracy or a judgment of people.

Printable country brief Compare this country

DEMOCRACYS SCORE

52.7out of 100Major democratic constraints

2025 rank96 of 179

10-year change+2.0

25-year change+8.5

Source-bound range46.6–59.9

Weakest areaElections

The source-bound range is an uncertainty guide, not a confidence interval for this combined score. How to read the range →

SCORE HISTORY

Morocco, 1975–2025

The shaded area is a plain-language uncertainty guide. Treat small score differences cautiously.

About uncertainty

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

What changed on the ground?

A documented development to help interpret the institutions behind the score.

2024 context · Freedom House assessment

A critical public figure faced further imprisonment

A former human-rights minister received another prison sentence after criticizing the king from prison; rights groups described earlier charges as politically motivated. The concern is the space for challenging authority and the fairness of legal proceedings. This profile’s context concerns Morocco, not the separately assessed territory of Western Sahara.

Read the country report · Freedom in the World 2025

AI-assisted source summary · not independently expert-reviewed

What this context does—and does not—explain

This is a selected development, not a complete political history. Its date may differ from the selected comparison period. It is not evidence that one event caused a particular number of points, and it may describe progress even when this index declines.

The scores use V-Dem. The narrative summarizes a separate assessment by Freedom House, whose definitions and coverage differ. Neither organization endorses this website. The summary is AI-assisted, source-linked, and has not received independent country-expert review. Source checked October 5, 2026.

Why democracy measures can disagree →

UNDERSTAND THE CHANGE

What drove the score?

2015–2025 · the measured story

The score for Morocco rose 2.0 points, from 50.7 to 52.7 between 2015 and 2025. 3 of the five areas improved while 2 worsened, so the headline combines competing movements. Participation contributed the largest downward push in the score calculation.

Read the political context ↓

Largest influence on the calculation

Participation

The evidence rates opportunities to participate through civic organizations, direct democracy, and local or regional institutions less favorably.

Area score: 46.6 → 39.3
Approx. contribution to overall change: −1.6 points

Moving in the other direction

Public reasoning

The evidence rates public justification, consultation, and engagement with opposing arguments more favorably.

Area score: 73.0 → 81.2
Approx. contribution to overall change: +1.4 points

These contributions explain the calculation—not the causes. The five area scores combine several indicators; they do not identify which individual law, election, or event changed.

When did the biggest shifts appear?

The largest year-to-year movements within this period. These are changes in annual estimates, not precise dates of political events.

2016–2017−0.6 points
The overall score fell from 50.8 to 50.2. Rights and checks supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2020–2021+0.5 points
The overall score rose from 50.6 to 51.1. Political equality supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2023–2024+1.4 points
The overall score rose from 51.5 to 52.9. Public reasoning supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 52.9 in 2024. Small differences may fall within the source’s uncertainty.

See all five areas and how contributions are calculated

Changes in inputs versus contributions to the overall score
Area	2015	2025	Input change	Approx. contribution
Participation	46.6	39.3	−7.3	−1.6
Public reasoning	73.0	81.2	+8.2	+1.4
Rights and checks	64.3	71.8	+7.5	+1.3
Political equality	50.3	56.1	+5.8	+1.1
Elections	26.4	25.9	−0.5	−0.1

We change the five inputs from their starting to ending values in every possible order, then average each area’s effect on the formula. This distributes the formula’s interactions (a Shapley allocation). It is a mathematical attribution, not a causal estimate.

Inputs and published scores are rounded, so contributions are approximate and may not add exactly to the displayed total. No significance test is implied. Read the full scoring method →

BENEATH THE SCORE

Five dimensions of democracy

The headline score cannot show where a political system is strong or constrained. These five tests can. Each has equal weight in the beta standard.

Free and fair elections

Can people choose their leaders through broad voting rights, honest elections, free political groups, and open public debate?

25.9

Rights and checks on power

Are basic freedoms protected, laws applied fairly, courts independent, and leaders prevented from abusing power?

71.8

Public participation

Can people shape public life through civic groups, direct voting, and meaningful local and regional government?

39.3

Public reasoning

Do leaders explain decisions, consult the public, answer opposing arguments, and consider the common good?

81.2

Political equality

Do different social groups have equal rights, access, resources, and a real chance to influence political power?

56.1

HOW TO READ THIS PROFILE

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.

The score breakdown identifies which parts of the measure changed most. The country report adds documented political context. Together they help explain the institutions at stake—but they do not prove that a specific event produced a specific number of points.

Why this score differs from other democracy indices →

What a declining score can—and cannot—tell us about democratic backsliding

A recent improvement can coexist with a long-term decline. Always compare the dates, check the linked source, and consider developments the selected narrative does not cover.

ANNUAL DATA

Morocco score table

Download Morocco CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	52.7	46.6–59.9	25.9	71.8	39.3	81.2	56.1
2024	52.9	46.8–60.1	26.1	71.8	39.7	81.2	56.3
2023	51.5	45.0–58.8	26.2	71.8	40.1	72.1	55.8
2022	51.5	44.8–58.8	26.2	71.7	40.5	72.1	55.6
2021	51.1	44.6–58.5	26.1	68.1	40.9	72.1	56.3
2020	50.6	44.4–57.9	25.7	68.1	42.4	72.1	52.9
2019	50.3	44.0–57.5	25.7	69.8	42.8	70.3	50.7
2018	50.2	44.2–57.8	26.2	68.7	43.2	70.3	50.2
2017	50.2	43.5–56.9	25.9	68.4	42.9	71.2	50.2
2016	50.8	44.4–57.6	26.6	64.4	46.2	73.0	50.7
2015	50.7	44.4–57.7	26.4	64.3	46.6	73.0	50.3
2014	50.1	43.5–56.7	27.0	63.4	43.4	74.5	49.1
2013	50.0	43.7–56.7	26.9	63.4	42.9	75.0	49.1
2012	50.7	44.3–57.3	26.5	66.0	44.2	75.5	48.9
2011	50.3	43.8–56.9	26.2	66.0	43.6	74.9	48.9
2010	45.9	39.0–52.2	25.6	65.4	34.0	62.9	48.6
2009	45.7	38.9–52.2	25.4	63.7	34.4	62.7	49.3
2008	45.9	39.3–52.6	25.2	64.3	34.8	62.7	49.5
2007	45.6	38.9–52.4	25.8	64.1	33.0	62.7	49.5
2006	45.8	39.0–52.5	25.5	64.1	34.2	62.7	49.2
2005	45.6	39.3–52.6	25.8	64.1	34.6	61.0	49.1
2004	45.3	38.4–52.2	25.3	63.2	32.5	64.2	48.6
2003	45.4	38.5–52.3	25.3	63.2	32.9	64.2	48.6
2002	45.3	38.5–52.3	24.3	64.1	33.3	64.2	48.2
2001	44.7	38.2–52.0	23.9	64.1	33.7	64.2	45.4
2000	44.2	37.3–51.1	23.7	62.3	32.9	64.2	45.4
1999	38.8	31.4–45.6	21.3	60.0	29.5	48.6	40.7
1998	38.1	30.7–44.7	21.2	60.0	29.5	46.1	39.6
1997	35.4	28.4–42.2	20.1	60.0	29.5	36.2	37.0
1996	34.2	27.4–41.1	19.2	62.1	26.3	34.9	34.9
1995	33.6	26.9–40.7	19.2	58.7	26.3	34.9	34.9
1994	33.6	26.9–40.7	19.2	58.7	26.3	34.9	34.9
1993	33.1	26.4–40.3	19.0	57.9	26.3	34.9	33.2
1992	32.8	26.2–40.0	18.5	56.6	26.3	34.9	33.2
1991	32.6	25.4–39.4	17.2	57.8	26.3	34.9	33.3
1990	31.7	24.8–38.7	17.0	55.1	25.9	34.9	31.6
1989	28.8	21.7–35.3	16.4	49.1	18.0	34.9	31.6
1988	28.7	21.8–35.4	16.4	49.1	17.8	34.9	31.6
1987	28.7	21.8–35.4	16.4	49.1	17.8	34.9	31.6
1986	28.6	21.7–35.2	16.0	49.1	17.8	34.9	31.6
1985	28.6	21.7–35.2	16.0	49.1	17.8	34.9	31.6
1984	28.5	21.8–35.1	16.0	49.1	17.4	34.9	31.6
1983	27.8	20.5–33.8	15.9	49.1	17.4	30.9	31.6
1982	27.2	20.2–33.2	15.9	49.1	17.4	28.0	31.6
1981	27.2	20.2–33.2	15.9	49.1	17.4	28.0	31.6
1980	27.3	20.2–33.3	15.9	48.9	17.4	28.0	32.1
1979	26.0	18.6–31.7	15.9	47.5	16.1	28.0	27.9
1978	25.9	18.6–31.6	15.6	46.9	16.5	28.0	27.9
1977	23.6	16.7–29.1	14.5	33.8	16.9	28.0	27.9
1976	22.7	16.2–28.3	13.0	29.7	17.8	28.0	27.9
1975	22.2	15.5–27.3	13.0	29.4	16.9	28.0	26.6
1974	22.4	15.7–27.5	13.5	29.4	16.9	28.0	26.6
1973	25.2	18.0–30.7	15.1	45.4	16.9	27.2	26.6
1972	25.4	18.0–30.8	15.2	46.0	16.9	27.2	26.6
1971	23.4	15.3–28.9	15.2	46.0	9.8	27.2	26.6
1970	22.3	15.3–27.5	13.6	37.5	13.1	25.3	26.6
1969	19.5	12.6–24.5	12.4	28.6	9.6	25.3	25.9
1968	19.7	12.6–24.7	13.2	28.6	9.6	25.3	25.9
1967	19.7	12.6–24.7	13.2	28.6	9.6	25.3	25.9
1966	19.7	12.6–24.7	13.2	28.6	9.6	25.3	25.9
1965	22.7	14.9–28.0	15.9	43.5	9.6	25.3	25.9
1964	22.9	15.1–28.2	16.8	43.5	9.6	25.3	25.9
1963	21.9	14.4–27.3	15.3	39.4	9.6	25.3	25.9
1962	19.4	13.1–24.4	7.1	31.0	12.9	25.3	26.9
1961	16.8	10.5–21.7	7.1	28.3	7.5	23.8	24.2
1960	16.0	9.5–20.6	7.1	26.6	6.4	23.5	23.5
1959	16.3	9.7–21.0	6.6	26.6	7.9	23.5	23.5
1958	15.8	9.5–20.5	6.7	26.5	7.3	23.5	21.3
1957	15.7	9.5–20.4	6.7	25.9	7.3	23.5	21.5
1956	12.7	6.5–16.8	6.4	23.6	4.7	16.9	17.6
1955	8.6	3.6–11.3	5.0	16.8	3.2	8.4	13.4
1954	8.7	3.7–11.4	5.0	17.2	3.2	8.4	13.4
1953	8.7	3.7–11.4	5.0	17.2	3.2	8.4	13.4
1952	8.6	3.6–11.4	5.0	17.0	3.2	8.4	13.4
1951	8.6	3.6–11.4	5.0	17.0	3.2	8.4	13.4
1950	8.6	3.6–11.4	5.0	17.0	3.2	8.4	13.4
1949	8.6	3.6–11.4	5.0	17.0	3.2	8.4	13.4
1948	8.6	3.6–11.4	5.0	17.0	3.2	8.4	13.4
1947	8.6	3.6–11.4	5.0	17.0	3.2	8.4	13.4
1946	8.6	3.6–11.4	5.0	17.0	3.2	8.4	13.4
1945	8.6	3.6–11.4	5.0	17.0	3.2	8.4	13.4
1944	8.6	3.6–11.4	5.0	17.0	3.2	8.4	13.4
1943	8.4	3.6–11.2	4.8	17.0	3.2	7.4	13.4
1942	7.9	3.3–10.5	4.2	17.0	3.2	5.7	13.4
1941	7.9	3.3–10.5	4.2	17.0	3.2	5.7	13.4
1940	7.9	3.3–10.5	4.2	17.0	3.2	5.7	13.4
1939	7.9	3.3–10.5	4.2	17.0	3.2	5.7	13.4
1938	7.9	3.3–10.5	4.2	17.0	3.2	5.7	13.4
1937	7.9	3.3–10.5	4.2	17.0	3.2	5.7	13.4
1936	7.9	3.3–10.5	4.2	17.0	3.2	5.7	13.4
1935	7.9	3.3–10.5	4.2	17.0	3.2	5.7	13.4
1934	7.9	3.3–10.5	4.2	17.0	3.2	5.7	13.4
1933	7.8	3.3–10.4	4.1	17.0	3.2	5.7	13.4
1932	7.8	3.3–10.4	4.1	17.0	3.2	5.7	13.4
1931	7.8	3.3–10.4	4.1	17.0	3.2	5.7	13.4
1930	8.0	3.6–10.7	4.1	17.0	3.2	5.7	14.3
1929	8.0	3.6–10.7	4.1	17.0	3.2	5.7	14.3
1928	8.0	3.6–10.7	4.1	17.0	3.2	5.7	14.3
1927	8.0	3.6–10.8	4.1	17.0	3.2	5.7	14.3
1926	8.0	3.6–10.8	4.1	17.0	3.2	5.7	14.3
1925	8.0	3.6–10.8	4.1	17.0	3.2	5.7	14.3
1924	7.9	3.6–10.7	3.8	17.0	3.2	5.7	14.3
1923	7.9	3.6–10.7	3.8	17.0	3.2	5.7	14.3
1922	7.9	3.6–10.7	3.8	17.0	3.2	5.7	14.3
1921	7.9	3.6–10.7	3.8	17.0	3.2	5.7	14.3
1920	7.9	3.6–10.7	3.8	17.0	3.2	5.7	14.3
1919	7.9	3.5–10.6	3.8	16.7	3.2	5.7	14.3
1918	7.7	3.5–10.6	3.4	16.8	3.2	5.7	14.1
1917	7.7	3.5–10.6	3.4	16.8	3.2	5.7	14.1
1916	7.7	3.5–10.6	3.4	16.8	3.2	5.7	14.1
1915	7.7	3.5–10.5	3.4	16.5	3.2	5.7	14.1
1914	7.7	3.4–10.4	3.4	16.5	3.2	5.7	14.1
1913	7.7	3.4–10.3	3.4	16.3	3.2	5.7	14.1
1912	6.8	2.1–9.3	3.5	15.6	1.9	5.0	13.1

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Morocco Democracy Score, 1912–2025,” Democracys Standard v1.0 beta; derived from Coppedge et al. (2026), V-Dem Country-Year Dataset v16.

Open source DOI

NEARBY IN THE 2025 RANKING

#94Ecuador54.6 #95Singapore53.2 #97Lebanon52.3 #98Niger52.1

All rankings

How democratic isMorocco?

Morocco, 1975–2025

A critical public figure faced further imprisonment

Participation

Public reasoning

When did the biggest shifts appear?

Five dimensions of democracy

Free and fair elections

Rights and checks on power

Public participation

Public reasoning

Political equality

Two kinds of evidence.One clearer picture.

Morocco score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Morocco?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.