Shaken by successive crises, starting with the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by the devastating earthquake in Al Haouz, and rising inflation, Morocco is no longer seen as a desirable place to live for many. According to a recent report by the Arab Barometer, about 35% of Moroccans are considering leaving the country, with more than half of the young people wishing to emigrate being willing to do so without obtaining the necessary permits, opting for « irregular » forms of migration.
In search of a better future and driven by « sometimes excessive » motivation, young people are venturing into the unknown to escape economic pressures. This reality has been recently highlighted by the Arab Barometer in a new report on immigration.
Entitled « Public Opinion on Immigration in the Middle East and North Africa, » the report notes that « many individuals in the region might turn to immigration by any means, including resorting to options without the required official documents. » It emphasizes that « this phenomenon is particularly pronounced in Morocco, where more than 53% of those wishing to emigrate state they would be willing to leave the country even without the necessary documents and permits. »
The Arab Barometer adds that « at least 4 out of 10 people (44%) in Mauritania and 42% in Tunisia share this view. » In Palestine, the proportion is 30%, while it is around 19% in Jordan and 17% in Lebanon.
The same report also indicates that « nearly two-thirds (64%) of Moroccans who wish to emigrate and face financial difficulties say they could leave without official documents, compared to only one-third (34%) of those better off financially. » It also notes that « men are generally more likely than women to emigrate without official documents in all countries covered by the survey. »
Among those considering emigration, the report highlights that « those with only a secondary education or less are more likely to consider emigrating without official documents than those with a university degree. » The gap between these two groups is most significant in Tunisia (23%) and Morocco (18%).
Regarding the desire to emigrate among Moroccans, in all forms, the report notes that « about one-third (35%) of people in Morocco express a desire to emigrate. » It observes that in 2024, emigration desire rates vary considerably across the region, with Tunisia leading at 46%, followed by Jordan (42%), Lebanon (38%), and Morocco (35%), while only a quarter of Palestinians express this desire.
In terms of emigration desire by age group, the study shows that « more than 36% of those aged 30 and older in each country surveyed do not wish to emigrate. » It highlights that « the age gap in the desire to emigrate is significant in most of the countries studied, with young people expressing a desire to emigrate at twice the rate of those aged 30 and older. »
Furthermore, the report indicates that in « Morocco, about one-quarter (26%) of people wish to emigrate to the United States. » It notes that « potential migrants in the region vary in their desired destinations, but in general, North America tops the list, followed by Western Europe and Gulf countries, with the United States being the preferred destination for more than half of those wishing to emigrate. »
