Country
Morocco
Explore historical and projected climate data, climate data by sector, impacts, key vulnerabilities and what adaptation measures are being taken. Explore the overview for a general context of how climate change is affecting Morocco.
Country Summary
This page presents high-level information for Morocco's climate zones and its seasonal cycle for mean temperature and precipitation for the latest climatology, 1991-2020. Climate zone classifications in the map below use observed, historical data (sourced from the Climate Research Unit [CRU]) and are derived by applying the Köppen-Geiger climate classification methodology. This classification divides climate into five primary climate groups, which are divided based on seasonal precipitation and temperature patterns. The five primary groups are A (tropical), B (dry), C (temperate), D (continental), and E (polar). All climates, except for those in the E group are assigned a seasonal precipitation sub-group (second letter). It is important to understand the different climate contexts that exist within a country as well as the surrounding region when analyzing current climates and projected change. Climate classifications are identified by hovering your mouse over the legend. A narrative overview of Morocco's country context and climate is provided following the visualizations.
Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification, 1991-2020
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Morocco is located in the northwest corner of the African continent. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Alboran Sea to the west, Algeria to the east and Western Sahara to the south. The country’s land areas is approximately 710,850 km2, with a coastline extending 2,900 km along the Atlantic Ocean and 512 km along the Alboran Sea. Morocco’s climate is varied with its topography, which includes the Rif Mountains in the north, the Atlas Mountains in the center, plateaus in the east, plains and coast in the west, and desert in the south. Most of Morocco, particularly along the coast, experiences a typical Mediterranean climate, with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. The Atlas Mountains run through the center of Morocco forming a natural divide between the Mediterranean northern coastal zone and the southern interior regions, which lie on the edge of the Sahara Desert.
Morocco is a lower middle-income country and has a population of over 36 million people (2020). Morocco is highly vulnerable to climate variability and change. Expectations of increasing frequency and intensity of droughts for the country are particularly alarming for the agricultural sector and will affect both rural livelihoods and the national economy as a whole. Increased temperatures and changing rainfall patterns will create additional risks for water resource availability, agriculture and livestock productivity, and increasing population demands. Climate and socio-economic environments in semi-arid areas in Morocco makes communities vulnerable to food insecurity and livelihoods as well as leads to unsustainable agroecological systems, crop failure, and unproductive rangelands.
Climate change trends have already put pressure on the country’s natural resources, affecting the resilience of forest ecosystems and the agriculture sector, particularly due to water scarcity. Morocco is working to improve its resilience to climate change and make progress towards a green economy. Key priority is paid to the country’s water resources, agriculture and forestry, energy and health sectors.
