Getting married and setting up a home can be expensive for young couples in Morocco. The government plans to offer financial support of up to 5,000 dirhams to help them start a family, but key details, including who will qualify and when the money will be paid, are still unclear. The proposal was included in the government programme presented to parliament on 19 October. It aims to encourage young people to marry at a time when unemployment, high housing costs and rising prices are making it harder for many to plan their future.
Preparatory studies for the scheme are expected to begin in 2027. The government plans to launch it from the second year of the current parliamentary term.
The authorities have yet to explain who will be eligible, whether the grant will depend on income, what documents applicants will need or how the money will be paid. It is also unclear whether recipients will receive the full amount in a single payment.
The ministry responsible for Family, Social Development and Equality is expected to help implement the scheme.
The proposal is part of the government programme’s section on family, identity and values. It is also linked to wider reforms of the Family Code, whose implementation is due to be monitored through an annual report.
Questions over whether 5,000 dirhams will be enough
The announcement has prompted mixed reactions on social media, with some people responding with humour, others expressing scepticism and many questioning how much the money could cover.
Some users argue that 5,000 dirhams would pay for only a small part of a wedding and the costs of setting up a home. Others say that unemployment, expensive housing and rising prices are bigger obstacles for young people hoping to start a family.
The debate reflects a wider concern: a one-off payment may help with immediate expenses, but it cannot by itself resolve the financial pressures that can delay marriage or make it harder for couples to build a stable home.
Marriage and divorce figures rise
Data from the High Commission for Planning (HCP) show that 258,097 marriages were registered in 2025, compared with 239,277 in 2024.
That is an increase of 7.8%, following a decline in marriages the previous year.
The number of divorce records also rose, from 26,208 in 2024 to 29,986 in 2025. That represents an increase of 14.4%.
The figures do not show that the rise in marriages caused the increase in divorces. They do, however, underline that encouraging people to marry and helping couples maintain stable relationships are two different challenges.
