The prevalence of disability in Morocco has shown a slight decline over the past decade, decreasing from 5.1% in 2014 to 4.8% in 2024, according to the High Commission for Planning (HCP). However, this rate remains notably higher in rural areas, where it reaches 5.6%, compared to 4.2% in urban regions.
The phenomenon predominantly affects the elderly, particularly those aged 60 and over, with a prevalence rate of 18.5%. Adults between the ages of 15 and 59 report a significantly lower rate of 2.9%, while children under 15 years old are the least affected, with only 1.9%.
Disability rates also vary considerably across Moroccan regions. At one end of the spectrum, the region of Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab reports the lowest rate, with 2.2%, while the Oriental region registers the highest, at 5.9%. Between these extremes, two distinct groups emerge. The first includes regions with prevalence rates below the national average of 4.8%, such as Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra, Casablanca-Settat, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Souss-Massa, Guelmim-Oued Noun, and Marrakech-Safi. The remaining regions present prevalence rates equal to or above the national average.
The HCP applies the United Nations’ definition of disability, which considers individuals as disabled if they experience significant limitations or total incapacity in at least one of six functional domains. These include vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive ability, self-care, and communication using their habitual language.
On the issue of medical coverage, progress has been made nationwide. Approximately seven out of ten Moroccans report having access to medical coverage, representing 69.8% of the population. Rural and urban areas show a similar level of coverage, with 70.6% in rural zones and 69.3% in urban ones. Gender-wise, women slightly outpace men, with a coverage rate of 70.6% compared to 69.0%.
There are, however, significant regional disparities. The regions of Fès-Meknès and Béni Mellal-Khénifra stand out with coverage rates well above the national average, reaching 75.5% and 74.2%, respectively. In contrast, other regions fall below the national level, such as Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceima, where the rate is 62.2%, and Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, which records 63.8%.
