Morocco's Survey Data Reveals Skepticism Toward Migration

According to the latest Pan-Africa Profile released by Afrobarometer, only 21% of Moroccans believe that immigrants contribute positively to the national economy. This figure places Morocco among the lowest scorers in a survey covering 38 African nations. Conversely, 36% of respondents assessed the economic impact of immigration as negative, while another 35% remained neutral, viewing it as neither beneficial nor harmful.

The findings are drawn from Round 10 of the survey network, which included over 50,000 interviews conducted between 2024 and 2025. Fieldwork in Morocco specifically took place in early 2024. The report positions these attitudes within a broader context of social cohesion, analyzing how trust, tolerance, and institutional fairness intersect with public sentiment on migration.

North Africa Shows Regional Skepticism

Regional data highlights a distinct pattern in North Africa, where skepticism toward immigration is more pronounced than elsewhere on the continent. Across Morocco, Mauritania, and Tunisia, 55% of respondents viewed the economic impact of immigration negatively, compared to just 23% who saw it as positive. While Morocco’s negative perception aligns with this regional trend, its high neutral share differentiates it from its neighbors.

These attitudes correlate with policy preferences, as more than half of Moroccans favor restricting the admission of foreign job seekers. However, according to GN geopolitics/migration (en-US), support for such restrictions is actually lower in Morocco than the continental average, suggesting a more nuanced public stance than the raw economic skepticism might imply.

Trust and Tolerance Dynamics

Social tolerance metrics reveal a complex picture. While 21% of Moroccans expressed dislike for having an immigrant or foreign worker as a neighbor, the figure rises to 39% when the neighbor is identified as a refugee. This higher level of wariness toward refugees exceeds the continental average of 30%, indicating a specific sensitivity to asylum status that goes beyond general economic concerns.

Trust levels in Morocco follow a typical gradient, remaining high within close social circles but declining with social distance. Most Moroccans trust relatives and neighbors, but confidence drops significantly for individuals from different ethnic or religious groups. This suggests that while national identity is strong, inter-group trust remains a challenge for broader social cohesion.

Legal Fairness and Civic Action

Despite skepticism on migration, Moroccans express high confidence in the legal system. Only 33% believe that people are often treated unequally under the law, a figure significantly lower than the continental average. This perception of legal fairness, shared with countries like Tanzania and Botswana, stands in contrast to the lower levels of trust in interpersonal relationships across ethnic lines.

Civic engagement remains modest, with 15% of respondents reporting participation in community actions to address government issues. This matches the average across the surveyed African nations. As analysts look ahead, the key question is how these entrenched views on immigration and legal fairness will influence future policy debates and social integration efforts in the region.