Facts about Morocco that holds reform referendum

Here are some facts about Morocco which is holding a referendum on constitutional reform on Friday.

THE ECONOMY:

·        Morocco expected GDP growth of 5 percent in 2011, its planning commission minister said this month.

·        The growth is supported by the strong agriculture sector. The economy relies heavily on agriculture, whose fate depends on rainfall levels that can be erratic.

·        Inflation for 2011 will be 1.4 percent, according to the central bank.

·        Morocco's grain harvest this season is seen at 7.8 million tonnes, slightly up on last year's figure but below the Agriculture Ministry's estimate of 8.8 million tonnes.

In response to the protests around the country, Rabat boosted subsidies for items such as wheat, sugar, gas and oil by 15 billion dirhams ($1.84 billion) in addition to the to the 17 billion dirhams already allocated in the 2011 budget.

DETAILS:

GDP (2010): $103.5 billion.

Per capita GDP (PPP, 2010): $4,800.

Labour force (2010) 11.63 million

Life expectancy at birth: 71.8

COUNTRY DETAILS:

• POPULATION: 32 million. The population of disputed territory Western Sahara is around 385,000.
• ETHNIC GROUPS: Arab 70 percent, Berber 30 percent.
• RELIGION: Mainly Sunni Muslim (99 percent). There are Christian and Jewish minorities.
• LANGUAGE: Most people speak Darija, a mixture of Arabic, European and Berber languages. Arabic is the country's official language. Berber languages are spoken in mountainous areas and the south and many Moroccans also speak French or Spanish.
• AREA: 446,550 sq km (172,414 sq miles), bordering the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Algeria lies to the east and to the southwest lies Western Sahara, a disputed territory which the Rabat government says is part of Morocco.

Sources: Reuters/CIA/State Dept/UNDP/MENA Today