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Economy of Morocco vs United Arab Emirates compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Morocco has a GDP of $182B compared to $552B for the United Arab Emirates, ranking 58/197 and 31/197 by economy size, respectively.

Morocco has $122B in government debt (67.1% of GDP), compared to $193B (34.3% of GDP) in the United Arab Emirates.

Morocco vs United Arab Emirates GDP by year

Morocco
United Arab Emirates
1x
Year GDP, current $
Morocco UAE
2025 $182,374,250,612 -
2024 $160,610,994,055 $552,324,919,096
2023 $146,036,093,667 $522,622,268,401
2022 $131,245,312,804 $511,403,404,642
2021 $142,022,058,447 $422,441,282,436
2020 $121,353,645,057 $357,161,776,271
2019 $128,920,266,409 $433,926,218,686
2018 $127,341,147,582 $440,560,003,161
2017 $118,540,573,368 $403,365,056,079
2016 $111,572,947,005 $381,717,208,621
2015 $110,413,823,842 $381,973,135,513
2014 $119,130,841,412 $424,935,834,104
2013 $115,739,287,305 $409,632,574,703
2012 $106,937,392,311 $392,793,559,051
2011 $110,080,631,332 $368,881,033,963
2010 $100,865,329,473 $307,736,348,527
2009 $101,154,952,241 $253,547,358,747
2008 $101,822,906,949 $315,474,615,741
2007 $86,947,913,287 $257,916,148,767
2006 $75,883,823,301 $222,116,532,963
2005 $68,852,658,069 $180,617,467,954
2004 $66,114,145,451 $147,824,249,958
2003 $58,029,363,354 $124,346,476,180
2002 $47,077,192,188 $109,816,091,079
2001 $43,831,480,208 $103,311,631,797
2000 $43,017,455,402 $104,337,463,730
1999 $46,266,428,648 $84,445,399,335
1998 $46,497,608,725 $75,674,384,205
1997 $39,147,844,526 $78,838,886,862
1996 $43,161,571,528 $73,571,217,377
1995 $39,030,285,468 $65,743,604,966
1994 $35,604,137,423 $59,305,111,228
1993 $31,655,473,664 $55,625,269,485
1992 $33,711,069,431 $54,239,188,746
1991 $32,285,573,574 $51,552,058,250
1990 $30,179,954,775 $50,701,374,187
1989 $26,314,313,191 $41,464,966,302
1988 $25,705,296,184 $36,275,613,877
1987 $21,765,195,948 $36,384,802,310
1986 $19,462,085,540 $33,943,568,481
1985 $14,991,283,216 $40,603,631,079
1984 $14,824,667,954 $41,807,931,453
1983 $16,251,408,128 $42,803,373,390
1982 $17,692,276,734 $46,622,715,281
1981 $17,788,185,479 $49,333,471,895
1980 $21,728,516,153 $43,599,134,193
1979 $15,911,994,817 $31,225,557,022
1978 $13,236,946,234 $23,775,718,541
1977 $11,049,783,872 $24,871,660,292
1976 $9,584,297,284 $19,213,212,475
1975 $8,984,853,005 $14,720,729,969
1974 $7,675,466,449 $11,651,505,689
1973 $6,242,145,880 $4,231,243,616
1972 $5,074,117,545 $1,415,086,929
1971 $4,356,669,034 $939,893,600
1970 $3,956,336,244 $685,986,701
1969 $3,651,622,669 -
1968 $3,271,422,333 -
1967 $3,046,345,314 -
1966 $2,876,401,297 -
1965 $2,948,331,090 -
1964 $2,798,345,299 -
1963 $2,657,252,578 -
1962 $2,379,611,125 -
1961 $2,025,693,540 -
1960 $2,037,154,742 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/morocco/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

GDP per capita in Morocco vs United Arab Emirates by year

Morocco
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
United Arab Emirates
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Morocco UAE
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $4,746 - - -
2024 $4,218 $10,415 $50,274 $79,229
2023 $3,872 $9,895 $49,851 $77,955
2022 $3,516 $9,310 $50,760 $75,072
2021 $3,843 $8,623 $44,118 $68,580
2020 $3,317 $7,705 $37,992 $66,791
2019 $3,560 $8,046 $45,939 $79,816
2018 $3,553 $7,801 $47,135 $77,446
2017 $3,344 $8,115 $43,734 $70,282
2016 $3,186 $7,853 $42,721 $69,987
2015 $3,190 $7,799 $44,910 $73,986
2014 $3,483 $7,237 $52,725 $87,478
2013 $3,425 $7,542 $53,247 $87,526
2012 $3,206 $7,308 $53,142 $89,198
2011 $3,345 $7,274 $51,922 $89,665
2010 $3,107 $6,849 $44,795 $85,120
2009 $3,158 $6,629 $37,803 $84,780
2008 $3,222 $6,437 $50,054 $94,628
2007 $2,788 $6,058 $45,855 $100,813
2006 $2,466 $5,781 $44,343 $106,814
2005 $2,268 $5,275 $38,719 $101,301
2004 $2,207 $5,025 $33,377 $98,661
2003 $1,962 $4,741 $29,660 $92,636
2002 $1,612 $4,436 $27,754 $88,467
2001 $1,521 $4,269 $27,745 $90,370
2000 $1,513 $3,930 $29,866 $92,899
1999 $1,651 $3,801 $25,856 $87,658
1998 $1,683 $3,740 $24,889 $90,229
1997 $1,439 $3,502 $27,983 $96,009
1996 $1,610 $3,551 $28,323 $94,620
1995 $1,478 $3,152 $27,003 $93,702
1994 $1,369 $3,315 $25,473 $89,959
1993 $1,236 $2,979 $25,033 $86,330
1992 $1,337 $2,979 $25,648 $87,509
1991 $1,302 $3,025 $25,691 $87,250
1990 $1,238 $2,777 $26,710 $88,455
1989 $1,099 - $23,167 -
1988 $1,094 - $21,570 -
1987 $944 - $23,113 -
1986 $861 - $23,132 -
1985 $678 - $29,468 -
1984 $687 - $32,012 -
1983 $772 - $34,650 -
1982 $862 - $39,972 -
1981 $890 - $44,855 -
1980 $1,117 - $42,925 -
1979 $839 - $34,238 -
1978 $716 - $29,379 -
1977 $613 - $35,020 -
1976 $545 - $31,197 -
1975 $524 - $27,117 -
1974 $459 - $23,823 -
1973 $382 - $9,696 -
1972 $319 - $3,675 -
1971 $280.6 - $2,805 -
1970 $261.5 - $2,394 -
1969 $247.8 - - -
1968 $228 - - -
1967 $218.1 - - -
1966 $211.5 - - -
1965 $222.7 - - -
1964 $216.9 - - -
1963 $211.3 - - -
1962 $194.2 - - -
1961 $169.8 - - -
1960 $175.2 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/morocco/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Morocco's GDP per capita is $4,746, ranking 126/197, compared to $50,274 in the United Arab Emirates, ranking 25/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Morocco ranks 132nd at $10,415, while the United Arab Emirates ranks 16th at $79,229.

Economic indicators

Morocco UAE
Gross domestic product
$182B
2025
$552B
2024
GDP rank
58/197
2025
31/197
2024
GDP growth
4.6%
2024-2025
3.99%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$4,746
2025
$50,274
2024
GDP per capita rank
126/197
2025
25/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$10,415
2024
$79,229
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
132/197
2024
16/197
2024
Government debt
$122B
2025
$193B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
67.1%
2025
34.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$3,183
2025
$17,568
2024
Government debt per person rank
102/185
2025
37/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$4,045
2026
$40,096
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$114B
2025
$1.11T
2025
Number of millionaires n/a
183,000
2026
Number of billionaires
3
2026
6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
31.9%
2013
20.5%
2018
Income share by poorest 10%
2.7%
2013
2.8%
2018
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31.3%
2025
22.6%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
0.7%
2024-2025
1.3%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
2.25%
2025
3.65%
2025
Unemployment rate
11.8%
2022
1.88%
2024
Population
38938817
11885001

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Morocco
Spending

Debt
United Arab Emirates
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Morocco UAE
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 31.3% 67.1% 22.6% 34.3%
2024 30.9% 67.7% 21.4% 34.9%
2023 30.2% 68.7% 22.7% 31.9%
2022 31.8% 71.4% 22.7% 31.5%
2021 30.1% 69.4% 25.9% 35.7%
2020 34.1% 72.2% 30.5% 30.1%
2019 27% 60.3% 27.4% 25.8%
2018 27.8% 60.5% 25.9% 20.7%
2017 27.9% 60.3% 27.2% 21.2%
2016 28.6% 60.1% 31.7% 18.6%
2015 28.5% 58.4% 26.4% 15.6%
2014 30.7% 58.6% 31.4% 13.5%
2013 30.4% 57.1% 28.9% 15.3%
2012 32.5% 52.3% 27.8% 20.2%
2011 31.2% 48.6% 29.6% 20.4%
2010 28.7% 45.3% 30.4% 18.3%
2009 28.1% 42.6% 35% 21.1%
2008 28.3% 42% 22% 8.95%
2007 26.4% 47.1% 17.7% 8.89%
2006 26% 50.6% 15.6% 5.05%
2005 28.6% 54.8% 15.7% 4.48%
2004 24.5% 54.4% 17.7% 4.08%
2003 24.1% 56.9% 20% 3.33%
2002 25.8% 59.4% 21.3% 3.43%
2001 23.7% 60.4% 25.2% 2.69%
2000 22.8% 64.9% 21.8% 3.12%
1999 18.4% 63.4% 24.3% 4.73%
1998 18.7% 64.5% 25.8% 4.18%
1997 18.6% 68% 22.6% 2.86%
1996 17.6% 65.3% 27.6% 3.48%
1995 21.3% 72.2% 26.1% 5.06%
1994 21.7% 69.3% 30.1% 5.58%
1993 23.1% 74.7% 31.5% 6.01%
1992 22.3% 67% 29.6% 5.31%
1991 20.8% 59.1% 36% 4.97%
1990 22.6% 70.5% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1991–1998, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/morocco/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2025, Morocco's government spending was $57B, accounting for 31.3% of its GDP, while the United Arab Emirates spent $118B, or 22.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 67.1% in Morocco and 34.3% in the United Arab Emirates, ranking 64/185 and 146/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Morocco

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Morocco UAE
2025 -3.54% 5.15%
2024 -3.92% 6.41%
2023 -4.41% 5.82%
2022 -5.37% 9.8%
2021 -5.92% 3.96%
2020 -7.15% -2.42%
2019 -3.8% 2.5%
2018 -3.52% 3.65%
2017 -3.3% -0.16%
2016 -4.49% -2.95%
2015 -4.59% -6.35%
2014 -4.78% 1.74%
2013 -4.7% 7.99%
2012 -6.63% 8.59%
2011 -6.08% 5.05%
2010 -3.93% 0.52%
2009 -1.63% -6.13%
2008 0.63% 17.6%
2007 -0.12% 17.1%
2006 -1.8% 20.2%
2005 -5.46% 16%
2004 -3.31% 6.4%
2003 -3.74% 2.35%
2002 -4.37% -1.24%
2001 -3.79% 1.21%
2000 -1.97% 10.7%
1999 3.21% 1.31%
1998 1.47% 1%
1997 1.5% 6.71%
1996 0.87% 0.92%
1995 -2.54% 3.58%
1994 -2.51% -1.78%
1993 -2% -2.89%
1992 -1.84% 3.34%
1991 -0.9% 3.89%
1990 -1.32% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/morocco/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, Morocco's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $6.3B, equivalent to 3.92% of GDP. This compares to the United Arab Emirates' surplus of $35.4B, or 6.41% of GDP.

Over the past 34 years, Morocco recorded a fiscal deficit in 29 of those years, while the United Arab Emirates ran a deficit in 8 years. On average, Morocco posted an annual deficit equal to 2.97% of GDP, compared to surplus of 4.25% of GDP for the United Arab Emirates.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Morocco

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Morocco UAE
2025 0.7% 1.3%
2024 0.99% 1.7%
2023 6.09% 1.6%
2022 6.66% 4.8%
2021 1.4% -0.1%
2020 0.71% -2.1%
2019 0.3% -1.9%
2018 1.8% 3.1%
2017 0.75% 2%
2016 1.64% 1.6%
2015 1.56% 4.1%
2014 0.44% 2.3%
2013 1.88% 1.1%
2012 1.29% 0.7%
2011 0.91% 0.9%
2010 0.99% 0.9%
2009 0.97% -4.7%
2008 3.71% 12.3%
2007 2.04% 11.1%
2006 3.28% 9.3%
2005 0.98% 6.2%
2004 1.49% 5%
2003 1.17% 3.1%
2002 2.8% 2.9%
2001 0.62% 2.8%
2000 1.89% 1.3%
1999 0.68% 2.1%
1998 2.75% 2%
1997 1.04% 3%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/morocco/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Morocco has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.78%, compared with 2.7% in the United Arab Emirates. In 2025, inflation was 0.7% in Morocco and 1.3% in the United Arab Emirates.

Top exports between countries

Morocco
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $206M
Precious metals & jewellery $52.3M
Raw agricultural goods $32.7M
Textiles & consumer goods $11.4M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $6.88M
Chemicals & pharma $5.61M
Raw materials & minerals $5.03M
Animal & marine products $1.22M
Metals $1.12M
Wood & paper products $316K
UAE
Export category Export value
Metals $315M
Machinery & equipment $210M
Chemicals & pharma $128M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $56.7M
Raw agricultural goods $55.5M
Raw materials & minerals $39.6M
Textiles & consumer goods $35.3M
Precious metals & jewellery $30.7M
Wood & paper products $20.3M
Miscellaneous $1.2M

Balance of trade

Morocco UAE
Current account balance
-$4.56B
2025
$80B
2024
Current account balance ranking
163/190
2025
9/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-2.5%
2025
+14.5%
2024
Goods imports
$77.2B
2025
$400B
2024
Goods exports
$43.7B
2025
$467B
2024
Service imports
$16.7B
2025
$117B
2024
Service exports
$33.6B
2025
$181B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
51.1%
2025
92.2%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
42%
2025
106.8%
2023

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Morocco UAE
Economic freedom 61.8 71.9
Economic freedom ranking 91/197 29/197
Property rights 55.2 62.9
Government integrity 35.6 65.3
Judicial effectiveness 32.5 34.4
Tax burden 65.5 99.9
Government spending 67.5 85.1
Fiscal health 57.5 97.6
Business freedom 72.1 84.5
Labor freedom 46.2 63.2
Monetary freedom 79.6 81.2
Trade freedom 69.8 78.6
Investment freedom 80 50
Financial freedom 80 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Morocco
United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Morocco UAE
2026 61.8 71.9
2025 60.3 71.6
2024 56.8 71.1
2023 58.4 70.9
2022 59.2 70.2
2021 63.3 76.9
2020 63.3 76.2
2019 62.9 77.6
2018 61.9 77.6
2017 61.5 76.9
2016 61.3 72.6
2015 60.1 72.4
2014 58.3 71.4
2013 59.6 71.1
2012 60.2 69.3
2011 59.6 67.8
2010 59.2 67.3
2009 57.7 64.7
2008 55.6 62.6
2007 56.4 62.6
2006 51.5 62.2
2005 52.2 65.2
2004 56.7 67.2
2003 57.8 73.4
2002 59 73.6
2001 63.9 74.9
2000 63.2 74.2
1999 63.8 71.5
1998 61.1 72.2
1997 64.7 71.9
1996 64.3 71.6
1995 62.8 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/morocco/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Morocco is 61.8, ranking 91/197, compared to 71.9 for the United Arab Emirates, ranking 29/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Morocco UAE
Services, % of GDP
52.3%
2025
54.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
25.2%
2025
44.3%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
10.5%
2025
0.77%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$170B
2025
$566B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$10,960
2025
$81,640
2024
Total reserves including gold
$48.5B
2025
$292B
2025
Total reserves ranking
50/177
2025
14/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.51B
2025
$31.5B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.75B
2024
$45.6B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$679M
2024
$77.2B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
5.63%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
3.9%
2022
19.5%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
31.9%
2025
26.6%
2023

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/morocco/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Compare countries by 7 more topics

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. TradeMap (2024–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1991–1998, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  9. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.