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

Updated on by Georank team

Morocco has a GDP of $161B compared to $552B for the United Arab Emirates, ranking 58/197 and 27/197 by economy size, respectively.

Morocco has $109B in government debt (67.7% of GDP), compared to $193B (34.9% 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
2024 $160,610,994,055 $552,324,846,835
2023 $146,036,093,667 $522,622,191,967
2022 $131,245,312,804 $511,403,403,676
2021 $142,022,058,447 $422,441,388,700
2020 $121,353,645,057 $357,161,878,829
2019 $128,920,266,409 $433,926,208,305
2018 $127,341,147,582 $440,560,108,918
2017 $118,540,573,368 $403,365,010,211
2016 $111,572,947,005 $381,717,086,453
2015 $110,413,823,842 $381,973,042,886
2014 $119,130,841,412 $424,935,874,745
2013 $115,739,287,305 $409,632,675,289
2012 $106,937,392,311 $392,793,464,942
2011 $110,080,631,332 $368,881,143,635
2010 $100,865,329,473 $307,736,419,333
2009 $101,154,952,241 $253,547,358,747
2008 $101,822,906,949 $315,474,615,739
2007 $86,947,913,287 $257,916,133,424
2006 $75,883,823,301 $222,116,541,865
2005 $68,852,658,069 $180,617,467,965
2004 $66,114,145,451 $147,824,370,320
2003 $58,029,363,354 $124,346,358,067
2002 $47,077,192,188 $109,816,201,498
2001 $43,831,480,208 $103,311,640,572
2000 $43,017,455,402 $104,337,372,362
1999 $46,266,428,648 $84,445,473,111
1998 $46,497,608,725 $75,674,336,283
1997 $39,147,844,526 $78,839,008,445
1996 $43,161,571,528 $73,571,233,996
1995 $39,030,285,468 $65,743,666,576
1994 $35,604,137,423 $59,305,093,980
1993 $31,655,473,664 $55,625,170,253
1992 $33,711,069,431 $54,239,171,888
1991 $32,285,573,574 $51,552,165,622
1990 $30,179,954,775 $50,701,443,748
1989 $26,314,313,191 $41,464,995,914
1988 $25,705,296,184 $36,275,674,203
1987 $21,765,195,948 $36,384,908,744
1986 $19,462,085,540 $33,943,612,095
1985 $14,991,283,216 $40,603,650,232
1984 $14,824,667,954 $41,807,954,236
1983 $16,251,408,128 $42,803,323,345
1982 $17,692,276,734 $46,622,718,605
1981 $17,788,185,479 $49,333,424,135
1980 $21,728,516,153 $43,599,160,050
1979 $15,911,994,817 $31,225,659,621
1978 $13,236,946,234 $23,775,764,225
1977 $11,049,783,872 $24,871,775,165
1976 $9,584,297,284 $19,213,158,779
1975 $8,984,853,005 $14,720,728,249
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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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
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 $44,119 $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 - $44,854 -
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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Morocco's GDP per capita is $4,218, ranking 127/197, compared to $50,274 in the United Arab Emirates, ranking 24/197. 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
$161B
2024
$552B
2024
GDP rank
58/197
2024
27/197
2024
GDP growth
3.79%
2023-2024
3.99%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$4,218
2024
$50,274
2024
GDP per capita rank
127/197
2024
24/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$10,415
2024
$79,229
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
132/197
2024
16/197
2024
Government debt
$109B
2024
$193B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
67.7%
2024
34.9%
2024
Government debt per person
$2,857
2024
$17,568
2024
Government debt per person rank
104/185
2024
36/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,678
2026
$40,522
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$74.5B
2024
$1.05T
2024
Number of millionaires n/a
339,000
2025
Number of billionaires
3
2025
6
2025
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
33%
2024
21.4%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
0.99%
2023-2024
1.7%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
2.25%
2025
3.65%
2025
Unemployment rate
11.8%
2022
1.88%
2024
Population
38871720
11686438

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
2024 33% 67.7% 21.4% 34.9%
2023 32% 68.7% 22.7% 31.9%
2022 33.7% 71.4% 22.7% 31.5%
2021 31% 69.4% 25.9% 35.7%
2020 34.1% 72.2% 30.5% 30.1%
2019 27.6% 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 (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1991–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Morocco's government spending was $53.1B, accounting for 33% of its GDP, while the United Arab Emirates spent $118B, or 21.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 67.7% in Morocco and 34.9% in the United Arab Emirates, ranking 60/185 and 146/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Morocco

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Morocco UAE
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 (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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
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 (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the past 28 years, Morocco has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.82%, compared with 2.75% in the United Arab Emirates. In 2024, inflation was 0.99% in Morocco and 1.7% in the United Arab Emirates.

Top exports between countries

Morocco
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $135M
Raw agricultural goods $25.8M
Precious metals & jewellery $19.4M
Chemicals & pharma $8.1M
Textiles & consumer goods $7.74M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $6.89M
Animal & marine products $3.38M
Raw materials & minerals $1.72M
Metals $1.43M
Wood & paper products $176K
UAE
Export category Export value
Metals $266M
Machinery & equipment $168M
Chemicals & pharma $126M
Textiles & consumer goods $62.8M
Raw agricultural goods $61.7M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $37.5M
Raw materials & minerals $23M
Wood & paper products $16.6M
Precious metals & jewellery $5.88M
Miscellaneous $1.15M

Balance of trade

Morocco UAE
Current account balance
-$1.87B
2024
$80B
2024
Current account balance ranking
141/190
2024
9/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.16%
2024
+14.5%
2024
Goods imports
$66.5B
2024
$400B
2024
Goods exports
$39.3B
2024
$467B
2024
Service imports
$14.3B
2024
$117B
2024
Service exports
$28.2B
2024
$181B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
50.2%
2024
92.2%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
42%
2024
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 2026-03-09).

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
52.7%
2024
54.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
25.6%
2024
44.3%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
10.6%
2024
0.77%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$149B
2024
$566B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$10,260
2024
$81,530
2024
Total reserves including gold
$37.1B
2024
$238B
2024
Total reserves ranking
52/177
2024
14/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$948M
2024
$31.5B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.64B
2024
$45.6B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$691M
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
30.1%
2024
26.6%
2023

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2023, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1991–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  9. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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.