Ryan+and+Michael+Morocco+2A

=Country and Development Data= Capital: Rabat, Population: 31,627,428 (rank=38), Area, sq. mi.: 172,413 (rank=58), Area, sq. km.: 446,550, Human Dev. Index rank: 130 of 177 countries,Real GDP per capita: 4,108, Adult literacy rate: 69% (male); 43% (female), Infant mortality rate: 37 per 1,000 births, Life expectancy: 69 (male); 73 (female), Islam is the official religion.

=﻿Flag= **﻿**The flag was used as just red in the 1600's. The green star was adopted to make the flag different from the others in 1912.

 =Database= =﻿Map = =Physical= == =Political= = = = = =**Marrige/Dating** = Dating in Morocco does not occur. Men usually do not meet their girl until they are married. Urban couples meet in these situations. They ask both their parents for permission to marry. . When a couple is engaged, the man pays the woman's father or eldest brother a sum of money to meet her wedding expenses.
 * =Nation= || =Population= || =GDP in Billions= || =Internet Users/1,000= || =Cell Phones/1,000= ||
 * =USA:= || =310,232,863= || =45,592= || =630= || =680= ||
 * =Morocco= || =:31,627,428= || =4,108= || =152= || =411.57= ||

Most women marry by their early twenties

population of roughly 31.6 million is growing by 1.1 percent annually. 57 percent of Moroccans live in urban areas.

Islam is the official religion of Morocco. Around the seventh month of pregnancy, an expectant mother often gatherswith female friends and family, who decorate her hands and feet with henna. Seven days after the birth, a celebration is held to give the baby a name.Most baby boys are circumcised in the first week after birth, but some families wait until the boy is age three or four.

The official name of Morocco is Kingdom of Morocco (Al Mamlaka Al Magribiyah) Although modest Western-style clothing is common throughout Morocco, many people wear djellebas every day over their clothing in place of a jacket. Men also wear them on religious holidays and for other special occasions. For her wedding, a woman wears a long, hoodless robe known as a keftan. Moroccans believe it is important to be neat, well-groomed, and appropriately dressed so one will be treated with respect. Women may cover their heads with scarves, but some do not. When entering a mosque, Moroccans wear clothing that covers the entire body (except the head and hands), and they remove the shoes. One does not wear shorts or other recreational attire in public; shorts are reserved for the beach. The main official language of Morocco is Arabic, although French also has official status and is used widely in business, government, and higher education. Morocco is a constitutional monarchy, but King Muhammad VI has broad powers as head of state. He appoints the prime minister (currently Abbas el Fassi) and retains authority to dissolve the legislature or revoke its decisions. The legislature has a 270-seat upper house (Chamber of Counselors) that can cast a no-confidence vote against the prime minister or overturn legislation from the 325-seat lower house (Chamber of Representatives). Counselors are indirectly elected to nine-year terms by an electoral college of local leaders and professionals. Representatives are directly elected to five-year terms. Elected regional councils have authority and funding to oversee development. The voting age is 18.
 * History**
 * Language **
 * Goverment **

Agriculture is the backbone of the economy, employing about 40 percent of the labor force. Most agricultural production is carried out by subsistence farmers, but a small modern sector produces enough food to account for 30 percent of all export earnings. Morocco has the world's third largest deposit of phosphate, which accounts for about 20 percent of export earnings. Other significant industries are food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, and tourism. Morocco's small manufacturing sector is growing. Morocco has a small stock market, one of the first in the Arab world. About 15 percent of the labor force works abroad, primarily in Western Europe. The money these workers send back to Morocco helps offset the country's foreign debt.
 * Economy**