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Morocco: Religions, Peoples, Languages
INTRODUCTION
1. Political situation
2. Defence
3. Economy
4. Health & Education
5. Religions & Peoples
6. History
| RELIGIONS |
Sunni Islam
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31,100,000 |
99.7% |
Christianity
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100,000 |
0.3% |
Baha'i
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24,000 |
0.07% |
Judaism
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5,000 |
0.02% |
| ETHNIC GROUPS |
Arabs and Arabized Berbers
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26,000,000 |
80% |
Berbers
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6,000,000 |
20% |
Sahrawis
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250,000 |
0.8% |
Europeans and Americans
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100,000 |
0.3% |
Tuareg
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10,000 |
0.03% |
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The totally dominating religion of Morocco is Islam, in the Sunni variant. Practices from earlier religions still exist, even if they have taken a Muslim cloak. This is the case of the holy man idea, known as marabout.
Christianity is present, with about 100,000 adherents. These are generally of French descent from the colonial times, or immigrants. Judaism still exist in Morocco, with a reported group of 5,000, and decreasing, mainly living in Casablanca and Marrakech.
Many Moroccans consider themselves to be Arabs, while they ethnically are Berbers who have adopted Arabic language and culture.
The languages of Morocco is mainly Arabic and Berber.
Arabic is divided into 3 subgroups: Moroccan which is totally dominating with 65% of the population. Hassaniya Arabic is the same variant as spoken in Mauritania, and there are about 40,000 of these in Morocco, mainly living in occupied Western Sahara. Judeo-Moroccan Arabic is now a dying language with only 5,000 speakers left, mainly living in Casablanca and Marrakech.
Berber is divided into 3 languages: Tachelhit, spoken by 3 million living in southwestern Morocco, along the coast from Sidi Ifni to Agadir in the north, then from the outskirts of Marrakech and east to the Draa' Valley, along the Souss Valley. Among the Tachelhit Berbers it is common that the men are bilingual in Arabic and often also French. Tamazight is spoken by 3 million, living in the Middle Atlas and eastern High Atlas. About half speak only their own language, the rest Arabic as second language and often also French. Tarfit is spoken by 1,5 million, living in the northern part of the country, known as the Rif Mountains. Within this group there are variants that could be defined as separate languages.
Spanish is spoken as first language among 20,000 living in the north, especially near the Spanish enclave Melilla.
© Copyright 1996-2008 LookLex Ltd. All rights reserved
By: Tore Kjeilen
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