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Index / Peoples
  Morocco /
Peoples
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Ethnic groups
Figures in 1000. |
Arabs
|
20,800 |
67.0% |
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Moroccans |
17,400 |
56.0% |
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Hassaniya |
3,000 |
9.5% |
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Lebanese |
500 |
1.5% |
Berbers
|
9,600 |
31.0% |
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Imazighen |
3,300 |
10.5% |
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Cleuh |
3,000 |
9.5% |
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Rifi |
1,900 |
6.0% |
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Jebala |
1,100 |
3.5% |
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Filala |
330 |
1.1% |
Sahrawis
|
770 |
2.5% |
Tuareg
|
10 |
<0.1% |
Europeans
|
30 |
0.1% |
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Officially, the population of Morocco are Arab-Berbers, but in real life there is no unity of Arabs and Berbers. Arabs and Berbers may well considered of the same stock, or mixed, but in the modern society identities, culture and geography make them separate unities. Many Moroccan Arabs are ethnically pure Berbers, their shift into becoming Arabs has been through the changing identities and certain ways of life. Even in modern times, transformation from Berber identity to Arab happens, but at an increasingly slower pace.
Larger cities, with Marrakech as the exception, have been dominated by the Arabs, Berbers live largely in the countryside and in the mountains. Since the 1990's there has been an increased emphasis on Berber identity.
In the south, two other peoples begin to take over, near Western Sahara, the Sahrawis, and along the border, sometimes almost on the border, to Algeria and south the Atlas mountains, scattered communities of Tuaregs are found, often nomadic or semi-nomadic, but never representing regional majorities.
© Copyright 1996-2009 LookLex Ltd. All rights reserved
By: Tore Kjeilen
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