Morocco has been identified as the Maghreb’s strongest economic performer, achieving a score of out of in the 2025 Economic Freedom Index published by the Fraser Institute.
While the Kingdom ranks first in North Africa, the report warns that its lead is vulnerable due to persistent structural weaknesses, particularly concerning its legal and monetary systems.
The index, which evaluates economies on five key dimensions, highlighted Morocco’s relatively modest government size, earning a strong thanks to moderate taxation. However, the country scored a low for its legal system and property rights, reflecting institutional shortcomings that continue to slow development. Its rating for sound money, at , also suggests continued financial fragility.
Despite these issues, Morocco remains significantly more open than its neighbors, scoring well in international trade (). By comparison, North African countries like Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, and Mauritania all scored lower across key dimensions.
The report notes a global decline in economic freedom since 2019, with the Middle East and North Africa among the most affected regions. The Fraser Institute emphasized the correlation between freedom and prosperity, stating that people in the most economically free countries earn an average of times more than those in the least free nations.
While Morocco maintains its regional leadership, the study cautions that the advantage is fragile. Sustainable long-term growth will require deep structural reforms to strengthen institutional integrity and ensure monetary stability, rather than relying solely on gains in trade and fiscal governance.
MK/ac/sf/lb/abj/APA