A recent survey by Morocco’s High Commission for Planning indicates a rise in vulnerability to poverty, especially in urban areas. The at-risk population increased from 12.5% in 2014 to 12.9% in 2022, despite a national decrease in the overall poverty rate. Urban poverty has slightly risen, and household spending on essentials has surged due to inflation. Many urban families are still unprotected by social safety nets, compounding their economic struggles.
A new survey from Morocco’s High Commission for Planning (HCP) reveals an alarming trend of rising vulnerability to poverty, especially in urban areas. Analyzing data from 18,000 households between March 2022 and March 2023, the survey indicates that the percentage of the population at risk of poverty has slightly increased from 12.5% in 2014 to 12.9% in 2022. This highlights growing economic uncertainty in urban regions hosting a significant portion of Morocco’s populace.
While the overall national poverty rate has declined, from 4.8% in 2014 to 3.9% in 2022, urban poverty has actually escalated, moving from 1.6% to 2.2% within the same timeframe. This upward trend indicates that urban residents are more susceptible to poverty, in contrast to rural areas that have experienced a drop in poverty rates.
The survey emphasizes the critical role of social safety nets in mitigating poverty among vulnerable groups in Morocco. HCP ascertains that targeted governmental initiatives have positively influenced the poorest households. However, the data suggests that many urban families remain unprotected by these safety nets, leading to persistent economic struggles.
Economic vulnerability in cities has markedly increased. In 2014, 7.9% of the urban population faced such risk, but by 2022, this number rose to 9.5%. Interestingly, vulnerability in rural areas has stayed relatively stable at 19.2%, contributing to a growing disparity between urban and rural socio-economic conditions.
Shifts in household spending reflect rising vulnerabilities in urban families, whose living costs, particularly for food and housing, have surged. The share of income consumed by food expenses rose from 37% in 2014 to 38.2% in 2022, indicating families are struggling to balance budgets amid escalating inflation and commodity prices.
Furthermore, Moroccan households are increasingly challenged to meet their expenses due to soaring inflation and rising costs of goods, further exacerbating urban poverty. Without adequate support mechanisms, the situation is expected to worsen.
In summary, the HCP survey reveals a worrying trend of increased vulnerability to poverty within Morocco’s urban areas, despite national improvements in overall poverty rates. Social safety nets, while beneficial, are failing to cover many at-risk urban households. The stark contrast between urban and rural poverty rates underscores the need for targeted interventions as inflation and living costs continue to challenge family budgets.
Original Source: www.moroccoworldnews.com
