The largest city in Morocco is Casablanca, with roughly 3.7 million residents in the city proper, followed by Fez (about 1.2 million), Tangier (around 0.95 million), Marrakech (about 0.93 million), and Salé (around 0.89 million). Together with Meknes, Rabat, Oujda, Kenitra, and Agadir, these ten cities form the urban backbone of a nation of roughly 37 million people, more than 60 percent of whom now live in towns and cities. They are strung along the fertile Atlantic plains, the northern coast, and the historic interior, leaving the vast Atlas Mountains and the Sahara sparsely populated by comparison.
The Top 10 Cities Ranked by Population
Based on the most widely cited population figures for the cities proper, Morocco's ten largest urban centres rank as follows:
- Casablanca — about 3.7 million, the undisputed economic capital and the largest city in the Maghreb after the Egyptian capital, Cairo.
- Fez — about 1.2 million, the spiritual and intellectual heart of the country.
- Tangier — about 0.95 million, the gateway between Africa and Europe.
- Marrakech — about 0.93 million, the famous "Red City" and tourism magnet.
- Salé — about 0.89 million, Rabat's twin city across the Bou Regreg river.
- Meknes — about 0.63 million, an imperial city of grand gates and walls.
- Rabat — about 0.58 million, the national capital.
- Oujda — about 0.49 million, the major city of the eastern borderlands.
- Kenitra — about 0.43 million, an industrial port on the Atlantic.
- Agadir — about 0.42 million, a modern beach resort on the southern coast.
Note that figures for the city proper differ sharply from those for the wider metropolitan area. Casablanca's greater urban region, for example, holds well over 4 million people, while the Rabat–Salé–Témara conurbation collectively counts close to 2 million. When metro areas are combined, the Casablanca–Rabat corridor along the central Atlantic coast becomes one of the densest population belts in all of Africa.
Casablanca: The Economic Powerhouse
Casablanca is by far Morocco's biggest city and dwarfs every rival. It contributes a disproportionate share of national GDP, hosts the country's main port and the Casablanca Stock Exchange, and anchors the busiest air corridor in North Africa through Mohammed V International Airport. Its skyline mixes French colonial Art Deco with sleek modern towers, including the Mohammed VI Tower, one of the tallest buildings on the continent. The colossal Hassan II Mosque — one of the largest mosques in the world, with a minaret rising more than 200 metres — sits dramatically on the Atlantic shore, partly built over the water. Despite being the commercial centre, Casablanca is not the political capital, a distinction that often surprises visitors.
Imperial Cities and Cultural Capitals
Morocco's history is told through its four imperial cities — Fez, Marrakech, Meknes, and Rabat — each having served as a royal capital at different times. Fez is home to the University of al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 859 CE and widely recognised as the oldest continuously operating degree-granting institution in the world. Its medieval medina, Fes el-Bali, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a maze of thousands of car-free alleyways, famous for its leather tanneries and copper artisans. Marrakech, with its rose-coloured ramparts, the Jemaa el-Fnaa square, and the towering Koutoubia Mosque, draws millions of tourists each year and serves as the launch point for trips into the High Atlas and the desert. Meknes flourished under Sultan Moulay Ismail in the 17th century, leaving behind the monumental Bab Mansour gate, vast granaries, and immense stables.
Capital, Coast, and the Northern Gateway
Rabat, though only the seventh-largest city by population, is the seat of government, the royal palace, and foreign embassies. Its calm, planned avenues, the Hassan Tower, and the Kasbah of the Udayas contrast with the bustle of Casablanca an hour to the south; its historic core was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2012. Tangier, perched where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean across the narrow Strait of Gibraltar from Spain, has reinvented itself as a logistics hub thanks to the Tanger-Med port, now one of the largest container terminals in Africa and the Mediterranean. Down the Atlantic coast, Agadir — almost entirely rebuilt after a devastating 1960 earthquake — is the country's leading seaside resort and a major sardine-fishing port, while Kenitra and Salé add industrial, automotive, and residential weight to the densely populated northwest. For more background on the country itself, see our Morocco country guide.
Why Morocco's Cities Are Growing
Morocco has urbanised rapidly over the past half-century. In 1960 only about a third of Moroccans lived in cities; today the share exceeds 60 percent and continues to climb. Several forces drive this shift:
- Rural-to-urban migration — recurring droughts and limited farm income push families from the countryside toward coastal jobs.
- Industrial investment — automotive plants near Tangier and Kenitra, aerospace and finance in Casablanca, and tourism in Marrakech and Agadir create employment magnets.
- Infrastructure — the Al Boraq high-speed rail line, the first in Africa, links Tangier, Kenitra, Rabat, and Casablanca, tightening the Atlantic urban corridor.
- A young population — a median age in the late twenties keeps the working-age urban population expanding.
Key Facts
- Largest city: Casablanca (~3.7 million in the city proper)
- Capital city: Rabat (~0.58 million)
- National population: roughly 37 million
- Urban share: more than 60 percent live in cities
- Imperial cities: Fez, Marrakech, Meknes, and Rabat
- Largest port: Tanger-Med, among the biggest container terminals in Africa
- Oldest university: al-Qarawiyyin in Fez, founded 859 CE
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest city in Morocco?
Casablanca is the largest city in Morocco, with a population of approximately 3.7 million in the city proper and over 4 million in its wider metropolitan area. It is the country's main economic and commercial centre and home to the landmark Hassan II Mosque.
Is Rabat or Casablanca the capital of Morocco?
Rabat is the capital of Morocco, home to the government, the royal palace, and foreign embassies. Casablanca is larger and serves as the economic capital, but it is not the seat of government.
How many people live in Morocco?
Morocco has a total population of roughly 37 million people. More than 60 percent of them live in urban areas, a figure that has risen steadily with ongoing migration to the major cities.
Which Moroccan city is best known for tourism?
Marrakech is Morocco's most famous tourist destination, celebrated for its historic medina, the lively Jemaa el-Fnaa square, and the Koutoubia Mosque. Fez, Tangier, and Agadir are also popular among travellers.