Population
31,167,783 (July 2002 est.)

Language
Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy

Capital
Rabat

Government
Constitutional Monarchy

Ethnic groups
Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%

Religions
Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%

Area
446,550 sq km
(slightly larger than California)

Climate
Mediterranean, becoming
more extreme in the interior

Independence
March 2, 1956 (from France)

National Holiday
Throne Day (accession of King Mohammed VI to the throne), July 30, 1999