Moroccan households face growing pessimism over living conditions

Friday 17 October 2025 - 13:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Moroccan households face growing pessimism over living conditions

Moroccan families are expressing deep concern about their economic situation, with a new report from the High Commission for Planning (HCP) showing that most believe their living standards have declined over the past year. The findings underscore persistent anxiety about the rising cost of living, job insecurity, and inflation pressures.

According to the HCP’s National Household Conditions Survey, 77.9% of respondents said their standard of living has worsened during the past 12 months, while only 5% reported any improvement. The balance of opinions reached -72.9 points, marking a more negative outlook than in the previous quarter (-69.2 points) but slightly better than the same period last year (-75.8 points).

Rising uncertainty about the future

Looking ahead, Moroccan households remain largely pessimistic. More than half (51%) expect their living conditions to deteriorate in the next 12 months, compared to just 7.1% who anticipate improvement. The index for expected living standards fell sharply to -44.3 points from -35.2 in the previous quarter, though it remains somewhat better than the -49.3 recorded last year.

The HCP attributes this persistent unease to inflationary pressures, limited job creation, and stagnant purchasing power. While some long-term confidence indicators have improved since 2024, the overall sentiment still points to a population struggling to meet daily expenses and uncertain about economic recovery.

Confidence index shows modest decline

The Household Confidence Index decreased slightly to 53.6 points in the third quarter of 2025, compared with 54.6 points in the previous quarter. Despite this drop, confidence remains above the 46.2 points recorded in 2024, suggesting that while concerns persist, households are not entirely without hope.

Still, everyday challenges, such as high food prices and mounting living costs continue to weigh heavily on Moroccan families. The working class, in particular, has been vocal about the strain on their finances, often calling for stronger government intervention to ease the pressure.

Public discontent and social pressure

Recent demonstrations under the “GenZ212” movement in several Moroccan cities reflect growing frustration among young citizens over unemployment and poor living conditions. These protests coincide with ongoing government reforms in education and healthcare, which aim to improve quality of life but have yet to deliver tangible results for many households.

The report concludes that while macroeconomic indicators may show gradual recovery, public sentiment remains fragile. For most Moroccans, the daily struggle with inflation and limited economic opportunity continues to define their perception of the country’s future.