Marrakech – Morocco ranks 9th among African countries with the highest share of non-religious citizens, The African Exponent reported on Monday. The report reveals that 35.8% of Moroccans identify as non-religious, while those openly declaring atheism remain minimal.

The gap between these figures demonstrates the complex dynamics at play in Moroccan society, where a significant portion of the population maintains distance from organized religion while very few embrace the atheist label publicly.

“Morocco [is] one of the most significant outliers in Africa, with over a third of its population distancing itself from formal religious affiliation,” notes the report.

The African Exponent explains that these numbers must be understood within Morocco’s religious, political, and cultural context. “For centuries, Morocco has presented itself as a religiously cohesive state under the symbolic authority of the king, who is recognized as Amir al-Mu’minin (Commander of the Faithful),” the report states.

It adds that “open atheism carries heavy social consequences,” which explains the negligible atheist percentage.

The shift toward non-religious identification is most visible among younger generations in cities such as Casablanca, Rabat, and Marrakech.

Exposure to higher education, global media, and more secular lifestyles influences self-identification. Social debates on gender, personal freedoms, and governance have also contributed to questioning institutional religion.

Among other African countries in the top 10 list, Tunisia ranks first with 2.2% identifying as atheists and 34.9% as non-religious. Libya ranks 4th with 0.3% atheists and 23.3% non-religious, while Egypt is 7th with 0.1% atheists and 24.7% non-religious.

A recent study published in Nature Communications offers additional layers to this data. According to this research, Morocco is experiencing only early indicators of what researchers call a “secular transition.”

The study describes Morocco as being in the initial stage of religious decline, where younger Moroccans under the age of 40 show slightly lower rates of religious participation compared to older generations.

The study indicates that while participation in worship services may be decreasing among younger Moroccans, the importance of religion and religious affiliation remain strong across age groups.

A separate report by the Pew Research Center, published in August 2024, found that Morocco leads the MENA region in religiosity, with 90% of Moroccans prioritizing religion in their lives and over 70% praying daily. The report placed Morocco ahead of Palestine, Jordan, and Iraq in terms of the importance of religion in people’s lives.

Less ‘visible atheism’ and more private pluralism

Adding further complexity to this picture, Afrobarometer’s 2024 survey, released in May this year, showed that religious identity remains overwhelmingly uniform in Morocco, with 99.9% of respondents identifying as Muslim and only 0.1% declaring themselves atheist.

The survey concludes that Morocco is “among the world’s most religiously uniform societies, where secular or non-religious identities are virtually invisible.”

The legal framework in Morocco shapes the public expression of religion. The 2011 Constitution says Islam is the state religion but guarantees “free exercise of beliefs.”

In practice, two Penal Code articles define the boundaries: Article 222 punishes Muslims who publicly break the Ramadan fast without a valid excuse, while Article 220 criminalizes actions that “shake the faith of a Muslim.”

Arab Barometer’s 2023 survey shows most Moroccans still describe themselves as religious. After a brief dip around 2018-2019, the share identifying as “not religious” fell again by 2021-2022. Among youth (18-29), the “not religious” share roughly halved from 22% (2018-2019) to about 10% (2021-2022).

In daily life, public non-observance, such as eating during daylight hours in Ramadan or posting “atheist” content online, can trigger social pushback and sometimes legal trouble.

Many non-religious Moroccans keep a low profile, sharing views only in trusted circles or online platforms, and “code-switch” in public settings to avoid friction.

Recent trends show less “visible atheism” but more private pluralism. Since 2021-2022, there has been a return toward religiosity across the MENA region, including Morocco.

This does not mean non-belief has disappeared, but rather that it’s less openly claimed, with the public square still favoring religious norms – especially during Ramadan and in schools and administrative settings.