Moroccan Youth Confront Housing Affordability Crisis

As of August 2026, the challenge of affording housing has become increasingly daunting for young individuals residing in Morocco's three largest cities: Casablanca, Marrakech, and Tanger. Recent data reveals a significant decline in the number of youths who feel capable of managing their housing expenses without strain, dropping from 68% to a concerning 59% within just a year. Among these cities, Tanger emerges as the most affected, displaying the highest level of pressure on its younger population.

These alarming statistics are highlighted in the 2026 Socio-Economic Survey, published by the Austrian Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum on July 13, 2026. Conducted between January and March with a sample size of 600 participants aged 16 to 35, the survey indicates a troubling trend, particularly among those who are just managing to balance their budgets. The percentage of respondents in this category surged from 17% in 2025 to 25% in 2026. Additionally, 12% of participants reported experiencing significant difficulties in covering their housing costs, while 3% indicated they can no longer manage these expenses at all.

Rising Pressure in Tanger: A Closer Look at the Numbers

In Tanger, the situation is particularly stark, with only 52% of young respondents claiming they can meet their housing expenses without any issues, a stark contrast to 58% in Marrakech and 67% in Casablanca. A striking 30% of youths in Tanger now state they are merely scraping by to cover housing costs, compared to 25% in Marrakech and 20% in Casablanca. Moreover, 15% of young individuals in Tanger report facing significant challenges in affording their housing, while this figure stands at 11% for both Marrakech and Casablanca. Notably, Marrakech leads in the proportion of youths who assert they can no longer meet housing expenses at all, with 5% unable to cope compared to 3% in Tanger.

The findings bear further significance when contrasted with other indicators from the survey that show improvement. The percentage of households that claim to have sufficient funds for food has risen from 67% to 70% over the same period, and access to safe drinking water is also on the rise, increasing from 90% to 93%. However, it is crucial to note that the study's findings are not representative of all young Moroccans, as it focuses solely on 600 individuals living in these three urban centers. Nonetheless, the data undeniably underscores a marked deterioration in their ability to cope with housing expenditures in just one year.

As reported by bladi.net.