How Do Moroccans Commute to Work?

Drawing on the findings of the 2024 General Population and Housing Census (RGPH), Morocco’s High Commission for Planning (HCP) published, in June 2026, an analytical report on «Home-to-Work Transport Modes Among the Employed Population.» The verdict is clear: walking remains by far the dominant mode of commuting, public transport struggles to gain traction, and territorial disparities remain significant.
The institution examined the commuting habits of the country’s 8.76 million employed people aged 15 and over. The findings show that the average Moroccan goes to work on foot, while policies aimed at promoting sustainable mobility still have a long way to go.
Nearly 35.8% of employed workers walk to their workplace, well ahead of those using a private car (14.6%), motorcycles or bicycles (12.3%), and taxis (10%).
Walking is not merely a lifestyle choice. For millions of Moroccans, it is a necessity driven by the proximity of informal and agricultural jobs, the lack of transport infrastructure, and economic constraints.
By comparison, buses account for only 6% of commuting trips, tramways 0.5%, and trains just 0.4%.
«This situation reflects both the use by certain companies and public administrations of organized transport services for their employees—particularly in industrial zones or areas located far from urban centers—and the limitations of public transport services, which continue to suffer from insufficient geographical coverage in many parts of the country,» the HCP noted.
Another noteworthy finding is that 6.8% of employed workers reported not having to travel to reach their workplace. This may be explained by home-based economic activities, remote working arrangements, or occupations carried out directly at the place of residence.
The report also highlights a pronounced divide between urban and rural areas.
In rural Morocco, home to 2.82 million employed workers, 42.4% commute on foot, compared with 32.7% in urban areas.
The continued use of animals as a means of transport (2.4% in rural areas versus 0.1% in cities) and informal transport services (5.7% compared with 0.9%) illustrates the persistence of alternative mobility solutions in underserved territories.
Urban areas, by contrast, concentrate motorized transport. Private cars (18.8%), taxis (11.7%), and employer-provided transportation (11.4%) are significantly more common in cities.
Rural commuters, meanwhile, rely more heavily on motorcycles and bicycles (14.8%), which remain affordable and well suited to shorter distances.
«These findings reveal significant disparities in accessibility and transportation modes between urban and rural areas,» the HCP observed. o

F.Z.T.