Casablanca, Morocco Population

The famous city of Casablanca is located in the central-western part of the country of Morocco and is home to 3.1 million people within the city and 3.7 million people in the Grand Casablanca area. The city has grown consistently since the 1950s, adding about 3 million people to its population in the past 70 years.

Casablanca is the eighth-largest city in the Arab world and the largest in the Maghreb region. It is one of Morocco’s main ports and sits on the Atlantic Ocean. The city is considered one of the largest financial centers in Africa and the economic and business capital of Morocco. It is also one of the primary industrial zones in the nation and has the primary naval base for the Royal Moroccan Navy.

A colonial legacy

Casablanca was occupied during the French at two points in its history: over the course of 1907, and during the French protectorate from 1912 to 1956. The occupation of the French left a lasting mark on Casablanca. Architecturally, French influence can be seen in the palm-lined Boulevard Mohammed V and in the city’s waterfront beach cafes and ocean-view restaurants that would fit right in on the French Riviera.

While French as a language no longer has any official recognition in Morocco or in Casablanca, the language is considered a prestige language and is used for business, diplomacy, and government use and, for all practical purposes, the French language in Morocco is used as a second language.

Demographics of the city

Since the city is relatively small at only 220 square kilometres, most of Casablanca’s population live in urban, densely populated areas. The city’s small size, coupled with the number of residents, mean that Casablanca ends up being very crowded. In fact, with 14,200 people per square kilometre, Casablanca is actually one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Casablanca is actually the fifth-most populated city in the world, and the most populated city in Africa. Casablanca is predicted to continue growing, with estimates putting the city’s population at 4.6 million by 2035.

Judaism in Casablanca

Jewish people have a long and storied history in Casablanca. Originally, a Sephardic Jewish community was in Anfa up until its destruction by the Portuguese in 1468. After this initial destruction, Jews slowly returned to the city until, in 1750, the Rabbi Elijah Synagogue was built. This was the first synagogue in Casablanca. It, and much of the city, was destroyed during the 1755 Lisbon earthquake.

Since then, Moroccan Jews have been declining, with an initial exodus of 28,000 between 1948 and 1951 leaving through Casablanca for the State of Israel. By 2018, there were only 1,000 to 2,500 Moroccan Jews left in the city of Casablanca.

Tourism in Casablanca

While the Mohammed V International Airport gets the most international flights out of Morocco, many of Morocco’s 11 million international tourists have yet to realize the beauty of Casablanca. While tourism is not as developed in Casablanca as it is in Fes and Tangiers, there are still many sites showing the city’s rich architectural heritage, including the Hassan II Mosque, the second largest mosque in Africa.