The Morocco Diaspora in the United States Explained

MOROCCO · DIASPORA

The Morocco diaspora in the United States counts about 99,000 Moroccan-born residents, and its money, votes and culture matter in both countries. This guide explains how many there are, where they live, what they send home and how US rules affect them.

Each figure below comes from official statistics and carries its date.

The Morocco Diaspora at a Glance

The US Census Bureau counted 98,678 people born in Morocco living in the United States in its 2025 American Community Survey. The survey is a yearly sample, and the margin of error on that count is about 11,000 people.

A second count asks people for their family origin instead of their birthplace. It finds 120,605 Americans who name Moroccan ancestry, with a margin of error of about 14,700.

Morocco is a North African kingdom of about 38 million people on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, and its capital is Rabat. See the Rio Times Morocco page for the wider picture.

The Morocco diaspora is a small part of the American immigrant population. Morocco-born residents are about 22% of the 441,629 North African-born and 3.3% of the 2,998,406 African-born residents.

They are also about 0.2% of all 50,409,098 foreign-born residents. Egypt’s community is about twice as large, at 207,248 Egypt-born residents in the same survey.

Where Moroccans Live in America

The Morocco diaspora is spread across the country, with the largest groups in Florida, Massachusetts and Virginia. The Census Bureau estimates 13,535 Morocco-born residents in Florida, 11,688 in Massachusetts and 10,756 in Virginia in 2025.

New York follows with 7,746 and California with 7,081, then New Jersey with 5,427, Texas with 5,192 and Illinois with 4,835. These eight states hold about 66,300 people, or roughly two thirds of the national total.

Florida alone holds about 13.7% of the national count, Massachusetts about 11.8% and Virginia about 10.9%. Together these three states account for roughly 36% of all Morocco-born residents in the United States.

Each state estimate comes from a small sample, so the margins are wide: Florida’s is about 3,800 and Massachusetts’s about 4,600. The ranking of neighbouring states can therefore swap from year to year.

The Census Bureau publishes no estimate for some states because the sample is too small. The list above therefore shows the main centres, not a complete map.

• Florida: 13,535 Morocco-born residents (2025 estimate)
• Massachusetts: 11,688
• Virginia: 10,756
• New York: 7,746
• California: 7,081
• New Jersey: 5,427, Texas: 5,192, Illinois: 4,835

Two Ways of Counting Moroccans in America

The Census Bureau counts Moroccans by birthplace and by family origin. The birthplace count of 98,678 covers people who moved, while the ancestry count of 120,605 also covers descendants.

The gap between the two counts points to a community with US-born children and grandchildren. The counts measure different things, so they cannot simply be subtracted from each other.

Morocco’s own population was about 38.4 million in 2025, according to the World Bank, the global development lender. The Morocco diaspora in the United States is therefore small compared with the home country.

Morocco’s 2011 constitution commits the state to protect its citizens living abroad and to keep their ties to the kingdom alive. The Rio Times guide to Morocco’s history gives the longer background on the country.

The Morocco diaspora is a global story, and the United States is only one of its destinations. This guide covers the American part of it, using the Census Bureau’s own counts.

What Moroccans in America Send Home

The World Bank records US$13.66 billion in personal remittances to Morocco in 2025. That is up from US$12.51 billion in 2024 and about 7.5% of Morocco’s economic output, down from 7.8% in 2024.

These totals cover Moroccans in every country, so they are not a US figure. No official source says how much of the money comes from the United States.

Remittances from the Morocco diaspora support household spending, housing and small businesses in Morocco. The Rio Times guide to US-Morocco relations covers the trade and security ties between the two governments.

Visas, Citizenship and Green Cards

Under Title 8 of the US Code, a Moroccan green-card holder can apply for citizenship after five years of continuous residence. The rule is three years for a holder married to and living with a US citizen.

Applicants must also have been physically present in the United States for at least half of that period. The Census count does not say how many Morocco-born residents have naturalised, so that share is unknown.

Citizenship matters for the Morocco diaspora because US citizens can vote in US elections. Green cards come through family ties, a US employer, refugee or asylum status, or the diversity visa lottery.

US Rules and Travel Policy

US Presidential Proclamation 10998 was signed on 16 December 2025 and took effect on 1 January 2026. It suspends or limits entry for citizens of the countries it names, and Morocco is not among them.

The proclamation calls for a review of its country lists every 180 days, so the lists can change. Moroccan travellers should read the current White House text and the US Embassy in Rabat’s visa guidance before each application.

The proclamation exempts lawful permanent residents of the United States. A Moroccan green-card holder is therefore not affected by an entry ban that covers other nationals.

The proclamation applies to people outside the United States who hold no valid visa on its effective date. Visas issued earlier remain valid under that rule.

Politics, Voting and Culture

Morocco’s 2011 constitution says Moroccans abroad enjoy the full rights of citizenship, including the right to vote and stand for office. Article 17 leaves the practical rules for voting from abroad to a separate law.

The constitution also sets up the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad, an official body that advises on policy for Moroccans overseas. See the Rio Times guide to Morocco’s power structure and the politics guide for who holds power at home.

Religion shapes community life abroad for many families, and faith groups often anchor a diaspora. The Rio Times guide to religion in Morocco explains Islam and the state’s role at home.

Football is a shared passion that links Morocco and its diaspora in America. FIFA records that Morocco drew 1-1 with Brazil in New Jersey on 13 June 2026.

Morocco also played at World Cup stadiums in Boston, Atlanta and Houston in June and July 2026. FIFA lists a 1-0 win over Scotland in Boston, a 4-2 win over Haiti in Atlanta and a 3-0 win over Canada.

What It Means for US Readers

Moroccans travelling to the United States should read the White House proclamation and US Embassy visa guidance before booking. Rules changed in 2026, and Morocco is not named in the proclamation.

Employers, banks and money-transfer firms serve about 99,000 Morocco-born residents and about 121,000 people who name Moroccan ancestry. For investors, remittances of US$13.7 billion in 2025 show how much household money Moroccans abroad send home.

Local governments in Florida, Massachusetts, Virginia and New York have Moroccan-born residents as a small part of their immigrant populations. Planners should treat each Census state figure as a range, not an exact count.

What Is Not Known

The Census Bureau tables used here give no median income for Morocco-born Americans and no count of those who became US citizens. They also give no reasons for arriving, and no official source gives the US share of remittances sent to Morocco.

Morocco’s own estimates of its citizens in the United States are not a census and are not used here. How the Morocco diaspora votes in Moroccan elections from the United States depends on a law that this guide does not describe.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Moroccans live in the United States?

The Census Bureau counted 98,678 Morocco-born residents in 2025, with a margin of error of about 11,000. A separate ancestry count shows 120,605 people.

Which US states have the most Moroccans?

Florida (13,535), Massachusetts (11,688) and Virginia (10,756) lead, followed by New York and California. State estimates have wide margins, so rankings can change.

How much money do Moroccans abroad send home?

The World Bank records US$13.66 billion in personal remittances to Morocco in 2025, about 7.5% of its economic output. The US share is not published.

Is Morocco on the US travel ban list?

No. Morocco is not named in Proclamation 10998, signed on 16 December 2025 and effective on 1 January 2026. The proclamation calls for a review of its lists every 180 days.

How long does it take a Moroccan green-card holder to become a US citizen?

Five years of continuous residence, or three years for a green-card holder married to and living with a US citizen, under US law.

Can Moroccans abroad vote in Morocco?

Morocco’s constitution gives citizens abroad the right to vote and run for office. A separate law sets how, and this guide describes no US voting arrangement.

Sources: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 1-year, table B05006 (place of birth, foreign-born), 2026-09-01; US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 1-year, table B04006 (ancestry), 2026-09-01; World Bank, personal remittances received and population, Morocco, 2026-10-08; White House, Proclamation 10998 restricting entry of foreign nationals, 2025-12-16; Constitution of the Kingdom of Morocco (2011), Articles 16, 17 and 163, 2011-07-29; US Code, Title 8, sections 1427 and 1430 (naturalisation), 2026-10-31; FIFA, World Cup 2026 match results (Morocco), 2026-10-31.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief