The Maghreb: A Geographical Overview

Due to the Maghreb's diverse geography, the regions climates are just as diverse. Characterized by westerly winds, the region receives moisture from the Mediterranean Sea, but tapers off into the Saharan Desert.

Select an area of the map to explore its bioclimate.

Atlas Mountains

Built as a result of the collision between Africa and North America, this mountain range used to include the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States.

This mountain range stretches over 1,600 miles from the Atlantic Ocean in Morocco to Northern Tunisia.

Rif Mountains

Often considered part of the Atlas Mountains, the Rif mountains are located in the northern tip of Morocco, almost connecting to Spain.

This area, unlike the rest of the Atlas Mountains, were apart of the Iberian mountain range in Spain. The Rif mountains are known for is fertile soil and high production of agriculture.

Arabic for "The Greatest Desert", this feature covers an area of over 3,600,000 sq miles making it the worlds largest hot desert.

There is some debate about how the Sahara desert was formed. One of the main theories agrred upon by experts is a North African monsoon cycle that transforms the Sahara desert into plains every 20,000 years.

To use this map, select on the area of interest to explore the boundary of the Sahara desert as well as other land types in the Maghreb.

Ever since the Phoenician traders settled coastal Maghreb in the 1st millennium bc, the Mediterranean Sea has been a vital economic and cultural entity for the region.

The Mediterranean sea is home to a wide variety of marine life. The Mediterranean Monk Seal (pictured below) is an endangered species with an estimated population of only 700 individuals left.

Urbanized vs Rural Areas in the Maghreb

As the Maghreb modernizes the shift between urban and rural can be seen in population dynamics as well as imagery and environmental indicators. The light pollution map shows light pollution from 1992 to 2019 using NOAA/EOG VIIRS satellite imagery.

Urban

In the Maghreb, the majority of its population is located in urban settings. The percentage of region's population living in urban settlements ranges from 60-80%.

Rural

While rural Maghreb is culturally and economically vital to the region, less than 40% of the population lives outside urban areas.

While the region has seen population growth in the recent years, compared to other parts of Africa and Southern Europe, they are behind. The map shows regional population percentage growth compared to other countries in Africa and Southern Europe.

Regional

Overall, as a region the Maghreb is growing between 1.11-1.93%. This is above the world average of 1.05%. The Maghreb's population growth percentage is significantly behind the African continent average of 2.45%, which is the fastest growing continent.

Morocco

As the second largest population in the Maghreb, Morocco saw significant population growth between the 1980s and now. Morocco is projected to peak in population at 50 million in 2069.

Algeria

As the Maghreb's largest population, Algeria is growing at a steady pace. Algeria is expected to surpass 60 million people by 2050.

Tunisia

Tunisia is projected to reach its maximum population in 2060 at 15 million people. After 2060, the country is expected to steadily decline in population due to fertility and net immigration percentages.

Libya

It is hard to accurately access Libya's population metrics due to recent conflicts and regional instability.

Morocco

The Moroccan government is a Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy. Morocco currently has a king and prime minister.

Algeria

Algeria has a republic for of government. They have low rating in the Index of Economic Freedom and are at risk for high government intervention.

Tunisia

Tunisia is also considered a republic. In 2013 a constitution was drafted and its still being worked on to this day.

Libya

After the Libyan civil war, Libya is currently in a transitional government. A constitution is currently being drafting and a chief of state and prime minister currently keep order in the country.

Multi-country Organizations

The entirety of thee Maghreb is part of the League of Arab states. This alliance makes up most members of the Middle East and its goal is to "draw closer the relations between member states and co-ordinate collaboration between them, to safeguard their independence and sovereignty, and to consider in a general way the affairs and interests of the Arab countries"

While the League of Arab States has overseen many conflicts, it has had much criticism for its failure to be effective.

The map to visualizes the boundaries of the League of Arab States.

Major Industries

The main industries for the region as a whole include crude oil, petroleum, natural gas. Another major industry is Agriculture, especially wheat.

GDP Overview

Gross domestic product for the Maghreb varies drastically depending on the country. Morocco for example has a booming economy while Libya's has decreased drastically due to the countries instability.

The map to the right explores each country in the Maghreb's GDP.

Pre-Colonial Maghreb

The Berbers inhabited western North Africa since at least 10,000 BC.

In the 1st millennium BC, the Phoenicians inhabited the coastal regions of the Maghreb. These people came in constant conflict with Europeans, including the Romans.

In the middle ages the Maghreb was occupied by the Umayyad dynasty, where much of the people converted to Islam.

Colonization

During the 19th and 20th centuries, areas of the Maghreb where colonized by France, Spain and Italy.

Impacts of Colonialism

From European colonization slavery increased, people were required to change languages, and the traditional and Islamic practices were infringed on.

Many people from the Maghreb also migrated to central Europe.

The graph above illustrates how European colonization changed the way traditional language in the region is spoken.

Islam

With the spread of Islam to the region in the middle-ages, this religion has become the most dominant by a wide margin. Greater than 90% of most countries in the Maghreb practice Islam. The map to the right shows the expansion of Islam from modern day Saudi Arabia to the Maghreb and beyond.

Christianity

Christianity gained a foothold in the region during roman occupation and later during French, Spanish and Italian colonization. Christians makes up less than 5% of the total population.

Judaism

Judaism makes up a very small fraction of the region but is still practiced in small communities in the Maghreb.

Other Major Religions

Other religions include indigenous Berber practices as well as those who do not identify with a religion.

Select on the countries below to dive deeper into the religious demographics of the region.

Regional Conflict and Regime Change

The Maghreb has become a hotspot for state instability. The most recent regime change came in 201, when longtime dictator Muammar al-Qaddafi was killed during the first Libyan Civil War. The map explores all conflicts, protests, riots and acts of terrorism/ violence in the Maghreb.

Libyan Civil War

Since the death of Muammar al-Qaddafi, the state has been in constant instability. The battle for control over Libya crosses tribal, regional, political, and even religious lines. Each coalition has created there own government bodies and named military chiefs—and each has faced internal fragmentation and division.

Whats happening with the war in Libya?

Human Trafficking

Human trafficking has become a global epidemic, this is especially true in the Maghreb. With regional instability, large poverty and immigration taking place as well as lack of laws in place to prevent it, the Maghreb is a hotspot for human traffickers.

The Human Trafficking map illustrates how the region is lacking in legislation that protects against human trafficking.

Immigration Factors

Because of the instability in the region, especially in Libya, many people who are seeking a better life are exiting Libya for European countries such as Italy. Immigrants face a perilous journey to get to Italy and woman and children are at high risk for human trafficking.

State Instability

With instability comes lack of protection, laws and accountability. Governments focused on retaining control do not have the resources to protect its citizens from becoming prey to human traffickers.

Lack of Laws in Place

Even countries in the Maghreb that aren't dealing with civil war lack the laws in place to prevent and prosecute those involved in human trafficking. This results in lack of accountability for the countries citizens. The map to the right shows countries where human trafficking laws have are not sufficient and need improvement.

Ethno-religious Conflict and Racism

With the diversity in ethnicities, cultures and religion, ethno-conflict occurs in the Maghreb. This is especially true in Morocco, where a people of dark skin are subject to prejudice as well as the controversy with Western Sahara.

Racism in Morocco

Without the Sahara desert acting as a natural barrier, Morocco is on the crossroads between Northern Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. This along with a history of slavery has created tensions between dark skinned and light skinned Africans, resulting in racism.

Claim to Western Sahara

This conflict escalated when Spain left the region in the 1970s. Morocco believes that the Western Sahara is Moroccan territory. The insurgency by the Polisario Front made up of the Sahrawi people, want independence. Large parts of Western Sahara are controlled by the Moroccan Government and known as the southern provinces, whereas some 20% of the Western Sahara territory remains controlled by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). The territories are marked by " The Berm", a sand wall erected by the SADR.

The video goes in depth to this conflict.