Home to an estimated 15.9% of the world’s proven oil reserves, Saudi Arabia is the single largest economy in the Middle East and North Africa. According to the Ministry of Finance, real GDP grew by 3.8% to $746bn in 2013. While oil income is expected to continue to account for the majority of government revenues for the foreseeable future, the non-oil sector has expanded significantly in recent decades growing 9.3% in 2013.
The only monarchy in North Africa, Morocco has one of the more diversified GDP mixes in the region, and the mainstays of the economy include agriculture, tourism, and the textiles industry; higher-end manufacturing, IT and communications, and outsourcing are also all becoming increasingly important. The past few years have seen some significant changes, yet the kingdom has remained stable, even amidst the broader regional turmoil.
Significant strides have been made in improving health indicators, particularly in terms of maternal and child mortality rates. Costs, however, are likely to remain a major obstacle, with out-of-pocket expenditure accounting for approximately 53% of spending on health care. A 2011 constitutional amendment enshrined access to health care as a basic right and the authorities are working to...
The Emergency Plan 2009-12 was launched five years ago to boost schooling levels in the kingdom, enhance the quality of teaching and infrastructure, and improve higher education and scientific research.
Health care infrastructure has seen significant developments, with the number of facilities rising from one for every 17,000 people in 1980 to one for every 12,000 in 2014. The system has 144 public hospitals, with 22,000 beds, and 373 private clinics, accounting for around 10,300 beds. However, despite improvements in health insurance...
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