This shift heralds the difficulties that pension funds and the health system would face as they would have to cope with both communicable diseases characteristic and the long-term diseases known to be very costly, the HCP said in an information note.

Currently, chronic diseases account for nearly 64.4% and affect no less than 2.7 million seniors, the source said, adding that by 2030, they will affect about 3.9 million elderly.

The number of people aged 60 and over approaches 3.4 million and makes up 11.7% of Morocco's total population in 2021, according to the High Planning Commission (HCP).

According to HCP forecasts, by 2030 the number of seniors will reach just over six million, an increase of 42% compared to 2021, and will represent 15.4% of the population.