Morocco Tops Africa in 2026 Investment Freedom Index
Morocco posts its best score since 1995 on the Heritage Foundation's Investment Freedom Index, ranking 1st in Africa and 17th globally with 80 points out of 100.
Morocco scored 80 out of 100 on the 2026 Investment Freedom Index published by the American "Heritage Foundation", ranking first in Africa and 17th worldwide out of 175 countries. This is the best score Morocco has ever recorded since the index began in 1995, up from just 75 points in the 2025 edition, a gain of 5 points in a single year.
Index criteria and the Heritage Foundation's assessment
The Investment Freedom Index measures several factors, including the level of administrative bureaucracy, restrictions on land ownership, expropriation risks, and controls on capital movement. The Heritage Foundation noted that investors generally benefit from fair legal treatment in Morocco, praising the Casablanca Stock Exchange's openness to foreign capital and the development of Morocco's financial sector.
Morocco's ranking against other African countries
| Country / metric | Score out of 100 |
|---|---|
| Morocco (1st in Africa) | 80 |
| Mauritius (2nd in Africa) | 70 |
| Burkina Faso | 65 |
| Egypt | 65 |
| Mali | 65 |
| African continental average | 45 |
Morocco leads the African ranking by 10 points over second-placed Mauritius, and stands 35 points above the African continental average.
Where Morocco stands globally
With 80 points, Morocco joins a group of countries that includes Australia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Paraguay, Poland and the United States. Luxembourg tops the global ranking with 95 points, followed by Bahrain, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, the Netherlands and Singapore, each at 90 points.
Why this ranking matters
The improvement comes as Morocco seeks to attract more foreign direct investment to support major projects in industry, energy and infrastructure, including Chinese group Gotion's giant battery plant in Kénitra, one of the largest recent foreign investments in the Kingdom. Investment freedom is among the most decisive criteria international investors use when choosing new destinations, giving Morocco an added edge over its regional peers.