Population
The population was around 20.000 inhabitants (2931 families) in 1994, and declined to 19706 inhabitants and 3304 families in 2004 (average of 6 persons/family), implying a stagnation of population and an increase of about 13 % of the number of families (less members per family).
The population is distributed in 36 "douars" inside 7 tribes (Jiahna, Oulad Aziz, Jouaneb, Jbabra, Azzouzyine Ouled Mâala, Ouled Aïssa, Ouled Alouane).
60% of the males and only 14.6% of the women are actively working. More than 40% is beyond the last rate of rural poverty in Morocco (The idea is that 40% of the rural population are classified as the lowest level in term of poverty in Morocco. The population of the commune is dominated by young people. But the illiteracy is high in spite of the nearness of Rabat: 63,9%, divided over 50 % for men and 79,3 % for women. Besides, the city's nearness facilitates the rural migration and limits the availability of manual labour for the agriculture.
The majority of the farmers (77 %) are over 50 years old and 30 % are more than 65 years old. This can constitute a constraint for investment. The farmers of rather young age groups (less than 35 years), thus the most motivated for innovative projects, represent only 3 %.
