Rabat – A new international study published in the journal Nature Medicine estimates that depression could cost Morocco more than $21.23 billion (around MAD 191 billion) by 2050, with the largest economic losses driven by reduced workforce participation and lower productivity rather than healthcare spending.
The study, which analyzed the economic impact of depression across 154 countries, projects that Morocco could lose $21.23 billion (MAD 191 billion) between 2025 and 2050, based on 2024 dollar values.
Depending on the scenario used by researchers, the cumulative cost could range from $16.47 billion to $27.25 billion (approximately MAD 148 billion to MAD 245 billion).
According to the researchers, depression would cost Morocco the equivalent of 0.504% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on average over the 25-year period.
On a per-person basis, the cumulative economic burden is estimated at around $493 (about MAD 4,440) between 2025 and 2050.
The authors stress that this is a cumulative figure over the entire period, not an annual loss for every Moroccan.
Rather than looking solely at healthcare costs, the researchers examined how depression affects the economy through lower labor force participation, absenteeism, reduced workplace productivity, and slower career progression.
They also included treatment costs borne by households, insurers, and public health systems.
The study found that the overwhelming majority of Morocco’s projected economic losses stem from the impact of depression on work.
People living with depression are more likely to take extended sick leave, struggle with day-to-day job performance, reduce their working hours, or leave the labor market altogether.
According to the researchers, these productivity losses far outweigh the direct costs of medical care.
Healthcare spending linked to depression can also reduce the money households have available for savings and investment, although the study suggests these effects are smaller than the economic impact of reduced employment and productivity.
Globally, depression could result in nearly $12 trillion (MAD 108 trillion) in cumulative economic losses between 2025 and 2050, representing around 0.46% of global GDP over the period.
The researchers acknowledge several limitations, including differences between countries in diagnosing and reporting depression, as well as unequal access to mental health services.
Still, they conclude that greater investment in prevention, early diagnosis, and access to mental healthcare could generate significant economic returns by reducing absenteeism, improving productivity, and helping more people remain in the workforce.
