Rabat – Morocco secured the second spot in Africa for its rich heritage, a new ranking by US News has shown.

The ranking, which listed countries that shaped history through their culture, also ranks Morocco 14 globally.

Zooming in on Morocco, the ranking highlighted the country’s assets, including its cuisine.

“Morocco is known for its cuisine, which is admired and imitated throughout the world,” US News said, recalling the use of the species and local ingredients like olives, saffron, and mint.

“Couscous is Morocco’s premier food, and kabobs, soups, and salads are often served,” the ranking added.

In addition to the cuisine and history, US News also delved into Morocco’s tourism assets.

“In addition to its mountainous interior, sunny coastline, and portions of desert, Morocco boasts cities and buildings rich in historical significance,” the ranking said.

US News highlighted Fez, describing it as the only “complete medieval city in the Arab world.”

The ranking also emphasizes the significance of the country’s architecture, including in Casablanca whose structure “blends Moroccan styles with French Art Deco to form unique designs.”

Egypt tops the list of African countries with the richest heritage, followed by Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia, and Kenya.

Globally, South Africa ranks 24th, while Tunisia is placed 52nd in the ranking. Meanwhile, US News ranked Kenya 57th globally.

Italy tops the overall ranking, followed by Greece, Spain,  France, Mexico, Japan, Egypt, Turkey, Thailand, and India.

Morocco’s authentic culture and heritage attract millions of tourists from across the world.

Morocco witnessed a groundbreaking number of tourists last year. Statistics from the Ministry of Tourism said that over 14 million tourists visited the North African country in 2023.

Morocco seeks to attract 17 million tourists by 2026 and 26 million tourists by 2030.