Chaouia

Chaouia is a historical region and the homeland of the Chaouia (a Berber group) in central‑western Morocco. It is named after the Chaouia plain, a fertile corridor along the Atlantic coast between Rabat to the north and Casablanca to the south. The area has long been characterized by agricultural activity, with a demographic mix that includes rural Berber communities and urban populations.

Geographically, the Chaouia plain occupies western Morocco and forms part of the broader Atlantic coastal belt. It encompasses several key towns that have driven regional development, including Settat, Berrechid, and Khouribga. Khouribga is notable for its phosphate mining, which has shaped local industry and employment. Today, the Chaouia region is largely incorporated within the Casablanca‑Settat administrative region.

Historically, Chaouia functioned as a traditional native territory with various tribal and confederate groupings. In the late 20th century, it was established as the Chaouia-Ouardigha region (1997–2015) with its capital at Settat. Following the 2015 administrative reorganization, Chaouia-Ouardigha was merged into the larger Casablanca‑Settat region, aligning its governance with new regional boundaries.

Demographically, the Chaouia are primarily Arabic-speaking with Berber cultural influences, and the region exhibits a mix of rural agricultural communities and urbanized centers. The economy remains rooted in agriculture in the countryside, supplemented by mining and industrial activities in towns like Khouribga, and by the proximity to the Casablanca metropolitan area.

See also: Chaouia-Ouardigha, Casablanca-Settat, Berber peoples.