Oriental (Arabic: الجهة الشرقية) is one of the sixteen former regions of Morocco. It covers an area of 82,900 km and has a population of 1,918,094 (2004 census). The capital and largest city is Oujda, and the second largest city is Nador.

Geography

It is situated in the north-east of the country, with a northern coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. The regions of Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate, Fès-Boulemane and Meknès-Tafilalet lie to its west, with the Algerian provinces of Tlemcen and Naâma to its east and Béchar to the south. Melilla, a Spanish autonomous city, also borders the region.

The region is made up into the following prefectures and provinces:

• Berkane Province
• Eddriwesh Province
• Figuig Province
• Jerada Province
• Nador Province
• Prefecture of Oujda-Angad
• Taourirt Province

Municipalities by population (2004)

• Oujda, Oujda-Angad: 398,131
• Nador, Nador Province: 124,915
• Taourirt, Taourirt Province: 79,664
• Berkane, Berkane Province: 79,570
• Jerada, Jerada Province: 43,870
• Al Aaroui, Nador Province: 36,021
• El Aioun Sidi Mellouk, Taourirt Province: 34,767
• Beni Ensar, Nador Province: 31,800
• Zaio, Nador Province: 29,851
• Bouarfa, Figuig Province: 24,527
• Sidi Slimane Echcharraa, Berkane Province: 22,889
• Zeghanghane, Nador Province: 20,134
• Ahfir, Berkane Province: 19,477
• Ain Bni Mathar, Jerada Province: 13,526
• Figuig, Figuig Province: 12,516
• Aklim, Berkane Province: 8,979
• Bni Drar, Oujda-Angad: 8,919
• Debdou, Taourirt Province: 4,575
• Touissit, Jerada Province: 3,429
• Saidia, Berkane Province: 3,338
• Ain Erreggada, Berkane Province: 2,975
• Naima, Oujda-Angad: 1,151