Moving to Lesotho from Iraq

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Iraq to Lesotho? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Iraq to Lesotho, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Sotho. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Maseru averages 74°F vs 87°F in Baghdad, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Lesotho compared to Iraq.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2013

per 100,000 people per year

IQ
9.4
LS
37.7
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IQ
21.5
LS
21.6

Iraq performs better than Lesotho across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

IQ
$843
LS
$386
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IQ
10.1
LS
1.5

Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Lesotho leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

IQ
87.0
LS
100.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IQ
5.2t
LS
0.4t

Iraq generally does better on environment, though Lesotho leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IQ
14.4
LS
0.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IQ
59.6%
LS
2.6%

Iraq generally does better on infrastructure, though Lesotho leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

IQ
15.5%
LS
16.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IQ
$12,600
LS
$2,500

Iraq performs better than Lesotho across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IQ
73.2 yrs
LS
59.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IQ
19.6
LS
48.4

Iraq generally does better on family life, though Lesotho leads in education spending.

Data: Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Baghdad Rain: 4.8 in/yr (123 mm)
87° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

Maseru Rain: 25.3 in/yr (642 mm)
74° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Baghdad Maseru
Jan–Mar 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) 81°/57°F (27°/14°C)
Apr–Jun 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) 67°/39°F (20°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) 68°/37°F (20°/3°C)
Oct–Dec 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) 79°/53°F (26°/12°C)
View all months
Month Baghdad Maseru
Jan 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) 84°/59°F (28.7°/14.8°C)
Feb 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) 82°/58°F (27.6°/14.6°C)
Mar 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) 78°/54°F (25.7°/12.5°C)
Apr 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) 73°/47°F (22.9°/8.6°C)
May 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) 67°/39°F (19.7°/3.7°C)
Jun 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) 62°/32°F (16.7°/0.2°C)
Jul 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) 62°/31°F (16.9°/-0.5°C)
Aug 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) 67°/36°F (19.7°/2.4°C)
Sep 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) 74°/44°F (23.3°/6.9°C)
Oct 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) 77°/50°F (24.8°/10.1°C)
Nov 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) 79°/53°F (26.3°/11.9°C)
Dec 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) 82°/56°F (27.9°/13.4°C)

Data: Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology, Lesotho Meteorological Services Lesotho Meteorological Services

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iraq and Lesotho. To live, work, or study long-term in Lesotho, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Lesotho's immigration authority.

Iraq passport

Iraq passport holder visiting Lesotho

Visa Required
Iraq passport holders need a visa to enter Lesotho.
Lesotho passport

Lesotho passport holder visiting Iraq

Visa Required
Lesotho passport holders need a visa to enter Iraq.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Lesotho?

Connectivity is usually fine (Lesotho: 0.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Lesotho offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Lesotho safe for expats?

Iraq performs better than Lesotho across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Lesotho is 37.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.4 in Iraq.

How is healthcare in Lesotho compared to Iraq?

Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Lesotho leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Lesotho, compared to 10.1 in Iraq. Lesotho scores 53 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iraq: 59).

What's the weather like in Lesotho compared to Iraq?

The average high temperature in Maseru is 74°F, compared to 87°F in Baghdad. Maseru receives around 25.3 in of rainfall per year, while Baghdad gets 4.8 in.

What language do they speak in Lesotho?

The official languages in Lesotho are English and Sotho. In Iraq, the official languages are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani.

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At a Glance

IQ LS
Population 40,462,701 2,193,970
Currency Iraqi Dinar (IQD) Lesotho Loti (LSL)
Languages Arabic, Aramaic, Sorani English, Sotho
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +964 +266
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 104