Moving to Austria from Lesotho

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Lesotho to Austria — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Lesotho to Austria, and you’d need to navigate life in German. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Vienna averages 58°F vs 74°F in Maseru, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Lesotho to Austria, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
5 ↓ 38% vs 2022

people moved from Lesotho to Austria · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Austria?

Top countries of origin for Austria's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Lesotho to Austria.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

LS
37.7
AT
0.9
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

LS
21.6
AT
4.6

Austria performs significantly better than Lesotho across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

LS
$386
AT
$8,250
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

LS
1.5
AT
55.1

Austria 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

LS
100.0
AT
17.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LS
0.4t
AT
6.3t

Lesotho generally does better on environment, though Austria leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

LS
0.4
AT
29.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

LS
2.6%
AT
8.7%

Austria 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

LS
16.5%
AT
5.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LS
$2,500
AT
$64,600

Austria generally does better on employment & economy, though Lesotho leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

LS
59.6 yrs
AT
82.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LS
48.4
AT
3.2

Austria 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.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Vienna Rain: 24.4 in/yr (620 mm)
58° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Maseru Vienna
Jan–Mar 81°/57°F (27°/14°C) 43°/31°F (6°/0°C)
Apr–Jun 67°/39°F (20°/4°C) 67°/50°F (20°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 68°/37°F (20°/3°C) 75°/58°F (24°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 79°/53°F (26°/12°C) 48°/37°F (9°/3°C)
View all months
Month Maseru Vienna
Jan 84°/59°F (28.7°/14.8°C) 37°/28°F (2.9°/-2.0°C)
Feb 82°/58°F (27.6°/14.6°C) 41°/30°F (5.1°/-0.9°C)
Mar 78°/54°F (25.7°/12.5°C) 51°/36°F (10.3°/2.4°C)
Apr 73°/47°F (22.9°/8.6°C) 59°/42°F (15.2°/5.8°C)
May 67°/39°F (19.7°/3.7°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C)
Jun 62°/32°F (16.7°/0.2°C) 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.5°C)
Jul 62°/31°F (16.9°/-0.5°C) 78°/60°F (25.6°/15.4°C)
Aug 67°/36°F (19.7°/2.4°C) 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.3°C)
Sep 74°/44°F (23.3°/6.9°C) 69°/53°F (20.3°/11.7°C)
Oct 77°/50°F (24.8°/10.1°C) 58°/45°F (14.2°/7.0°C)
Nov 79°/53°F (26.3°/11.9°C) 46°/36°F (7.5°/2.4°C)
Dec 82°/56°F (27.9°/13.4°C) 39°/31°F (4.0°/-0.5°C)

Data: Lesotho Meteorological Services Lesotho Meteorological Services, GeoSphere Austria GeoSphere Austria

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Lesotho passport

Lesotho passport holder visiting Austria

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

Austria passport holder visiting Lesotho

Visa Free
Austria passport holders can enter Lesotho without a visa.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Austria?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Austria has 29.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Austria safe for expats?

Austria performs significantly better than Lesotho across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Austria is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 37.7 in Lesotho.

How is healthcare in Austria compared to Lesotho?

Austria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Lesotho leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 55.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Austria, compared to 1.5 in Lesotho. Austria scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Lesotho: 53).

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

The average high temperature in Vienna is 58°F, compared to 74°F in Maseru. Vienna receives around 24.4 in of rainfall per year, while Maseru gets 25.3 in.

What language do they speak in Austria?

The official language in Austria is German. In Lesotho, the official languages are English and Sotho.

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At a Glance

LS AT
Population 2,193,970 8,913,088
Currency Lesotho Loti (LSL) Euro (€)
Languages English, Sotho German
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +266 +43
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112