Moving to Benin from Lesotho

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Lesotho to Benin, and you’d need to navigate life in French. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Benin compared to Lesotho.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

LS
21.6
BJ
24.8

Lesotho performs better than Benin across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

LS
$386
BJ
$138
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

LS
1.5
BJ
2.0

Benin generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Lesotho leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

LS
100.0
BJ
77.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LS
0.4t
BJ
0.5t

Lesotho generally does better on environment, though Benin 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
BJ
0.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

LS
2.6%
BJ
1.0%

Lesotho generally does better on infrastructure, though Benin 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%
BJ
1.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LS
$2,500
BJ
$3,800

Benin performs significantly 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

LS
59.6 yrs
BJ
62.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LS
48.4
BJ
55.8

Lesotho generally does better on family life, though Benin leads in life expectancy.

Data: 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

Porto-novo Rain: 47.0 in/yr (1194 mm)
None° / None°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Maseru Porto-novo
Jan–Mar 81°/57°F (27°/14°C)
Apr–Jun 67°/39°F (20°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 68°/37°F (20°/3°C)
Oct–Dec 79°/53°F (26°/12°C)
View all months
Month Maseru Porto-novo
Jan 84°/59°F (28.7°/14.8°C)
Feb 82°/58°F (27.6°/14.6°C)
Mar 78°/54°F (25.7°/12.5°C)
Apr 73°/47°F (22.9°/8.6°C)
May 67°/39°F (19.7°/3.7°C)
Jun 62°/32°F (16.7°/0.2°C)
Jul 62°/31°F (16.9°/-0.5°C)
Aug 67°/36°F (19.7°/2.4°C)
Sep 74°/44°F (23.3°/6.9°C)
Oct 77°/50°F (24.8°/10.1°C)
Nov 79°/53°F (26.3°/11.9°C)
Dec 82°/56°F (27.9°/13.4°C)

Data: Lesotho Meteorological Services Lesotho Meteorological Services, Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN) Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN)

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Lesotho passport

Lesotho passport holder visiting Benin

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

Benin passport holder visiting Lesotho

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Benin?

Connectivity is usually fine (Benin: 0.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Benin offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Benin safe for expats?

Lesotho performs better than Benin across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Benin compared to Lesotho?

Benin generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Lesotho leads in health coverage index. There are 2.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Benin, compared to 1.5 in Lesotho. Benin scores 38 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Lesotho: 53).

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

The average high temperature in Porto-novo is None°F, compared to 74°F in Maseru. Porto-novo receives around 47.0 in of rainfall per year, while Maseru gets 25.3 in.

What language do they speak in Benin?

The official language in Benin is French. In Lesotho, the official languages are English and Sotho.

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At a Glance

LS BJ
Population 2,193,970 13,754,688
Currency Lesotho Loti (LSL) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages English, Sotho French
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +266 +229
Time zones 1 1