Moving to Canada from Lesotho

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Lesotho to Canada. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ottawa averages 52°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 Canada, based on official data.

Moved in 2021
5

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

Who's moving to Canada?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

LS
37.7
CA
2.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

LS
21.6
CA
4.7

Canada 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
CA
$7,646
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

LS
1.5
CA
25.0

Canada 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
CA
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LS
0.4t
CA
14.0t

Lesotho generally does better on environment, though Canada 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
CA
42.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

LS
2.6%
CA
3.7%

Canada 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%
CA
5.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LS
$2,500
CA
$55,800

Canada 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
CA
83.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LS
48.4
CA
4.4

Canada 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

Ottawa Rain: 37.1 in/yr (943 mm)
52° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Maseru Ottawa
Jan–Mar 81°/57°F (27°/14°C) 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C)
Apr–Jun 67°/39°F (20°/4°C) 64°/45°F (18°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 68°/37°F (20°/3°C) 75°/55°F (24°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 79°/53°F (26°/12°C) 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C)
View all months
Month Maseru Ottawa
Jan 84°/59°F (28.7°/14.8°C) 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C)
Feb 82°/58°F (27.6°/14.6°C) 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C)
Mar 78°/54°F (25.7°/12.5°C) 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C)
Apr 73°/47°F (22.9°/8.6°C) 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C)
May 67°/39°F (19.7°/3.7°C) 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C)
Jun 62°/32°F (16.7°/0.2°C) 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C)
Jul 62°/31°F (16.9°/-0.5°C) 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C)
Aug 67°/36°F (19.7°/2.4°C) 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C)
Sep 74°/44°F (23.3°/6.9°C) 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C)
Oct 77°/50°F (24.8°/10.1°C) 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C)
Nov 79°/53°F (26.3°/11.9°C) 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C)
Dec 82°/56°F (27.9°/13.4°C) 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C)

Data: Lesotho Meteorological Services Lesotho Meteorological Services, Meteorological Service of Canada Meteorological Service of Canada

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Lesotho passport

Lesotho passport holder visiting Canada

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

Canada passport holder visiting Lesotho

Visa Free
Canada 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 Canada?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Canada has 42.6 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 Canada safe for expats?

Canada performs significantly better than Lesotho across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Canada is 2.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 37.7 in Lesotho.

How is healthcare in Canada compared to Lesotho?

Canada generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Lesotho leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 25.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Canada, compared to 1.5 in Lesotho. Canada scores 91 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Lesotho: 53).

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

The average high temperature in Ottawa is 52°F, compared to 74°F in Maseru. Ottawa receives around 37.1 in of rainfall per year, while Maseru gets 25.3 in.

What language do they speak in Canada?

The official languages in Canada are English and French. In Lesotho, the official languages are English and Sotho.

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At a Glance

LS CA
Population 2,193,970 38,232,593
Currency Lesotho Loti (LSL) Canadian Dollar (CA$)
Languages English, Sotho English, French
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +266 +1
Time zones 1 6
Emergency number 911