Moving to Iceland from Lesotho

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Lesotho to Iceland, and you’d need to navigate life in Icelandic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Reykjavik averages 45°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 Iceland, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
5 ↑ 67% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to Iceland?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

LS
37.7
IS
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

LS
21.6
IS
2.4

Iceland 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
IS
$6,927
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

LS
1.5
IS
45.2

Iceland 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
IS
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LS
0.4t
IS
8.5t

Lesotho generally does better on environment, though Iceland 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
IS
38.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

LS
2.6%
IS
0.4%

Iceland performs significantly better than Lesotho across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

LS
16.5%
IS
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LS
$2,500
IS
$66,500

Iceland 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
IS
83.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LS
48.4
IS
1.6

Iceland 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

Reykjavik Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
45° / 35°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Maseru Reykjavik
Jan–Mar 81°/57°F (27°/14°C) 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 67°/39°F (20°/4°C) 48°/38°F (9°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 68°/37°F (20°/3°C) 54°/45°F (12°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 79°/53°F (26°/12°C) 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Maseru Reykjavik
Jan 84°/59°F (28.7°/14.8°C) 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C)
Feb 82°/58°F (27.6°/14.6°C) 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C)
Mar 78°/54°F (25.7°/12.5°C) 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C)
Apr 73°/47°F (22.9°/8.6°C) 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C)
May 67°/39°F (19.7°/3.7°C) 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C)
Jun 62°/32°F (16.7°/0.2°C) 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C)
Jul 62°/31°F (16.9°/-0.5°C) 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C)
Aug 67°/36°F (19.7°/2.4°C) 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C)
Sep 74°/44°F (23.3°/6.9°C) 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C)
Oct 77°/50°F (24.8°/10.1°C) 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C)
Nov 79°/53°F (26.3°/11.9°C) 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C)
Dec 82°/56°F (27.9°/13.4°C) 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C)

Data: Lesotho Meteorological Services Lesotho Meteorological Services, Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Lesotho passport

Lesotho passport holder visiting Iceland

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

Iceland passport holder visiting Lesotho

Visa Free
Iceland 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 Iceland?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Iceland has 38.2 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 Iceland safe for expats?

Iceland performs significantly better than Lesotho across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iceland is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 37.7 in Lesotho.

How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Lesotho?

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Lesotho leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 1.5 in Lesotho. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Lesotho: 53).

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

The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 74°F in Maseru. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Maseru gets 25.3 in.

What language do they speak in Iceland?

The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Lesotho, the official languages are English and Sotho.

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At a Glance

LS IS
Population 2,193,970 357,603
Currency Lesotho Loti (LSL) Icelandic Króna (ISK)
Languages English, Sotho Icelandic
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +266 +354
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112