Moving to Mali from Lesotho

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Lesotho to Mali, and you’d need to navigate life in French. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bamako averages 95°F vs 74°F in Maseru, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Mali compared to Lesotho.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

LS
21.6
ML
20.2

Mali performs significantly better than Lesotho across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

LS
$386
ML
$104
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

LS
1.5
ML
1.9

Mali 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
ML
65.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LS
0.4t
ML
0.3t

Mali performs significantly better than Lesotho across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

LS
0.4
ML
0.8
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

LS
2.6%
ML
8.0%

Lesotho generally does better on infrastructure, though Mali leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

LS
16.5%
ML
3.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LS
$2,500
ML
$2,500

Mali generally does better on employment & economy, though Lesotho leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

LS
59.6 yrs
ML
62.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LS
48.4
ML
60.6

Lesotho generally does better on family life, though Mali 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

Bamako Rain: 39.0 in/yr (991 mm)
95° / 70°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Maseru Bamako
Jan–Mar 81°/57°F (27°/14°C) 97°/68°F (36°/20°C)
Apr–Jun 67°/39°F (20°/4°C) 100°/76°F (38°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 68°/37°F (20°/3°C) 89°/71°F (32°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 79°/53°F (26°/12°C) 94°/66°F (34°/19°C)
View all months
Month Maseru Bamako
Jan 84°/59°F (28.7°/14.8°C) 92°/63°F (33.4°/17.0°C)
Feb 82°/58°F (27.6°/14.6°C) 98°/68°F (36.4°/19.9°C)
Mar 78°/54°F (25.7°/12.5°C) 101°/73°F (38.5°/22.9°C)
Apr 73°/47°F (22.9°/8.6°C) 103°/77°F (39.6°/25.2°C)
May 67°/39°F (19.7°/3.7°C) 101°/78°F (38.5°/25.4°C)
Jun 62°/32°F (16.7°/0.2°C) 96°/74°F (35.3°/23.6°C)
Jul 62°/31°F (16.9°/-0.5°C) 90°/72°F (32.1°/22.2°C)
Aug 67°/36°F (19.7°/2.4°C) 88°/71°F (31.1°/21.8°C)
Sep 74°/44°F (23.3°/6.9°C) 90°/71°F (32.2°/21.6°C)
Oct 77°/50°F (24.8°/10.1°C) 94°/70°F (34.6°/21.3°C)
Nov 79°/53°F (26.3°/11.9°C) 96°/65°F (35.3°/18.4°C)
Dec 82°/56°F (27.9°/13.4°C) 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.8°C)

Data: Lesotho Meteorological Services Lesotho Meteorological Services, Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Mali (MALI-METEO) Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Mali (MALI-METEO)

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Lesotho passport

Lesotho passport holder visiting Mali

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

Mali passport holder visiting Lesotho

Visa Required
Mali 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 Mali?

Connectivity is usually fine (Mali: 0.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Mali offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Mali safe for expats?

Mali performs significantly better than Lesotho across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Mali compared to Lesotho?

Mali generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Lesotho leads in health coverage index. There are 1.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Mali, compared to 1.5 in Lesotho. Mali scores 41 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Lesotho: 53).

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

The average high temperature in Bamako is 95°F, compared to 74°F in Maseru. Bamako receives around 39.0 in of rainfall per year, while Maseru gets 25.3 in.

What language do they speak in Mali?

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

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At a Glance

LS ML
Population 2,193,970 20,741,769
Currency Lesotho Loti (LSL) CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA)
Languages English, Sotho French
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +266 +223
Time zones 1 1