Moving to United States from Lesotho

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Lesotho to United States — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Lesotho to United States. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Lesotho to United States, and how the trend has changed.

Moved in 2023
10

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

Who's moving to United States?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Lesotho and United States stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

LS
37.7
US
6.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

LS
21.6
US
14.2

United States 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
US
$13,473
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

LS
1.5
US
36.1

United States 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
US
14.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LS
0.4t
US
13.6t

Lesotho generally does better on environment, though United States 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
US
37.8
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

LS
2.6%
US
28.2%

United States 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%
US
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LS
$2,500
US
$73,600

United States 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
US
80.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LS
48.4
US
5.2

United States 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

Washington Rain: 41.5 in/yr (1055 mm)
66° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Maseru Washington
Jan–Mar 81°/57°F (27°/14°C) 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 67°/39°F (20°/4°C) 75°/51°F (24°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 68°/37°F (20°/3°C) 85°/62°F (29°/17°C)
Oct–Dec 79°/53°F (26°/12°C) 57°/35°F (14°/2°C)
View all months
Month Maseru Washington
Jan 84°/59°F (28.7°/14.8°C) 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C)
Feb 82°/58°F (27.6°/14.6°C) 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C)
Mar 78°/54°F (25.7°/12.5°C) 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C)
Apr 73°/47°F (22.9°/8.6°C) 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C)
May 67°/39°F (19.7°/3.7°C) 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C)
Jun 62°/32°F (16.7°/0.2°C) 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C)
Jul 62°/31°F (16.9°/-0.5°C) 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C)
Aug 67°/36°F (19.7°/2.4°C) 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C)
Sep 74°/44°F (23.3°/6.9°C) 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C)
Oct 77°/50°F (24.8°/10.1°C) 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C)
Nov 79°/53°F (26.3°/11.9°C) 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C)
Dec 82°/56°F (27.9°/13.4°C) 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C)

Data: Lesotho Meteorological Services Lesotho Meteorological Services, National Weather Service National Weather Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Lesotho passport

Lesotho passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Lesotho passport holders need a visa to enter United States.
United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Lesotho

Visa Free
United States 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 United States?

With 37.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, United States can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Lesotho and United States.

Is United States safe for expats?

United States performs significantly better than Lesotho across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United States is 6.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 37.7 in Lesotho.

How is healthcare in United States compared to Lesotho?

United States generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Lesotho leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in United States, compared to 1.5 in Lesotho. United States scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Lesotho: 53).

What's the weather like in United States compared to Lesotho?

The average high temperature in Washington is 66°F, compared to 74°F in Maseru. Washington receives around 41.5 in of rainfall per year, while Maseru gets 25.3 in.

What language do they speak in United States?

The official language in United States is English. In Lesotho, the official languages are English and Sotho.

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At a Glance

LS US
Population 2,193,970 337,341,954
Currency Lesotho Loti (LSL) United States Dollar ($)
Languages English, Sotho English
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +266 +1
Time zones 1 11
Emergency number 911