Moving to Lesotho from Swaziland

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Swaziland to Lesotho.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Swaziland to Lesotho, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
67 ↑ 31% vs 2015

people born in Swaziland live in Lesotho · UN DESA

Who's moving to Lesotho?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SZ
12.7
LS
37.7
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SZ
24.7
LS
21.6

Swaziland generally does better on safety, though Lesotho leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SZ
$922
LS
$386
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SZ
15.9
LS
1.5

Swaziland 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

SZ
66.0
LS
100.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SZ
0.9t
LS
0.4t

Swaziland generally does better on environment, though Lesotho leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SZ
2.3
LS
0.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SZ
77.6%
LS
2.6%

Swaziland 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

SZ
37.6%
LS
16.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SZ
$10,600
LS
$2,500

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SZ
59.7 yrs
LS
59.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SZ
39.6
LS
48.4

Swaziland generally does better on family life, though Lesotho leads in education spending.

Data: Swaziland Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Lobamba Rain: 56.8 in/yr (1442 mm)
72° / 51°F

Avg. annual high / low

Maseru Rain: 25.3 in/yr (642 mm)
74° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lobamba Maseru
Jan–Mar 76°/58°F (24°/14°C) 81°/57°F (27°/14°C)
Apr–Jun 70°/46°F (21°/8°C) 67°/39°F (20°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 71°/44°F (21°/7°C) 68°/37°F (20°/3°C)
Oct–Dec 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) 79°/53°F (26°/12°C)
View all months
Month Lobamba Maseru
Jan 77°/59°F (24.9°/14.9°C) 84°/59°F (28.7°/14.8°C)
Feb 76°/58°F (24.5°/14.5°C) 82°/58°F (27.6°/14.6°C)
Mar 75°/56°F (24.1°/13.4°C) 78°/54°F (25.7°/12.5°C)
Apr 73°/52°F (22.6°/11.0°C) 73°/47°F (22.9°/8.6°C)
May 71°/46°F (21.4°/7.9°C) 67°/39°F (19.7°/3.7°C)
Jun 67°/40°F (19.3°/4.7°C) 62°/32°F (16.7°/0.2°C)
Jul 68°/40°F (19.8°/4.6°C) 62°/31°F (16.9°/-0.5°C)
Aug 70°/44°F (21.3°/6.6°C) 67°/36°F (19.7°/2.4°C)
Sep 74°/49°F (23.2°/9.5°C) 74°/44°F (23.3°/6.9°C)
Oct 73°/52°F (22.8°/11.3°C) 77°/50°F (24.8°/10.1°C)
Nov 72°/55°F (22.5°/12.9°C) 79°/53°F (26.3°/11.9°C)
Dec 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.2°C) 82°/56°F (27.9°/13.4°C)

Data: Eswatini Meteorological Service Eswatini Meteorological Service, Lesotho Meteorological Services Lesotho Meteorological Services

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Swaziland passport

Swaziland passport holder visiting Lesotho

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

Lesotho passport holder visiting Swaziland

Visa Free
Lesotho passport holders can enter Swaziland 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 Lesotho?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Lesotho has 0.4 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 Lesotho safe for expats?

Swaziland generally does better on safety, though Lesotho leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Lesotho is 37.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 12.7 in Swaziland.

How is healthcare in Lesotho compared to Swaziland?

Swaziland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Lesotho leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Lesotho, compared to 15.9 in Swaziland. Lesotho scores 53 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Swaziland: 56).

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

The average high temperature in Maseru is 74°F, compared to 72°F in Lobamba. Maseru receives around 25.3 in of rainfall per year, while Lobamba gets 56.8 in.

What language do they speak in Lesotho?

The official languages in Lesotho are English and Sotho. In Swaziland, the official languages are English and Swazi.

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At a Glance

SZ LS
Population 1,121,761 2,193,970
Currency Swazi Lilangeni (SZL) Lesotho Loti (LSL)
Languages English, Swazi English, Sotho
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +268 +266
Time zones 1 1