Moving to Lesotho from Zimbabwe

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Zimbabwe to Lesotho.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
127 ↑ 31% vs 2015

people born in Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe to Lesotho.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

ZW
6.7
LS
37.7
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ZW
29.9
LS
21.6

Zimbabwe 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

ZW
$63
LS
$386
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ZW
1.7
LS
1.5

Zimbabwe performs better than Lesotho across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

ZW
56.0
LS
100.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ZW
0.8t
LS
0.4t

Zimbabwe 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

ZW
1.3
LS
0.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ZW
46.1%
LS
2.6%

Zimbabwe 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

ZW
8.8%
LS
16.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ZW
$3,500
LS
$2,500

Zimbabwe 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

ZW
63.3 yrs
LS
59.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ZW
28.5
LS
48.4

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

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Harare Rain: 33.1 in/yr (841 mm)
78° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Harare Maseru
Jan–Mar 79°/59°F (26°/15°C) 81°/57°F (27°/14°C)
Apr–Jun 75°/49°F (24°/10°C) 67°/39°F (20°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/48°F (25°/9°C) 68°/37°F (20°/3°C)
Oct–Dec 82°/59°F (28°/15°C) 79°/53°F (26°/12°C)
View all months
Month Harare Maseru
Jan 79°/60°F (26.2°/15.8°C) 84°/59°F (28.7°/14.8°C)
Feb 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.7°C) 82°/58°F (27.6°/14.6°C)
Mar 79°/58°F (26.2°/14.5°C) 78°/54°F (25.7°/12.5°C)
Apr 78°/54°F (25.6°/12.5°C) 73°/47°F (22.9°/8.6°C)
May 75°/49°F (23.8°/9.3°C) 67°/39°F (19.7°/3.7°C)
Jun 71°/44°F (21.8°/6.8°C) 62°/32°F (16.7°/0.2°C)
Jul 71°/44°F (21.6°/6.5°C) 62°/31°F (16.9°/-0.5°C)
Aug 75°/47°F (24.1°/8.5°C) 67°/36°F (19.7°/2.4°C)
Sep 83°/53°F (28.4°/11.7°C) 74°/44°F (23.3°/6.9°C)
Oct 84°/58°F (28.8°/14.5°C) 77°/50°F (24.8°/10.1°C)
Nov 82°/60°F (27.6°/15.5°C) 79°/53°F (26.3°/11.9°C)
Dec 79°/60°F (26.3°/15.8°C) 82°/56°F (27.9°/13.4°C)

Data: Meteorological Services Department Meteorological Services Department, Lesotho Meteorological Services Lesotho Meteorological Services

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zimbabwe 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.

Zimbabwe passport

Zimbabwe passport holder visiting Lesotho

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

Lesotho passport holder visiting Zimbabwe

Visa Free
Lesotho passport holders can enter Zimbabwe 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?

Zimbabwe 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 6.7 in Zimbabwe.

How is healthcare in Lesotho compared to Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe performs better than Lesotho across all health & wellbeing metrics. There are 1.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Lesotho, compared to 1.7 in Zimbabwe. Lesotho scores 53 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zimbabwe: 55).

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

The average high temperature in Maseru is 74°F, compared to 78°F in Harare. Maseru receives around 25.3 in of rainfall per year, while Harare gets 33.1 in.

What language do they speak in Lesotho?

The official languages in Lesotho are English and Sotho. In Zimbabwe, the official languages are Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zimbabwean Sign Language.

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At a Glance

ZW LS
Population 15,121,004 2,193,970
Currency Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL) Lesotho Loti (LSL)
Languages Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zimbabwean Sign Language English, Sotho
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +263 +266
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999