Longyearbyen in Svalbard, Norway, is one of the world’s most unusual towns—where science, not tradition, decides where life begins and ends.
Lifestyle
M
Moneycontrol12-01-2026, 10:52

No Birth, No Death: The Arctic Town of Longyearbyen's Shocking Rules Revealed!

  • Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway, forbids both birth and death due to unique scientific and safety reasons.
  • The town sits on permafrost, which prevents bodies from decomposing and can preserve dangerous viruses like the 1918 Spanish flu.
  • Terminally ill residents are flown to mainland Norway; sudden deaths result in bodies being transported out of Svalbard.
  • The local hospital lacks a maternity ward and specialized obstetric services, requiring pregnant women to leave weeks before their due date.
  • Life in Longyearbyen is designed for the young and active, focusing on research, mining, and tourism, with no nursing homes.

Why It Matters: Longyearbyen's unique rules against birth and death are driven by permafrost, public health, and medical safety.

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