The Faroe Islands, a self-governing Danish territory with 55,000 people, will allow abortion up to 12 weeks gestation starting in 2026. This reverses one of Europe's strictest abortion bans, which previously required women to prove severe fetal abnormalities or risk to their health. Marna Jacobsen, 71, recalls lying to obtain an abortion as a teenager in 1970. The new law, passed by the local parliament, faces strong opposition from religious groups but has support from medical professionals who cite reduced unsafe procedures. Key economic implications include potential healthcare cost savings and improved workforce participation for women, though exact figures remain unclear.

The change positions the archipelago as a progressive outlier in the Nordic region.