Map of Mifepristone Approvals

Gynuity Health Projects monitors the approval status of mifepristone across the globe. The map provided reflects our most recent information about where the medication is available. If you notice any inaccuracies or learn of new approvals, you are encouraged to contact us at pubinfo@gynuity.org.

Mifepristone was first approved by France and China in 1988 and by the USA in 2000. To our knowledge, Japan and Tanzania are the latest countries to authorize its use in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Mifepristone is most commonly known for its use to terminate a pregnancy. It has been proven safe and effective for this purpose, and is one of the most thoroughly researched medications. Mifepristone functions by reducing the biological availability of progesterone, a hormone essential for sustaining pregnancy. For effective results, it is taken together with misoprostol, another medication that causes the cervix to soften and the uterus to contract.

Mifepristone is also used for other purposes, including the treatment of early pregnancy loss and intrauterine fetal death. See our two resources from 2019.