UN Backs New World Map Showing Africa’s True Size

The UN General Assembly has approved an African-led resolution promoting more accurate world maps, including the Equal Earth projection, which better represents the true size of continents. The resolution passed 164–1, with six abstentions. It is non-binding and does not prohibit the Mercator projection, which remains useful for navigation.

The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly backed an African-led campaign to promote world maps that more accurately represent the true size of countries and continents.
The resolution, led by Togo and supported by African countries, passed on Friday with 164 countries voting in favour, one against and six abstaining.
The United States was the only country to vote against the resolution. Washington argued that the initiative promoted an “ideological agenda” and distracted from more pressing global issues.

AFRICA LEADS THE CAMPAIGN

Togo spearheaded the initiative as part of a wider African Union campaign known as “Correct the Map.”
The campaign challenges the widespread use of the centuries-old Mercator projection, which can make countries and continents closer to the poles appear significantly larger than they actually are.
Togo's Foreign Minister Robert Dussey described the initiative as a matter of fairness rather than an attack on Europe or any other region.
“A fair world begins with a fair map,” Dussey said.
African governments argue that the way the world is visually represented can influence how people understand the importance and scale of different regions.

WHY AFRICA LOOKS SMALLER ON MANY WORLD MAPS

The Mercator projection was developed by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator in 1569 and was designed primarily for navigation.
Its major weakness is that it stretches land areas increasingly as they move away from the Equator.
As a result, Greenland can appear roughly comparable in size to Africa on a traditional Mercator map.
In reality, Africa is about 14 times larger than Greenland.
Countries such as Canada and Russia can also appear disproportionately large compared with countries closer to the Equator.

EQUAL EARTH MAP GAINS UN SUPPORT

The resolution promotes the Equal Earth projection, a map created specifically to represent the relative areas of continents more accurately.
Unlike Mercator, Equal Earth is an equal-area projection, meaning the relative sizes of land masses are preserved much more accurately.
The UN resolution encourages governments, schools, international organisations and technology companies to consider using Equal Earth and other equal-area projections where showing geographical size is important.

THE RESOLUTION DOES NOT BAN MERCATOR

Despite the historic vote, the United Nations has not banned the Mercator projection.
The resolution is not legally binding and specifically recognises that Mercator remains useful for certain purposes, particularly maritime and aerial navigation.
The campaign is instead aimed at encouraging more accurate maps in classrooms, publications, international organisations and digital platforms.
TOGO PLANS TO CHANGE ITS SCHOOL MAPS
Togo says it intends to lead by example.
Dussey said the country plans to change its geography materials in schools by the end of the year.
The government also plans to work with other African Union members and supporters from other regions over the next six months to develop strategies for wider adoption of more accurate map projections.

TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES FACE PRESSURE

One of the biggest challenges will be persuading technology companies to adopt alternative projections.
Mapping and location services are deeply integrated into everyday life through smartphones, navigation systems, GPS services and online maps.
Togo says discussions will therefore need to involve companies responsible for mapping and other location-based technologies.
The campaign could eventually put pressure on major digital mapping platforms to reconsider how they display the world when geographical size is the focus.

A DEBATE ABOUT COLONIAL LEGACIES

For African campaigners, the issue goes beyond cartography.
They argue that the widespread use of Mercator has contributed to a long-standing visual perception in which Africa appears smaller and less significant than it actually is.
Dussey connected the campaign to wider African efforts to confront the legacies of colonialism, while stressing that the initiative is not intended to attack Europe.
The argument is that maps influence education, public perception and how people understand their place in the world.

A SYMBOLIC VICTORY FOR AFRICA

The overwhelming UN vote represents a significant symbolic victory for the African-led campaign.
However, because the resolution is non-binding, its practical impact will depend on whether governments, schools, international organisations and technology companies voluntarily adopt the recommended alternatives.
For Africa, the message is clear: the continent wants to be represented according to its actual geographical size rather than through a projection that makes it appear smaller.
As Dussey put it, the campaign is about ensuring that Africa's place in the world is seen more accurately.

THE WORLD MAY START LOOKING DIFFERENT

The UN vote does not mean that every world map will suddenly change.
Instead, it begins a push toward wider use of maps that preserve the true relative size of continents.
For generations, millions of people have grown up looking at maps in which Greenland appears enormous and Africa appears comparatively small.
The new campaign seeks to change that picture — and, in the process, encourage the world to see Africa in its true geographical proportion.