The United Nations General Assembly has voted to adopt a new world map projection, a decision that significantly alters the perceived size of continents, particularly increasing the representation of Africa while diminishing the size of the United States and the United Kingdom. The resolution, a culmination of a campaign by African countries and advocacy groups to reject 'cartographic colonialism,' calls for a move away from the Mercator projection, in favor of the Equal Earth projection.
Critics of the Mercator map, developed in 1569 by Gerardus Mercator primarily for maritime navigation, argue that it distorts the relative sizes of landmasses. By stretching gridlines wider away from the equator towards the poles, the projection makes countries near the equator appear smaller and those nearer the poles appear larger. For instance, Africa, which is approximately 14 times larger than Greenland, appears to be of similar size on a Mercator map.
Campaigners assert that these distortions can create a psychological effect, influencing perceptions of importance based on perceived size. Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, a supporter of the change, stated at a UN briefing, 'A map is never neutral. It shapes perceptions, influences how the place of peoples and continents in the world is understood.' He added, 'A fair world begins with a fair map.'
The 'Correct the Map' resolution was sponsored by Togo and supported by members of the African Union, passing with 164 member states in favor. The United States cast the sole dissenting vote, while six other nations abstained.
US representative at the UN, Yaryna Ferencevych, criticized the resolution, stating it mocked the General Assembly's purpose by debating "map projects from the 16th Century, and their role in promoting reparations and 'cognitive justice'" instead of focusing on "genuine problems of international peace, prosperity, or good relations."
The resolution encourages governments and institutions worldwide to use the Equal Earth projection but does not ban the Mercator projection. The Equal Earth projection, created in 2018, is an equal-area map designed to show continents in their true proportions by following the Earth's curvature. However, this accuracy comes at the cost of sacrificing the straight lines that made the Mercator projection ideal for navigation.
Supporters, such as Lerato Mogoatlhe from Africa No Filter, one of the groups behind the campaign, expressed a desire for accurate maps in educational materials, newsrooms, and digital platforms. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot commented that while changing a map does not change the world, correcting a distorted representation is an 'act of truth.' Kenyan geographer Kioko Muendo argued that the misrepresentation of Africa on world maps has implicitly downplayed its resources, population, and investment opportunities, calling it a 'narrative issue' and part of a broader misinformation campaign.