The United Nations has voted to adopt a new world map projection that more accurately represents the size of continents, particularly Africa. The resolution, sponsored by Togo and supported by 164 member nations, passed with the United States as the sole dissenting vote.
The newly adopted map utilizes the Equal Earth projection, developed in 2018 by a team of cartographers as an alternative to the widely used Mercator map. The Mercator projection, created in 1569 by Gerardus Mercator, has long been criticized for distorting the relative sizes of landmasses, making countries nearer the poles appear larger and those nearer the equator appear smaller. This distortion is an inherent challenge in representing a spherical Earth on a flat surface.
The Equal Earth projection aims to correct these inaccuracies by presenting land areas with more proportional representation. According to its creators, this new projection more accurately depicts the sizes of all continents, with Africa appearing substantially larger than it does on the Mercator map. For instance, on the Mercator map, Greenland can appear to be as large as Africa, despite Africa being approximately 14 times larger in actual land area.
Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, speaking before the vote, emphasized the importance of equitable representation, stating, "A fair world begins with a fair map." He also noted that "A map is never neutral. It shapes perceptions, influences how the place of peoples and continents in the world is understood." In February, the African Union's 54 member states had already adopted the Equal Earth projection, citing its improved accuracy in representing continental sizes.
While the UN vote is non-binding, it is expected to influence the maps used by institutions globally. The adoption of the Equal Earth projection signifies a move towards a more accurate and potentially more equitable visual understanding of global geography.