UN Resolution Backs 'Equal Earth' Map to Correct Africa's Distorted Size

The United Nations General Assembly has passed a landmark resolution in support of a new world map projection that more accurately reflects the size of the African continent. The measure passed with a vote of 164 to 1, with 6 abstentions. The United States was the only nation to vote against the resolution, citing concerns that it promoted an "ideological agenda" and served as a distraction from pressing international issues.

Challenging the Mercator Legacy

For centuries, the 16th-century Mercator projection has been the standard in classrooms and boardrooms worldwide. Created for maritime navigation, this projection significantly distorts landmasses, enlarging areas near the poles like North America and Greenland while shrinking continents near the equator, including Africa and South America.

Advocacy groups like Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa have long championed the "Correct the Map" campaign. Moky Makura, executive director of Africa No Filter, described the continued use of the Mercator map as "the world's longest misinformation and disinformation campaign."

A Fair World Begins with a Fair Map

The African Union (AU) has officially backed the campaign, arguing that the Mercator projection fosters a false impression that Africa is "marginal," despite it being the world’s second-largest continent with a population exceeding 1 billion.

"A fair world begins with a fair map," said Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey. Togo has already announced plans to transition to the Equal Earth projection in its school geography materials by the end of this year. Fara Ndiaye, co-founder of Speak Up Africa, emphasized that this is a matter of identity and pride for African children, who deserve a curriculum that accurately depicts their home on the global stage.

Moving Toward Implementation

While the resolution is not legally binding and does not affect the use of the Mercator projection for professional maritime or aerial navigation, it signals a significant shift in global perception.

• Tech and Global Institutions: Organizations like the World Bank are already phasing out the Mercator projection in favor of the Equal Earth or Winkel tripel projections for their static mapping needs.
• Google Maps: While Google’s desktop interface now uses a 3D globe view, the mobile app continues to default to the Mercator projection.
• Next Steps: The AU plans to advocate for wider adoption across member states and has requested a review of the map standards by the UN geospatial body, UN-GGIM.

Conclusion

The move toward the Equal Earth projection represents a broader push to reclaim Africa’s place in global education and institutional standards. As countries like Togo lead the charge in classroom reform, the global community continues to debate how visual representations of the world shape our understanding of power and geography.

Sources

• Reuters: UN approves resolution in support of map that shows Africa's true size