UN backs new map that finally gives Africa its true size

On Friday the United Nations General Assembly took a symbolic but noteworthy step: it voted to endorse a brand‑new world map that finally depicts Africa in its proper scale. The resolution, spearheaded by Togo and backed by the African Union, sailed through with 164 member states in favour. Only the United States opposed, while Serbia, Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova and Ukraine chose to abstain.

What’s being promoted isn’t a ban on the centuries‑old Mercator projection—no, the UN simply encourages governments, schools and media outlets to replace it with the “Equal Earth” projection. That map, first released in 2018, respects the planet’s curvature and shows continents in their true proportions. In practical terms, Africa appears about fourteen times larger than Greenland, a stark contrast to the Mercator view that makes the two landmasses look almost equal.

“Maps shape our understanding of the world,” Togo’s foreign minister Robert Dussey said before the vote. “They guide education, nourish imagination, and influence collective perceptions.” His words struck a chord with the campaigners behind the move. Africa No Filter, a leading advocacy group, celebrated the decision, urging that accurate maps find their way into classrooms, textbooks, newsrooms and the countless digital platforms we use every day.

Even critics admit the change is largely symbolic. French Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot tweeted, “Changing the map doesn’t change the world, but correcting a distorted representation is already an act of truth.” The Mercator projection was originally designed by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator in the 16th century to aid European navigation. It does its job for sailors, but it grossly inflates regions near the poles—North America, Europe and Greenland—while shrinking the vast lands of Africa and South America.

Geographers argue the Mercator is useful only for that narrow navigational purpose. Syracuse University’s geography professor Mark Monmonier put it plainly: “Outside of that very narrow navigation application, there is no point in using it.” The Equal Earth projection, by contrast, aims to present a more honest visual of our planet, helping learners and decision‑makers grasp the real size and position of continents.

While the UN resolution carries no legal force, it adds diplomatic weight to a growing movement calling for map reform. If adopted widely, future generations may stop learning that Africa is a tiny speck on the globe and start appreciating it as the massive, diverse continent it truly is.