UN approves resolution in support of map that shows Africa's true size
- The UN General Assembly voted 164 to 1 in favor of an African-led resolution to phase out the traditional Mercator map projection in global institutions.
- Sponsored by Togo and supported by the African Union, the non-binding resolution promotes the use of the "Equal Earth" map projection to depict the true geographical proportions of Africa and other equatorial regions.
- Proponents of the "Correct the Map" initiative argued that the 1569 Mercator projection distorts continental sizes by enlarging landmasses near the poles, making Africa appear roughly equal in size to Greenland when it is actually 14 times larger.
- The resolution encourages schools, international organizations, and tech companies to adopt equal-area maps while acknowledging Mercator's continued utility for maritime and aerial navigation.
- The United States cast the sole opposing vote, describing the measure as an unnecessary "ideological agenda" that distracts from core international peacekeeping and diplomatic priorities.
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693 Articles
U.N. Backs New Map Projection, Demands World Stop Making Africa Look Small
The U.N. voted Friday to promote reworked map projections that enhance Africa's size, a move it claims will "more accurately reflect the true size of continents" – the culmination of an African-led campaign against the 16th-century Mercator projection, still the most widely used depiction in the world.
The United Nations has adopted a resolution calling for the world to gradually abandon the traditional Mercator map of the world and replace it with one that more accurately reflects the true size of Africa. The resolution was voted in favor by 164 countries, with only the United States voting against, whose representative called it "superfluous." Six countries abstained.
The United Nations General Assembly voted in favour of the adoption of a resolution calling for the use of a global map that more accurately reflects the relative sizes of the regions and States of the world, following calls by African States to correct the distortions of centuries ago.
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