The UN General Assembly has approved a resolution to replace the long‑used Mercator map with the Equal Earth projection, acknowledging that the former misrepresents Africa’s size.
A total of 164 states, including France and the UK, supported the bill, while the United States was the only country to vote against it. Six other states abstained, but the resolution passed with a broad coalition of African, European, and other nations.
The vote is not legally binding, yet it signals a shift in how international bodies represent the world's continents. Governments, educational publishers and media outlets are expected to replace the Mercator projection in the coming months with the Equal Earth design, which preserves area proportionality for all land masses.
The Mercator map, conceived by Gerardus Mercator in 1569, distorted the sizes of regions near the equator and poles, making Africa appear minuscule relative to Europe. Advocates of a correct map claim that such distortion fuels misconceptions about Africa’s resources, population and potential.
The Equal Earth projection, developed in 2018, has been adopted by the African Union and other groups seeking a fairer visual representation. Critics, however, see the motion as symbolic; some U.S. officials remarked it demonstrates what they perceive as misplaced priorities in the General Assembly.
Beyond symbolism, the move aims to influence how policy makers, investors and the public perceive continent‑wide opportunities. A more proportionate map could reshape narratives around development, investment and international aid, highlighting Africa’s true scale and significance.
