UN Backs Push for a Fairer World Map That Shows Africa’s True Size

The UN General Assembly has approved a non-binding resolution encouraging institutions to adopt world maps that represent Africa and other continents more accurately. The initiative, led by Togo and supported by African Union members, received backing from 164 countries. The campaign challenges the long-used Mercator projection, which makes regions near the poles appear far larger than they are. On many Mercator maps, Africa appears close in size to Greenland, even though Africa is about 14 times larger. Supporters want wider use of the Equal Earth projection, which better reflects the relative size of landmasses. They argue that map design shapes global perceptions of Africa’s population, resources, economic potential and political importance. The move has sparked debate, with critics saying the UN should focus on more urgent global issues. Supporters, however, see it as an important symbolic correction to a representation that has influenced how Africa is viewed for centuries.

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