The world map you grew up studying in school is officially on its way out.
In a historic shift, the United Nations General Assembly has voted to replace the traditional 16th-century Mercator world map with an "equal area" projection that more accurately reflects the actual size of Africa.
Sponsored by Togo and championed by the African Union (AU), the "Correct the Map" resolution passed with overwhelming support from 164 nations—including France and the UK. The United States was the sole nation to vote against the measure, while six countries abstained. Although the resolution is non-binding, it marks a massive symbolic victory that will trigger changes in classrooms and institutions globally.
The Problem with the Mercator Projection
Since 1569, classrooms and navigation systems have relied heavily on the Mercator map, designed by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator. While highly effective for ocean navigation, the map severely distorts landmasses as they stretch toward the poles.
This distortion creates massive geographical misconceptions:
- The Greenland Illusion: On a Mercator map, Greenland and Africa appear roughly the same size. In reality, Africa is 14 times larger than Greenland.
- The Equator Squeeze: Countries near the equator are shrunk, while northern hemisphere countries are vastly exaggerated in size.
To put Africa's true scale into perspective, campaign group #CorrectTheMap points out that you can fit the landmasses of the United States, China, India, Japan, Mexico, and most of Europe inside Africa—and still have land to spare.
"A Map Is Never Neutral"
Supporters argue that cartography has profound real-world consequences. "A fair world begins with a fair map," stated Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey. "A map is never neutral. It shapes perceptions, influences how the place of peoples and continents in the world is understood."
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot echoed this sentiment, announcing that France's foreign ministry would immediately stop using the Mercator map, calling the correction an "act of truth."
Geographers and advocates also argue that shrinking Africa's size has long-term economic impacts, implicitly downplaying the continent's massive population, natural resources, and investment potential.
Why the U.S. Voted "No"
The United States strongly opposed the resolution. U.S. representative Yaryna Ferencevych argued that the debate detracted from the UN's core mission.
Ferencevych stated that the General Assembly was wasting valuable time debating "map projects from the 16th Century" and academic concepts of "cognitive justice" instead of focusing on immediate crises like international peace and prosperity.
What's Next for Global Maps?
The UN resolution points to the Equal Earth projection as the new standard. Created by cartographers in 2018 and officially adopted by the AU's 54 member states earlier this year, this map preserves the relative size of continents while keeping a visually familiar layout.
While digital navigation tools like Google Maps may still use Mercator-derived projections for local street navigation, global educational materials and international organizations are preparing to make the transition.
