UN Adopts Map Showing Africa's True Size, 164 Nations Agree

The world just took a major step toward seeing Africa accurately for the first time in centuries.

On Friday, the UN General Assembly voted 164 to 1 to endorse a new world map projection that shows Africa at its true, massive size. Only the United States voted against the resolution, while six countries abstained.

The vote encourages governments, schools, and media outlets worldwide to replace the Mercator map with the Equal Earth projection. The Mercator map, designed in the 16th century for ship navigation, has dominated classrooms and atlases for generations despite wildly distorting continent sizes.

The distortion is dramatic. On traditional maps, Greenland and Africa appear roughly the same size. In reality, Africa is 14 times larger than Greenland.

Togo sponsored the resolution with backing from African Union members. "Maps shape our understanding of the world," Togo's Foreign Minister Robert Dussey told the assembly. "They guide education, nourish the imagination, and influence collective perceptions."

The Mercator projection enlarges landmasses near the poles like North America and Greenland while shrinking regions near the equator like Africa and South America. Geographers say this projection only serves one narrow purpose: maritime navigation.

"Outside of that very narrow navigation application, there is no point in using it," said Mark Monmonier, a geography professor at Syracuse University.

The Ripple Effect

The resolution doesn't ban old maps or force anyone to change, but it sends a powerful message about accuracy and representation. Africa No Filter, a lead campaigning organization, celebrated the vote and pushed for immediate adoption in schools, newsrooms, and digital platforms used by billions daily.

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot captured the moment perfectly on social media: "Changing the map obviously doesn't change the world. But correcting a representation that distorts it is already an act of truth."

The Equal Earth projection, created in 2018, follows the Earth's natural curvature and displays all continents in their true proportions. Teachers can now show students what the world actually looks like, not a centuries-old navigation tool that accidentally became standard.

This vote represents more than cartography—it's about seeing the world as it truly is, with every continent getting the space it deserves.