UN votes to adopt new world map that shows Africa’s true scale

The United Nations General Assembly voted Friday to adopt a non-binding resolution endorsing the Equal Earth projection to accurately represent the true scale of Africa and other continents. The traditional 16th-century Mercator projection distorts the globe by enlarging landmasses near the poles and shrinking regions near the equator.

Meanwhile, the Equal Earth projection, created in 2018, shows continents in their true relative proportions and correct scale. Spearheaded by Togo and the African Union, the campaign encourages schools, governments, and tech platforms to transition away from Mercator for general mapping.