The UN General Assembly has backed wider use of the Equal Earth map, which shows continents in proportion to their actual surface areas. The non-binding resolution passed with 164 votes in favour, while the United States cast the only opposing vote. Six countries abstained.
New Delhi: The UN General Assembly on Friday backed a proposal to replace the widely used Mercator world map with a projection that more accurately represents the relative size of continents.
The resolution, introduced by Togo with support from the African Union, secured 164 votes in favour. The United States was the only country to oppose it, while six nations abstained. Under the Equal Earth projection, Africa appears substantially larger than on a Mercator map. Europe and North America appear smaller.
US criticises resolution
Washington sharply criticised the initiative and argued that the UN should focus on major global challenges instead of debating a map created in the 16th century. US representative Yaryna Ferencevych called such debates “the reason this institution is losing its credibility”. She alleged that the resolution promoted an “ideological agenda” linked to reparations and “cognitive justice”.
The African Union welcomed the vote as a “historic step” towards fairer and more accurate global maps.
What is the Mercator map?
Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator developed the projection in 1569 for maritime navigation. It preserves directions and angles, which allowed sailors to plot their courses accurately. However, converting Earth’s curved surface into a flat image causes distortion. The Mercator projection makes land masses appear progressively larger as they move away from the equator.
As a result, northern regions look much larger, while areas near the equator, including much of Africa, appear smaller. Greenland and Africa provide the clearest example. Many Mercator maps show Greenland as almost comparable in size to Africa. In reality, Africa is about 14 times larger.
The Mercator map is not geographically incorrect for its original purpose. Critics oppose its routine use in classrooms, offices and public communication because people may mistake it for an accurate comparison of continental sizes.
How Equal Earth differs
Cartographers developed the Equal Earth projection in 2018. It is an equal-area map, which means it displays countries and continents in proportion to their actual surface areas while keeping their shapes recognisable.
Africa looks considerably larger under this projection. Europe and North America look smaller. Latin America, South Asia and Oceania also gain visual prominence. Supporters say the projection provides a more accurate understanding of the world without the extreme size distortions associated with Mercator.
Why Africa pushed for change
Togo led the campaign with support from the Africa Group. The African Union Assembly endorsed the “Correct the Map” campaign in February before Togo took the proposal to the UN. “For centuries, the Mercator projection distorted global geography, shrinking Africa to the size of Greenland when our continent is actually 14 times larger,” the African Union said.
Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey said maps shape education and public perceptions. “A fair world begins with a fair map,” he said. Campaigners argue that maps influence how people view the importance and global weight of different regions. Togo also linked the campaign to efforts to address colonial-era legacies but said it was not an attack on Europe or any other civilisation.
Resolution not legally binding
The resolution does not ban the Mercator projection. It also cannot force governments, schools, publishers or technology companies to change their maps. It encourages institutions to use Equal Earth and other equal-area projections for education and public communication, especially when comparing the actual sizes of land masses. Mercator can still serve maritime and aerial navigation because it preserves direction.
What happens next?
Togo plans to introduce Equal Earth in school geography materials by the end of the year. It will also hold talks with African Union members and supporters in other regions over the next six months to develop a wider adoption strategy.
France, which co-sponsored the resolution, has announced that it will abandon Mercator. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the traditional projection gives excessive visual prominence to the US, Russia and China while making Greenland appear almost as large as Africa. The UN vote will not transform maps immediately. Its impact will depend on whether schools, publishers, global institutions and digital mapping companies voluntarily adopt Equal Earth.
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