UN ditches Mercator map to adopt more accurate one reflecting Africa's true size

The United Nations voted on Friday to transition away from the 16th-century Mercator map, instead endorsing a more accurate representation of countries' true size. Sponsored by African states, this resolution aims to counter the perception that Africa is peripheral. The Mercator map distorts land masses, making regions closer to the poles appear larger than they actually are – such as Greenland seeming roughly the same size as Africa, which is actually 14 times bigger.

Togo spearheaded this initiative as part of the African Union's campaign to limit the use of the Mercator map. Togo's Foreign Minister, Robert Dussey, emphasized that "a fair world begins with a fair map" during the vote. The resolution supports the Equal Earth projection, which more accurately portrays the size of continents. Importantly, it clarifies that the new projection will not impact navigation for maritime and aerial purposes, where the Mercator map remains perfectly suitable.

The UN General Assembly approved the resolution by a vote of 164 to 1, with 6 countries abstaining. The lone dissenter was the United States, which claimed the resolution pushed an "ideological agenda" and distracted from "genuine problems of international peace, prosperity, or good relations."

While the Mercator map remains prevalent in classrooms globally, Togo aims to change its school geography materials by year's end. Dussey expressed Togo's ambition to become the first nation to update its own books, setting an example for the world. The country intends to engage other governments, schools, international organizations, and tech companies to embrace the Equal Earth projection, claiming it offers the most accurate perception of our world.

Togo plans to convene African Union member states and supporters from other regions in the coming six months to establish strategies for promoting the wider adoption of the map. Dussey connected this campaign to broader African efforts to address the legacies of colonialism, emphasizing that the push for a better map is not an attack on Europe or any other civilization.

He highlighted that the widespread use of the Mercator projection stems from the era of colonization, emphasizing that "the world is changing. Africa also is changing."