UN votes to adopt new world map that reflects Africa’s true size
agenciesnew yorkThe United Nations has voted to adopt a new world map that more accurately reflects countries’ true sizes, a resolution sponsored by African states to right a centu...
The United Nations has approved a new world map that more accurately represents the true sizes of countries, in a resolution spearheaded by African nations to rectify a historical injustice. The "Correct the Map" resolution, passed by the UN General Assembly on Friday, aims to address a colonial-era distortion that has misrepresented Africa for 450 years, influencing its portrayal in media, education, and policy globally.
Backed by 163 votes in favor, 1 against, and 6 abstentions, the resolution was spearheaded by the African Union and the Bahamas. Togo led the campaign to minimize the use of the widely-used Mercator map, which distorts land mass size, making places like Greenland appear as large as Africa when it is actually about 14 times larger.
Critics argue the Mercator map perpetuates Western superiority by visually emphasizing and centralizing Western nations. "A fair world begins with a fair map," Togo's Foreign Minister Robert Dussey said ahead of the vote. The resolution promotes the Equal Earth projection, which accurately depicts the size of continents. However, the United States, the only country to vote against the resolution, claimed it promoted an "ideological agenda" and distracted from genuine international issues.
The resolution, which is non-binding, does not challenge the use of Mercator for specific navigation purposes. Moky Makura, executive director of Africa No Filter, welcomed the vote, emphasizing the need for accurate maps in education, media, and digital platforms. France, a co-sponsor of the resolution, announced it would replace the Mercator map in favor of more accurate representations.
Togo plans to replace Mercator map in school geography materials by end of the year and urges other governments, schools, international bodies, and tech firms to adopt the Equal Earth projection. The campaign against the Mercator map is linked to broader African efforts to confront colonial-era legacies, not an attack on any civilization.
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