UN Backs New Map to Correct Continent Sizes
The United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution on a new world map. The UN General Assembly adopted a reform for the use of the world map with more realistic scales.
Consensus
- The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in September 2026 recommending the use of more accurate map projections.
- The resolution was supported by 164 countries.
- Six countries voted against or abstained.
- The United States was the only country to vote against the resolution.
- The resolution promotes the use of the Equal Earth projection as an alternative to the Mercator projection.
- The Equal Earth projection better reflects the true relative sizes of continents.
- The Mercator projection distorts the size of landmasses, especially those far from the equator.
- The resolution is non-binding and does not prohibit the use of Mercator for navigation.
- The initiative was led by Togo and supported by African Union member states.
- The goal is to correct visual distortions that may influence perceptions of regions like Africa, Latin America, and South Asia.
Points of divergence
- There is no single 'traditional' map used by the UN, and the organization does not prescribe any specific map projection. — meduza
- The resolution was adopted in September 2026, and the new map has already faced criticism regarding the labeling of annexed territories. — novaya_eu
- The resolution was titled 'Correct the Map' and was introduced by representatives of Togo with support from African Union countries. — tg_radiosvoboda
- The U.S. criticized the resolution as promoting an 'ideological agenda' and distracting from 'real problems'. — vedomosti
- The African Union supported the CorrectTheMap campaign in August 2025, and Togo led the initiative afterward. — vesti
Coverage (10 sources)
- You surely saw news that the UN 'changed the map of the world'. What's wrong with the old one? And is there even a 'correct' map? — Meduza
- The world will not be the same — Новая газета Европа
- United Nations General Assembly voted to replace the traditional world map with a version more accurately reflecting the size of Africa... — Радио Свобода
- UN voted to adopt new world map. USA is the only country to oppose — ЭХО / Новости
- UN voted to adopt a new world map that more accurately reflects the true size of continents — in particular, Africa — Дождь (Telegram)
- UN General Assembly approved resolution on new world map — DW Главное
- UN adopted resolution on transition to world map with real proportions of Africa — Ведомости
- UN voted for rejection of traditional world map — Meduza
- UN will consider world map with real Africa scale — Вести
- UN General Assembly to vote for new world map with real Africa sizes — Вечерняя Москва
Key entities
- UN
- General Assembly
- Africa
- USA
- Mercator
- The Guardian
- African Union
- Togo
- General Assembly
- Moscow
- YouTube
- Reuters
- CNN
- O
- Robertom Dussé
More on Mercator
- Japan Demands UN Map Change Over Kuril Islands
- UN Backs New Map Projection to Reflect True Continent Sizes