UN Backs New World Map for Accurate Continent Sizes
The United Nations General Assembly voted on a resolution calling for the abandonment of the traditional map (Mercator projection) in favor of a map that most accurately depicts the areas of continents, especially Africa.
Consensus
- The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for the replacement of the Mercator map projection.
- The resolution recommends using the Equal Earth projection, which more accurately reflects the real sizes of continents.
- The resolution was supported by 164 member states.
- The United States voted against the resolution.
- Six countries abstained from voting.
- The Mercator projection was created in 1569 by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator for maritime navigation.
- The Mercator projection distorts the size of landmasses, making areas near the poles appear larger than they are.
- Africa appears much smaller on the Mercator map than it actually is, with the actual size being about 14 times larger than Greenland.
- The Equal Earth projection was developed in 2018 by a group of geographers.
- The resolution is non-binding and does not affect the use of Mercator for navigation.
- The initiative was led by Togo and supported by African Union member states.
- The resolution aims to correct long-standing visual distortions that have influenced education, culture, and geopolitics.
Points of divergence
- The U.S. claimed the resolution promotes an 'ideological agenda' and distracts from 'real problems'. — vedomosti
- The French foreign minister stated Paris will abandon Mercator maps in favor of projections adapted to specific purposes. — meduza
- The resolution was to be voted on on Friday, 4 September, and the U.S. president (Donald Trump) had recently renamed Lake Ontario to Lake America. — vm
- The resolution was proposed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Togo and supported by 54 African Union member states. — vesti
- The resolution was introduced by Togo and the African Union, and the African Union formally supported the initiative in August 2025. — tg_dwglavnoe
Coverage (5 sources)
- 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