UN backs new map to show continents in real size

The United Nations General Assembly voted on Friday to support a new world map that shows continents in their real size, moving away from the 16th‑century Mercator projection.

The Mercator map stretches land near the poles; as a result Greenland looks about the same size as Africa even though Africa is roughly fourteen times larger.

The resolution, backed by African states and led by Togo, promotes the Equal Earth projection, which represents the true size of land masses more accurately.

The vote was 164 in favour, one against, and six abstentions; the United States was the sole dissenting vote, describing the move as an “ideological agenda.”

The resolution is not legally binding and it does not change the use of the Mercator projection for maritime or aerial navigation, where it remains suitable.

Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey said his country will be the first to replace the Mercator map in its school geography textbooks and will ask other governments, schools and technology firms to adopt the Equal Earth projection.

By encouraging a map that reflects actual land area, the UN hopes to change how people perceive continents, especially Africa, and to address a visual legacy of colonialism.

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