UN votes to adopt new world map that reflects Africa’s true size
Summary
The United Nations General Assembly voted to adopt a new world map that shows countries, especially Africa, in their true sizes. This decision aims to correct the long-standing distortion caused by the popular Mercator map, which makes Africa look much smaller than it really is.Key Facts
- The UN adopted the “Correct the Map” resolution with 164 votes in favor, 1 against (the United States), and 6 abstentions.
- The resolution was proposed by African Union countries and the Bahamas to fix Africa’s size distortion.
- The Mercator map, created in the 1500s, enlarges areas near the poles and shrinks equatorial regions like Africa.
- Africa is about 14 times bigger than Greenland, but the Mercator map shows them as similar in size.
- The resolution recommends using the Equal Earth projection, which shows land sizes more accurately.
- The resolution is not legally binding and does not change the use of the Mercator map for navigation.
- France announced plans to stop using the Mercator map and adopt more accurate maps for different purposes.
- Togo leads the campaign to replace the Mercator map in schools and other places by the end of the year.
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