05/09/2026
Africa is finally getting its true size reflected on the world map and the United States was the only country to vote against it.
The United Nations General Assembly voted 164-1 to support the African-led “Correct the Map” resolution, which promotes using the Equal Earth projection to show continents at sizes that more accurately reflect their actual land area. Six countries abstained.
For generations, the widely used Mercator projection has dramatically distorted the size of countries and continents. One of the most shocking examples? Greenland can appear nearly as large as Africa on a Mercator map, when Africa is actually about 14 times larger.
The resolution, led by Togo and backed by African nations, encourages governments, schools, newsrooms and technology companies to use more proportionally accurate maps. It is not legally binding and does not eliminate the Mercator projection, which remains useful for navigation.
But while 164 countries voted yes, the United States stood alone with the only “no” vote, arguing the initiative pushed an “ideological agenda” and distracted from more pressing global issues.
So yes, Africa really is that big. The map many of us grew up with just didn’t show it.
