07/09/2026
The newly endorsed global map standard will fairly present Africa as the world's second-largest continent by geographic land area.
The United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly on 4 September 2026 to adopt the "Correct the Map" resolution. Spearheaded by Togo and backed by the African Union (AU), this landmark decision formally transitions the standard general-purpose reference map from the 16th-century Mercator projection to the 2018 Equal Earth projection.
Unlike traditional classroom maps, this new standard corrects centuries of cartographic distortion. The differences between how Africa is represented on the two maps highlight the shift:
Feature Outgoing Mercator Projection Incoming Equal Earth Projection
Primary Design Purpose
Maritime navigation (preserves straight-line compass bearings). Proportional accuracy (preserves relative surface areas).
Mercato map:
Visual Distortion Inflates landmasses near the poles while shrinking the equator.
New map:
Maintains accurate, true-to-life continent sizes.
Mercato map:
Africa vs. Greenland
Depicts them as roughly equal in size.
New map:
Correctly shows Africa as 14 times larger than Greenland.
Mercato map:
True Geographic Scale Minimises Africa's scale, making it look marginal.
New map:
Fairly demonstrates that Africa can fit the US, China, India, Japan, and much of Europe within its borders.
Why This Shift Matters
For more than 450 years, the widespread use of the Mercator map for general purposes subtly reinforced narratives of global inequality by downplaying the physical footprint of equatorial regions.
As an African Union representative stated after the vote, “Maps shape perceptions.
For generations, children have learned to see Africa as smaller and less significant than it really is. Fixing this is not just about geography; it's about fairness and respect.”
While the UN resolution is non-binding and does not ban the Mercator map for navigation, it formally encourages schools, publishers, media houses, and international organizations to adopt the Equal Earth projection to provide a more truthful view of the globe.
Swana (Facebook)
