UN General Assembly Backs New World Map Showing Africa's True Size

The United Nations General Assembly voted 164-1, with six abstentions, to encourage member states to adopt the Equal Earth map projection instead of the widely used Mercator projection, developed in the 16th century by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator. The "Correct the Map" resolution was put forward by African Union member states and the Bahamas, aiming to address what supporters call a centuries-old distortion that has visually shrunk Africa relative to its actual size.

The Mercator projection expands land masses nearer the poles, making Africa - which is larger than the United States, China, India and much of Europe combined - appear comparatively small on most classroom and reference maps. The United States was the only country to vote against the resolution. The measure is not legally binding and does not require any country or institution to abandon the Mercator projection, but backers say it marks a symbolic shift in how the continent is represented in media, education and policy.