AMERICA - The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution calling for greater use of world maps that more accurately represent the size of continents, challenging the centuries-old dominance of the Mercator projection.
The resolution, backed by 164 countries, calls for using the 2018 Equal Earth projection, an equal-area map designed to represent the relative size of land masses more accurately. The United States was the only country to vote against the resolution, while six countries abstained.
Although UN General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, the vote could encourage governments, schools, technology companies and international institutions to reconsider how world maps are displayed and taught.
Mercator Projection Under Scrutiny
The Mercator projection was developed by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator in 1569, primarily as a navigational tool for sailors. Its design preserves directions and angles, making it useful for maritime navigation.
However, the projection significantly distorts the size of land masses as they move farther from the equator. Countries and regions in the Northern and Southern extremes appear considerably larger than their actual area, while equatorial regions, including much of Africa, appear smaller.
One of the most commonly cited examples is Greenland, which appears comparable in size to Africa on a Mercator map. In reality, Africa is about 14 times larger than Greenland.
The distortion has prompted decades of debate among cartographers, educators and historians over the influence of maps on perceptions of geography and global importance.
Togo Leads African Campaign
Togo spearheaded the resolution on behalf of the African Union, arguing that the widespread use of the Mercator projection has influenced how Africa and other regions are perceived.
The Togolese government said disproportionate cartographic representations have had lasting educational, cultural, geopolitical, and socioeconomic effects by reducing the perceived size of Africa in the global imagination.
Togo's Foreign Affairs Minister Robert Dussey described the issue as a scientific rather than political debate.
“This discussion is not a political discussion but a scientific discussion,” Dussey said before the vote, arguing that scientific evidence supports the need for more accurate representations.
The initiative follows the #CorrectTheMap campaign, which has promoted the Equal Earth projection as an alternative to traditional world maps. The African Union endorsed the campaign in August 2025 and later asked Togo to lead efforts to promote its adoption.
Equal Earth Projection
The Equal Earth projection was developed in 2018 by an international team of cartographers. Unlike the Mercator projection, it is designed to preserve the relative areas of countries and continents while maintaining a visually recognizable representation of the world.
Supporters say its wider adoption could improve geographic education and challenge long-standing perceptions created by distorted maps.
Other equal-area projections have previously been proposed as alternatives. German historian Arno Peters promoted the Gall-Peters projection in the 1970s, arguing that world maps should accurately represent the relative size of land masses.
Critics of the Mercator projection have also described its widespread use as a form of “cartographic colonialism,” arguing that visually enlarging northern regions while reducing the apparent size of equatorial regions can reinforce existing perceptions of global power.
France Backs the Change
France has also announced plans to move away from the Mercator projection.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said France would adopt map representations more closely aligned with actual surface areas and recommendations from cartographers and scientists.
France plans to use the Eckert IV projection, which, like Equal Earth, is designed to provide a more accurate representation of land area.
Analysts say the issue has also gained attention as African countries seek greater influence over how the continent is represented internationally.
JJ Enoch, a senior associate at geopolitical risk advisory firm JS Held, said adopting an equal-area map could provide a more accurate foundation for education and public understanding while reflecting Africa's growing demographic, economic and geopolitical importance.
Implementation Plans
The resolution does not require countries to stop using the Mercator projection. UN resolutions of this type are not legally enforceable, meaning governments, schools and companies can continue using existing maps.
However, supporters expect the vote to encourage changes in educational materials, digital mapping services and other technologies that rely on global maps.
Togo plans to hold an event in Lomé, the country's capital, during the first quarter of next year with UNESCO, the African Union and technology companies, including Google Maps, to discuss implementation.
