United Nations endorses map projection to better show Africa's size

The United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution urging a shift away from the traditional Mercator map projection in favor of maps that more accurately represent the true size of continents, specifically Africa. The resolution, sponsored by Togo and supported by the African Union, passed with 164 votes in favor, one vote against from the United States, and six abstentions from Serbia, Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, and Ukraine.

The measure encourages governments, schools, and technology companies to adopt projections like the ‘Equal Earth’ design, which preserves the relative size of landmasses. While the resolution is not legally binding and does not ban the Mercator projection—which remains useful for maritime and aerial navigation—it seeks to address the distortion caused by the 1569 Mercator design, which stretches areas farther from the equator.

Critics of the move argue that it is impossible to perfectly represent a sphere on a flat surface and that the UN is overstepping its role by involving diplomats in the scientific complexities of cartography.