Countries vote at UN to back world map that shows Africa's true size

Friday, 4 September 2026 22:26

Over 160 countries have voted at the United Nations to move away from a traditional global map that is nearly 500 years old towards a newer one that more accurately reflects Africa's true size.

It follows a campaign by African states to limit the use of the 16th-century Mercator map that distorts the relative size of land masses by expanding those nearer the poles.

As a result, Greenland appears to be about the same size as Africa, even though the continent is around 14 times bigger.

The UN resolution at the General Assembly, which was passed by 164 votes to one, promotes the 2018 Equal Earth projection, which more accurately portrays the size of continents.

The United States was the only country to vote against, saying the resolution pushed an "ideological agenda" and ‌was a distraction from the "genuine problems of international peace, prosperity or good relations".

There were six abstentions in New York.

Togo led the African Union initiative to help limit the use of the Mercator map, with foreign minister Robert Dussey saying before Friday's vote: "A fair world begins with a fair map."

He said the Equal Earth version offers "the best perception" of the world.

And he said his country will urge other governments, schools, international organisations and technology companies to move away from the 1569-created Mercator version.

It was created by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator to help sailors navigate the seas.

The UN resolution ⁠is not legally binding and it "in no way ⁠challenges the use of the Mercator projection for maritime and aerial navigation, for which it remains fully suited," the Togolese ministry said.

"Togo will be the first country ⁠to change our own geography books. In the classroom, we need to change it to give an example to all the countries in the world," Mr Dussey said.

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The country is set to meet African Union member states and supporters from other regions in the next six months to agree on how to promote wider adoption, according to the minister.

He linked the campaign to adopt the map to wider African efforts to confront colonial-era legacies, while stating it was not an attack on Europe or any other civilisation.

He said the Mercator map's widespread use was a consequence of colonisation, adding: "The world is ‌changing. Africa also is changing."

Sky News