UN adopts new map showing Africa's true size, replaces Mercator projection

The United Nations General Assembly voted on Friday to replace the centuries‑old Mercator projection, created by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator in the 16th century, with a map that more accurately reflects the true size of continents. The resolution, which calls for the adoption of a projection that reduces the distortion of landmasses near the poles, was introduced by a coalition of African member states and co‑sponsored by France.

The measure received the support of 164 countries, while the United States voted against it and six additional states chose to abstain. Delegates said the change aims to provide a more equitable visual representation of the world’s geography, addressing longstanding concerns that the Mercator map exaggerates the size of regions in the Global North and minimizes those of the Global South. The vote marks a coordinated effort within the UN to modernize cartographic standards and promote a more balanced view of global space.