UN Adopts New World Map Reflecting Africa's True Scale
The United Nations General Assembly has voted to adopt a new world map projection, the Equal Earth, which more accurately depicts the true relative sizes of continents, notably Africa. The resolution, sponsored by Togo, received widespread international support, with the United States as the sole dissenting vote.
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World Desk
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UN Adopts New World Map Reflecting Africa's True Scale
The United Nations General Assembly has officially endorsed a new world map projection, marking a significant shift in how the global community will visually represent the planet. The resolution, championed by Togo, gained overwhelming support from member states, with 164 nations voting in favor of the change. This new map aims to more accurately reflect the true relative sizes of continents, addressing long-standing criticisms of previous projections that distorted geographical scales, particularly diminishing the perceived size of Africa.
The newly adopted projection is the Equal Earth map, which fundamentally differs from the widely used Mercator projection. Critics of the Mercator map have consistently highlighted its tendency to exaggerate the size of landmasses further from the equator, making continents like North America and Europe appear larger than their actual scale, while making Africa seem considerably smaller than it is in reality. The Equal Earth projection corrects these distortions, presenting a more geographically accurate representation.
Watch: UN approves new world map to end centuries of shrinking Africa on the page • FRANCE 24 English — FRANCE 24 English
Widespread Support, US Opposition
The resolution garnered broad international backing, underscoring a collective desire to update cartographic standards. However, the United States stood as the sole nation to vote against the adoption of the new map. While the specific reasons for the U.S. opposition were not detailed in the provided reports, its stance created a notable point of divergence from the global consensus on this cartographic adjustment.
The Togo-sponsored resolution was backed by 164 nations - with the US as the only nation to vote against it.
United Nations General Assembly (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
This decision by the UN General Assembly follows an African proposal aimed at rectifying what many have viewed as a historical cartographic inaccuracy. The move is seen as a symbolic yet significant step in promoting a more balanced and truthful understanding of global geography, potentially influencing educational materials and public perception worldwide.
Implications for Global Perception
The shift to the Equal Earth map is expected to have far-reaching implications, particularly in challenging preconceived notions about the scale and importance of various regions. For instance, the new map reveals Africa to be considerably larger than often depicted, a size that could encompass countries like the United States, China, India, and much of Europe combined. Conversely, continents like North America and Europe will appear comparatively smaller than they do on the traditional Mercator projection.
News outlets such as ABC News and the Sydney Morning Herald specifically noted that the change will show Africa and Australia expanding in apparent size, while North America and Europe will appear to shrink. This updated visual representation is anticipated to foster a more accurate global perspective, aligning cartography with geographical reality.
Headquarters of the United Nations, New York City, 20231001 1103 1006 (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
The UN's endorsement serves as a strong message to the world to cease perpetuating the visual misrepresentation of Africa's size, signaling a global commitment to more accurate and equitable cartographic practices.
