Africa’s push to redraw the world map to show its true size wins overwhelming UN support

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted an African Union-backed resolution seeking more accurate and equitable maps of the world, with a focus on Africa. The resolution, titled “Correct the Map”, received 164 votes in favour. One country voted against it, while six abstained.

Togo introduced the resolution on behalf of the African Group. The African Union welcomed its adoption and said the decision was an important step towards ensuring that maps reflect Africa’s actual geographical size.

The Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the UN congratulated Togo and the African Group after the vote.


“Congratulations to the delegation of Togo on the adoption this morning by the #UNGA of resolution A/80/L.104, 'Correct the Map', an @_AfricanUnion initiative promoting more accurate and equitable global cartographic representation, particularly of Africa,” the mission said in a post on X.

AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf also welcomed the resolution. He commended Togo’s leadership and the unity of African countries in advancing the initiative.

In a communiqué, Youssouf congratulated Togo and President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé for championing the resolution and helping secure international support.

“The adoption of this resolution marks an important step forward,” Youssouf said.

Why the Mercator projection is being challenged

The initiative focuses on the continued use of the Mercator projection, which was developed in the 16th century mainly for navigation.

The African Union Commission said the projection does not accurately show the relative surface areas of different regions. It also said the map significantly understates Africa’s actual size.

The Mercator projection makes regions closer to the North and South Poles appear larger than they are compared with areas near the Equator. As a result, Africa can appear much smaller on commonly used world maps.

“For centuries, the Mercator projection distorted global geography, shrinking Africa to the size of Greenland when our continent is actually 14 times larger,” the AU Commission said in a separate post on X.

AU calls for wider use of equal-area maps

The African Union said the campaign goes beyond the way maps are drawn. It aims to promote representations of Africa based on “objective and scientifically established realities”.

The commission called on international institutions, education systems, publishers and digital platforms to gradually adopt maps that show the actual relative size of land areas.

It also backed the use of equal-area projections, including the Equal Earth projection, in classrooms, media and international institutions.

Equal-area maps preserve the relative size of countries and continents, although they may not be as useful for navigation as the Mercator projection.

The AU Commission said it would continue working with Togo, its member states and other partners to support the implementation of the initiative.

“Africa must be represented as it truly is: in its true dimensions and in its rightful place in the world,” Youssouf said.