UN votes to replace Mercator map with Africa-accurate projection
The UN General Assembly will decide on a resolution to phase out the Mercator map in favor of a design that shows Africa at its true size.
On Friday the UN General Assembly will vote on a proposal to retire the centuries-old Mercator projection and replace it with a map that accurately reflects Africa’s dimensions. The initiative, sponsored by Togo and supported by the African Union’s 54 member states, was presented by foreign minister Robert Dussey, who framed the issue as scientific rather than political. If adopted, the resolution could prompt revisions to educational curricula and updates to platforms such as Google Maps.
Critics of the Mercator map say its distortion reinforces colonial-era stereotypes by shrinking equatorial regions and enlarging northern latitudes. The campaign promotes the 2018 Equal Earth design, and analysts like JJ Enoch view the move as part of Africa’s broader push for greater influence in global institutions. A follow-up event in Lomé with UNESCO, the African Union and tech firms is planned for early next year to map implementation steps.
Why it matters
Changing the world map could reshape how Africa is perceived in education, technology and international relations.
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