UN votes for more accurate maps to show Africa’s true size
The UN General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to support a campaign for more accurate world maps that correctly represent the size of African nations. The resolution encourages educational efforts to move away from the Mercator projection, which critics argue diminishes the perceived global significance of Africa.
Why it matters
This vote highlights a growing global movement to address historical biases in cartography and their impact on geopolitical perceptions.
The African Union-backed Correct the Map campaign advocates the Equal Earth projection, shown here, as a fairer alternative to the Mercator projection – the world's standard map. Murat Yukselir/The Globe and Mail
The world should abandon centuries of biased maps and begin promoting accurate versions that show Africa and other continents in their true size, the United Nations General Assembly has resolved in a landmark vote.
The UN assembly voted 164 to 1, with six abstentions, to support Africa’s campaign for cartographic justice. The Trump administration was the sole opposing voice in Friday’s debate, denouncing the proposal as a “radical ideological project.” France, in contrast, said it is already changing its maps to make them more accurate.
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