By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
The United Nations General Assembly endorsed a resolution favoring the Equal Earth projection over the familiar Mercator map to depict the true size of Africa more accurately. The resolution passed with 164 votes in favor and six abstentions. The United States cast the sole opposing vote. Washington stated the measure promoted an ideological agenda and served as a distraction from the genuine problems of international peace, prosperity or good relations.
Origins and Mechanics of the Mercator Map
The Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator designed the projection in 1569 for sailors. The design projects the Earth onto a cylinder and flattens it into a rectangle. Straight lines on this map represent precise compass headings for seafaring navigation. The layout eventually became standard for books, classrooms, and digital platforms.
Cartographic Distortions and Historical Bias
Flattening a sphere requires stretching or shrinking landmasses. The Mercator map distorts land sizes while preserving directional lines. Greenland appears roughly equal in size to Africa on a Mercator map. In geographic reality, Africa is about fourteen times larger than Greenland. Alaska also appears larger than Mexico despite being twenty-five percent smaller. Critics argue this visual distortion minimizes tropical and equatorial regions. Supporters of change assert that the traditional map reinforces a Eurocentric and colonial worldview.
The Equal Earth Alternative
Cartographers Bojan Savric, Bernhard Jenny, and Tom Patterson created the Equal Earth projection in 2018. This map sacrifices straight-line navigation to render continents in correct proportions. The design features rounded edges to reflect the
spherical shape of the planet. Advocacy groups in Africa launched campaigns to replace the Mercator map in April 2025. The African Union endorsed the initiative in August 2025, urging its fifty-five member states to update schools and public communications. Togo sponsored the United Nations resolution with backing from the African Union.
Diplomatic Persuasion and Global Perspectives
Togo led the diplomatic push at the global body. Robert Dussey, the foreign minister of Togo, emphasized the psychological impact of cartography before the vote. A map is never neutral, Dussey said on Thursday, adding that it shapes perceptions, influences how the place of peoples and continents in the world is understood and may, sometimes from the earliest years of schooling, perpetuate representations that do not correspond to geographic reality. A fair world begins with a fair map, Dussey told Reuters ahead of Friday’s vote. Dussey linked the cartographic shift to broader efforts to confront colonial-era legacies while maintaining the initiative is not an attack on Europe or any other civilisation. The widespread use of the Mercator map is a consequence of colonization, he said. The world is changing, Dussey noted, adding that Africa also is changing.
Scope and Legal Limitations of the Resolution
The United Nations resolution is non-binding and does not outlaw the Mercator projection. The Togolese ministry stated in a release that the text in no way challenges the use of the Mercator projection for maritime and aerial navigation, for which it remains fully suited. The measure encourages member states to update educational materials and inform students about map limitations. It also urges digital map providers to consult with governments regarding accurate cartographic representations.
Implementation Plans and Technological Integration
Togo plans to update its national school geography materials by the end of the year. Togo will be the first country to change our own geography books, Dussey told Reuters. In the classroom, we need to change it to give an example to all the countries in the world. Togo intends to engage other governments, international organizations, and technology companies over the next six months. Discussions will include major digital mapping and GPS providers to encourage broader adoption of accurate projections. Google previously transitioned its desktop interface to a globe view when zoomed out, acknowledging that Greenland’s projection is no longer the size of Africa. Boston Public Schools adopted the Peters projection in 2017 as part of a district effort to decolonize the curriculum.
