The Aporia · A bigger Africa & a smaller Europe: What changes in new UN-backed world map

The United Nations General Assembly has endorsed a new world map called the Equal Earth projection, which accurately reflects Africa's size. 164 countries voted in favor of the resolution, while the US was opposed and six countries abstained. The new map shows Africa as about 14 times larger than Greenland, whereas under the traditional Mercator projection, they appear roughly comparable in size. The resolution encourages governments and institutions to consider using the Equal Earth projection instead of the Mercator projection, but does not prohibit the use of the latter.

Written by AI on 2026-09-05, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

September 4th, 164 countries, including France and the UK, voted in favor of a resolution at the UN General Assembly to adopt a new world map that more accurately reflects the size of Africa. Only the US voted against it, with six other states abstaining. The new map, known as the Equal Earth cartographic projection, aims to provide a more accurate representation of continental landmasses and reduce distortions caused by the traditional Mercator projection, which has been widely used since the 16th century. According to Foreign Minister Robert Dussey of Togo, "a fair world begins with a fair map," highlighting the importance of cartography in shaping our understanding of the world. The resolution promotes the use of the Equal Earth projection over the Mercator projection, which distorts the relative size of land masses by expanding those nearer the poles, making Greenland appear roughly the same size as Africa, although Africa is about 14 times larger.

Written for “UN Adopts New World Map” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 24 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 UN Adopts New World Map

World · 25 article(s) covering the same event. Compare every outlet's account →

This article reads leans left and hedges 5% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

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The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday endorsed a new world map that more accurately reflects Africa’s actual size, marking the culmination of a Togo-led campaign backed by the African Union and various advocacy groups. asserted

that → endorse → Union

The UNGA adopted a resolution titled “Correct The Map”, with 164 member states voting in favour. asserted

states → adopt → favour

The United States was the only country to vote against the resolution, while six countries — Serbia, Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova and Ukraine — abstained. asserted

countries → vote → resolution

The campaign urged governments and institutions worldwide to move away from the traditional Mercator projection, which has been widely used since the 16th century, and adopt the Equal Earth projection. asserted

which → urge → projection

Advocates and geographers say the Equal Earth map provides a more accurate representation of the relative size and proportions of continents. asserted

map → say → continents

Under the Mercator projection, Greenland appears roughly comparable in size to Africa, despite being far smaller. asserted

Greenland → appear → Africa

The Equal Earth projection, by contrast, depicts continents in more accurate proportions, showing Africa as about 14 times larger than Greenland. asserted

projection → depict → Greenland

However, the resolution does not prohibit the use of the Mercator projection or mandate its replacement. asserted

resolution → prohibit → replacement

According to a UN report, it simply encourages governments and institutions to consider using the Equal Earth projection instead. uncertain

it → accord → projection

“Maps shape our understanding of the world,” Togo’s foreign minister Robert Dussey was quoted by the UN as saying ahead of the vote. asserted

minister → shape → vote

“They guide education, nourish the imagination, and influence collective perceptions.” asserted

They → guide → perceptions

Africa No Filter, one of the leading groups behind the campaign to promote the new map, welcomed the resolution and called for more widespread use of accurate maps. asserted

Filter → lead → maps

“We want to see accurate maps in schools, textbooks, newsrooms, businesses and on the digital platforms billions of people use every day,” the organisation said. asserted

organisation → want → people

Several countries also welcomed the resolution and backed greater adoption of the Equal Earth projection. asserted

countries → welcome → projection

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on X following the vote: “Changing the map obviously doesn’t change the world. asserted

Changing → say → world

But correcting a representation that distorts it is already an act of truth. asserted

that → correct → truth

The Mercator projection was developed by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator to assist European navigators at sea. asserted

projection → develop → sea

However, critics argue that the projection significantly distorts the size of landmasses, making regions closer to the poles, such as North America and Greenland, appear much larger while making Africa and South America appear smaller. asserted

Africa → argue → America

Introduced in 2018, the Equal Earth projection takes the Earth’s curvature into account and presents continents in proportions that more closely reflect their actual size. asserted

that → introduce → size

In it, Europe appears to shrink, Brazil balloons, and Greenland dramatically diminishes. asserted

Greenland → appear → it

Africa appears much larger in comparison. asserted

Africa → appear → comparison

A bigger Africa & a smaller Europe: What changes in new UN-backed world map

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A bigger Africa &amp; a smaller Europe: What changes in new UN-backed world map