UN approves new map showing Africa’s true size, US opposes
The United Nations General Assembly has voted to encourage governments, schools, and tech companies worldwide to stop using maps that make Africa look smaller than it is. Adopted on Friday, the resolution is the culmination of an African-led campaign against the 16th-century Mercator projection, the most widely used map in the world. Only the United States…
- Why it matters
- Educational and commercial maps using the Mercator projection have systematically shown Africa smaller than its actual area, and this UN encouragement to switch projections could shift how geography is taught and displayed globally.
- Most affected
- Schools worldwide — May shift to map projections showing Africa at its true relative size.
Tech companies and mapmakers — May face pressure to update digital and published maps to reflect Africa's actual dimensions. - Likely next
- Whether governments and major tech platforms like Google Maps adopt new projections in response to the resolution.
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