UN votes to adopt new world map that shows Africa’s true scale

The United Nations has made an important decision to adopt a new world map. This change aims to show the true size of Africa. For centuries, a traditional map called the Mercator projection has been widely used. However, this 16th-century map incorrectly presents Africa as being similar in size to Greenland, when in reality, Africa is approximately 14 times larger. The Mercator map was designed mainly for navigation, making areas closer to the poles appear much larger than they actually are, which distorts the size of continents near the equator.

During a session at its headquarters in New York, the UN General Assembly officially voted to move away from the Mercator projection. Instead, they will use a map based on the 2018 Equal Earth design. This newer design is known for more accurately depicting the actual land area of continents and countries. The Equal Earth map maintains proportional sizes, which means that continents like Africa and South America are shown closer to their real vastness. This decision aims to correct a long-standing geographical distortion and provide a more truthful representation of the world's landmasses for educational and general purposes.

This significant initiative started with a resolution sponsored by the country of Togo. Togo called for the world to gradually stop using the old Mercator map, arguing for a more equitable global perspective. The UN's vote means that member states will now be encouraged to use maps that better reflect the true proportions of landmasses, especially Africa. This historical decision highlights the importance of accurate geographical education and understanding the world without the inherent distortions of the Mercator projection, promoting a more balanced view of our planet.