UN General Assembly backs Africa-led shift towards Equal Earth maps
Backed by 164 countries, the non-binding measure encourages schools, institutions and technology firms to use maps that preserve continents’ relative area.
- The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly voted in favor of a non-binding, Africa-led resolution to encourage the use of the Equal Earth map projection.
- The initiative aims to correct the distortions of the widely used Mercator projection, which makes Africa and other equatorial regions appear significantly smaller than their true land area.
- Supporters argue the move addresses "cartographic colonialism" by providing a more accurate geographical representation that visually elevates the Global South.
- The United States cast the sole opposing vote, calling the initiative unnecessary, while Togo, which introduced the resolution, plans to update its school materials and consult with tech companies on broader adoption.
African efforts to change how land area is represented on commonly used world maps secured overwhelming backing at United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York on Friday (September 4, 2026).
Acting for the African Union (AU), Togo brought forward a non-binding General Assembly resolution encouraging the 2018 Equal Earth projection.
It received 164 votes in favour, one against and six abstentions.
Governments and institutions remain free to choose other maps, but the initiative aims to address portrayals that make Africa appear peripheral.
The United States cast the sole opposing vote.
Washington’s delegate considered the initiative unnecessary, objected to its ideological framing and said the Assembly should concentrate instead on peace, prosperity and constructive international relations.
Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey countered that scientific evidence, rather than political preference, supported a fairer geographical representation.
He urged Africans to correct inherited portrayals within their control as both the continent and the wider world changed.
Although he linked Mercator’s dominance to colonisation, he stressed that the campaign was not directed against Europe or any other civilisation.
Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator developed his projection in 1569 as a navigational aid.
Its scale increases towards the poles, causing high-latitude territories to dominate a flat world map while land closer to the equator looks smaller by comparison.
Greenland can consequently appear similar in size to Africa, although Africa is about 14 times larger.
Equal Earth retains relative land areas more faithfully and, in Dussey’s view, presents the most representative overall picture.
The resolution does not seek to displace Mercator in sea or air navigation, for which Togo’s foreign ministry said it remained suitable.
The #CorrectTheMap campaign demonstrates Africa’s scale by noting that the combined areas of the United States, China, India, Japan, Mexico and most of Europe could fit within the continent, with land remaining.
Historians, geographers and activists supporting the change argue that distorted maps have influenced collective thinking and geopolitics by visually diminishing the Global South beside the Global North.
They refer to this inherited imbalance as cartographic colonialism.
Togo will begin domestically by revising school geography materials before the end of 2026.
Dussey expects it to become the first country to make the change and hopes Togolese classrooms will provide an example for others.
The government will also encourage other states, schools, international organisations and technology providers to move towards maps that display comparative land area more accurately.
Consultations with other AU members and supporters outside Africa are due within six months.
They will extend to companies working on digital maps, Global Positioning System (GPS) products and other location-based services.
Togo also plans a meeting in Lomé during the first quarter of 2027 involving the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the AU and technology companies connected with services such as Google Maps.
The participants are expected to develop practical guidance and a timetable for broader adoption.
France declared its support before the ballot.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the country would move from Mercator to the Eckert IV projection, which resembles Equal Earth and represents relative surface areas more faithfully.
The announcement was viewed as an effort to improve relations with former colonies.
