Politics
UN adopts new world map to reflect Africa's true size
September 6, 2026 at 06:24 AM
Coverage
4 reports · 2 in Arabic, 2 in English · over 25 hours
BABBC Arabic
خريطة العالم: لماذا تريد الأمم المتحدة تغييرها؟ وأي الخرائط أكثر دقة؟ - BBC News عربي
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
What different world maps get right - and what they get wrong
(opens the publisher’s site)SNSky News Arabia
أفريقيا أكبر مما تبدو.. قرار أممي لتصحيح الخريطة
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
UN votes to adopt new world map to reflect Africa's true size
(opens the publisher’s site)The UN General Assembly voted to replace the traditional Mercator world map with the Equal Earth projection, which more accurately reflects the size of Africa.
- The UN General Assembly passed Togo-sponsored "Correct the Map" resolution, backed by African Union members, with 164 nations voting in favour and the US the sole opponent.
- The non-binding vote adopts the Equal Earth projection, developed by cartographers in 2018 and adopted by African Union members in February, which shows Africa about 14 times larger than Greenland.
- Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey said "a fair world begins with a fair map," while French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced his ministry would stop using the Mercator map.
- US representative Yaryna Ferencevych said the resolution mocked the UN General Assembly's purpose, arguing the body should address international peace rather than 16th-century map projects.
Latest developments
- Sep 6 — The resolution promotes the Gall-Peters projection as an alternative for accurate relative sizes, while Mercator remains suitable for maritime and air navigation.
- Sep 6 — Togo plans to revise its geography textbooks by year's end, becoming the first country to adopt the new map projection.