U.N. approves resolution in support of map that shows Africa’s true size

On Friday, the United Nations voted to approve a resolution supporting a new world map that accurately reflects the true size of Africa. The initiative, spearheaded by Togo and backed by all 55 member states of the African Union, aims to shift global reliance away from the 16th-century Mercator projection.

The resolution is part of the broader #CorrectTheMap campaign designed to counter long-standing perceptions that the African continent is peripheral in global geography and to correct cartographic representations that diminish its actual scale. Following the U.N. vote, Togo plans to introduce the Equal Earth map for use in schools by the end of the year.

The diplomatic measure saw near-universal support among member nations, with the United States standing out as the only country to vote against the resolution.