What’s the issue with the way Africa is shown on maps? | Explained

The representation of Africa on world maps is a subject of geographical and cartographic debate. Because the Earth is a sphere, projecting its surface onto a flat, two-dimensional rectangle necessitates mathematical compromises that inherently distort the size and shape of landmasses.

These distortions often lead to inaccurate perceptions regarding the relative scale of continents. The issue highlights the technical limitations of map projections, which must prioritize specific features like area or direction at the expense of others, resulting in varying visual portrayals of Africa compared to other regions.