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

World Geography · 6 September 2026 · Based on The Hindu (original report)

2-minute summary

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has approved a non-binding resolution, led by Togo and backed by the African Union, supporting the adoption of the 'Equal Earth' map projection to replace the traditional 16th-century Mercator projection in schools. The Mercator projection, while highly effective for marine and aerial navigation because it preserves angles and directions, severely distorts the relative size of landmasses by expanding areas closer to the poles. This distortion makes Greenland appear roughly the same size as Africa, even though Africa is actually 14 times larger. The resolution passed with a 164 to 1 vote (with 6 abstentions). India voted in favor of the resolution, while the United States was the sole dissenting vote, claiming the initiative promoted an 'ideological agenda'. Togo plans to implement the Equal Earth map in its school curricula by the end of 2026 and will lobby other nations, international bodies, and technology companies to adopt it.

Why it's in the news

On September 4, 2026, the UNGA passed a Togo-led resolution endorsing the Equal Earth map projection to accurately represent Africa's true size, marking a significant step toward decolonizing global cartography and educational materials.

Background and context

The Mercator projection was presented by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator in 1569. It is a cylindrical map projection that became the standard for navigation because it represents lines of constant course (rhumb lines) as straight segments, conserving local angles. However, its mathematical formula stretches landmasses increasingly as they approach the poles. This distortion has long been criticized for fostering a Eurocentric worldview by visually shrinking equatorial regions—predominantly home to developing nations in Africa, South America, and South Asia—while inflating the size of North America and Eurasia. The 'Equal Earth' projection, developed in 2018 by Bojan Šavrič, Tom Patterson, and Bernhard Jenny, is an equal-area pseudocylindrical projection designed to show continents at their true relative sizes without extreme shape distortion, offering a visually balanced alternative for educational and general-purpose maps.

International organisations

• United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) — Passed the non-binding resolution (164-1) promoting the Equal Earth projection, serving as a platform for normative shifts and Global South advocacy.
• African Union (AU) — Supported the campaign initiated by Togo to challenge colonial-era cartographic distortions and promote African representation.

Mains practice: Cartography is not merely a scientific exercise but carries deep geopolitical and socio-cultural implications. Discuss this statement in the context of the recent UNGA resolution endorsing the Equal Earth projection.

Cartography is the art and science of representing a three-dimensional sphere on a two-dimensional plane. Because this transition is mathematically impossible without distortion, mapmakers must choose which properties—such as shape, direction, or area—to preserve. This choice is not politically neutral, as demonstrated by the recent UNGA resolution endorsing the Equal Earth projection.

Geopolitical and socio-cultural implications of map projections include:

• **Eurocentric Bias and Power Perceptions**: The 1569 Mercator projection preserves angles for navigation but severely inflates high-latitude landmasses. This visually exaggerates the size of Europe and North America while shrinking equatorial regions like Africa and South America. Historically, this reinforced colonial narratives of northern dominance and southern marginalization.

• **Cognitive Justice in Education**: Visual representations shape cognitive frameworks. Using distorted maps in schools leads to a subconscious devaluation of the Global South's geopolitical weight. The Equal Earth projection restores the true relative scale (e.g., Africa being 14 times larger than Greenland), fostering geographical accuracy and self-esteem among post-colonial nations.

• **Functional vs. Educational Utility**: The UNGA resolution correctly distinguishes between functional utility and educational representation. It does not challenge Mercator's indispensability for maritime and aerial navigation, where direction-preservation is vital, but advocates for equal-area maps in classrooms where relative size is paramount.

• **Global South Solidarity**: The overwhelming 164-1 vote, led by Togo and supported by India, reflects a growing collective effort by the Global South to dismantle lingering colonial-era intellectual legacies.

In conclusion, maps are powerful tools that shape our understanding of global relations. Transitioning to equal-area projections like Equal Earth is a crucial step toward decolonizing education and establishing a fairer, more accurate worldview.

Prelims practice questions

Q1. With reference to map projections, consider the following statements: 1. The Mercator projection is a conformal projection that preserves local angles and shapes, making it highly suited for navigation. 2. The Equal Earth projection is an equal-area projection designed to accurately represent the relative sizes of landmasses. 3. The Mercator projection distorts the size of landmasses by progressively shrinking them as they approach the poles. Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A. Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is incorrect because the Mercator projection distorts the size of landmasses by expanding (exaggerating) them as they approach the poles, not shrinking them.

Q2. Recently, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) approved a resolution regarding global map projections. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The resolution legally binds all UN member states to replace the Mercator projection in school textbooks. 2. The resolution was initiated by Togo and supported by the African Union. 3. India voted against the resolution, citing concerns over maritime navigation standards. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: B. Statement 1 is incorrect because the UNGA resolution is non-binding. Statement 2 is correct; Togo led the initiative with African Union backing. Statement 3 is incorrect because India voted in favor of the resolution; the United States was the only country to vote against it.

Q3. In terms of actual geographical land area, which of the following comparisons is correct?

1. Africa is approximately 50 times larger than Greenland.
2. Africa is approximately 14 times larger than Greenland.
3. Africa and Greenland are roughly equal in size.
4. Greenland is approximately three times larger than Africa.

Answer: B. In reality, Africa's land area is about 30.3 million square kilometers, while Greenland's is about 2.16 million square kilometers. This makes Africa approximately 14 times larger than Greenland, despite looking nearly identical in size on a Mercator projection map.

Revision flashcards

• What is the primary cartographic distortion of the Mercator map projection? It exaggerates the relative size of landmasses as they get closer to the poles, making high-latitude regions appear disproportionately larger than equatorial regions.
• Why is the Mercator projection still widely used for maritime and aerial navigation? Because it is a conformal projection, meaning it preserves local angles and directions, allowing navigators to plot straight-line courses (rhumb lines).
• Which map projection does the 2026 UNGA resolution promote to show the true relative sizes of continents? The Equal Earth projection, which is an equal-area pseudocylindrical projection developed in 2018.
• Which country led the UNGA resolution on map projections, and which country voted against it? Togo led the resolution (supported by the African Union); the United States was the only country to vote against it.
• Is the 2026 UNGA resolution on map projections legally binding on member states? No, it is non-binding and does not affect the use of the Mercator projection for navigation purposes.