UN General Assembly backs equal-area maps to correct global size distortions

The United Nations General Assembly has passed a non-binding resolution promoting equal-area map projections to more accurately represent the relative sizes of the world's continents. The move seeks to shift global education and technology away from cartographic standards that distort the scale of the Global South.

Led by Togo on behalf of the African Group and backed by the African Union, the resolution passed with 164 votes in favor and six abstentions from Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine. The United States was the sole vote against the measure. The resolution encourages governments, schools, and technology companies to adopt equal-area maps—highlighting the Equal Earth projection, developed in 2018—whenever the relative size of landmasses is a priority.

The distortion of the Mercator

For centuries, the dominant global standard has been the Mercator projection, created in 1569. While the Mercator map remains essential for maritime navigation because it preserves direction, it severely distorts area. Landmasses located farther from the equator, such as North America and Greenland, appear significantly larger than they are in reality.

This distortion is most evident when comparing Africa to Greenland. While Africa is roughly 14 times larger than Greenland, the two often appear similar in size on Mercator maps. The African Union and the African Group argued that this "symbolic minimization" of Africa has distorted global perceptions of power and geography for centuries.

A shift toward cognitive justice

Proponents of the resolution view the change as a matter of "cognitive justice," attempting to decouple global perception from a Eurocentric cartographic standard. Robert Dussey, Togo’s foreign minister, emphasized the psychological impact of the change, stating, "A fair map does not change the geography of the world, it changes how we see the world."

However, the resolution faced sharp criticism from the U.S. delegation. The United States representative argued that the resolution "mocks the work and purpose of this institution" and claimed it is part of a "much larger and more radical ideological project."

The path forward

Because the resolution is non-binding, it does not ban the Mercator projection or mandate a specific map for all uses. Instead, it signals a formal international recognition that cartographic choices are political and can influence the perceived significance of different regions.

Observers will now watch to see if major tech companies and national education ministries implement the Equal Earth projection in their digital interfaces and textbooks. While the technical utility of the Mercator map for navigation remains undisputed, the UN's signal marks a pivot toward prioritizing geographic accuracy in the public's mental map of the world.