Togo to change school maps after UN vote on Africa’s true size

Togo says it will become the first country to change its school geography books after a United Nations vote promoting maps that show Africa closer to its actual size.

Foreign Minister Robert Dussey told Reuters that Togo plans to introduce the Equal Earth projection into school materials before the end of 2026. “Togo will be the first country to change our own geography books,” he said. “In the classroom, we need to change it to give an example to all the countries in the world.”

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Togo will be the first country to change our own geography books.

The resolution, sponsored by Togo on behalf of the African Group, won support from 164 countries. The United States voted against it, while six countries abstained. It promotes Equal Earth as an alternative to the widely used Mercator projection, which makes areas closer to the poles appear disproportionately large and makes Africa appear smaller relative to its real size.

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In the classroom, we need to change it to give an example to all the countries in the world.

Dussey said Togo would also urge governments, schools, international organisations and technology companies to adopt the alternative projection. The country plans to meet African Union members and supporters from other regions within six months, including companies involved in mapping, GPS and other location-based technologies.

The resolution is not legally binding. Togo’s Foreign Ministry said it does not oppose continued use of Mercator for maritime and aerial navigation, where the projection remains useful. Dussey linked the initiative to wider African efforts to confront colonial-era legacies, while saying it was not an attack on Europe or another civilisation. “The world is changing. Africa also is changing,” he said. Equal Earth keeps the relative surface areas of continents and, as much as possible, represents their shapes as they appear on a globe.

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The world is changing. Africa also is changing.