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U.N. backs a world map that reflects countries’ true size

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Approved/passed
  • The U.N. General Assembly voted 164-1, with six abstentions, to promote the Equal Earth projection over the centuries-old Mercator projection.
  • Togo and the African Union backed the initiative, arguing that Mercator distorts the relative size of continents and contributes to mistaken perceptions of Africa.
  • The resolution is not legally binding and does not challenge Mercator’s continued use for maritime and aviation navigation.

The United Nations has backed a new way of looking at the world. In a 164-1 vote with six abstentions, the General Assembly endorsed the Equal Earth projection, which presents the continents’ relative areas more accurately than the Mercator map.

ideological agenda

· United StatesThe United States used the phrase when explaining its vote against the resolution.

Togo led the initiative, supported by an African Union campaign that seeks to counter what it calls a distorted perception of Africa. Mercator, developed in the 16th century, enlarges landmasses closer to the poles. Under that projection, Greenland appears almost as large as Africa, even though Africa is about 14 times larger.

The United States cast the only vote against the resolution. It argued that the measure promoted an “ideological agenda” and distracted from the “real problems of international peace, prosperity or good relations.” Togo’s foreign ministry said the decision was not legally binding and did not challenge Mercator’s use in maritime or aviation navigation, where it remains suitable.

real problems of international peace, prosperity or good relations

· United StatesThe United States said the resolution diverted attention from these issues.

Still, the vote could lead to changes in school curricula and everyday technology, given how widely Mercator is used in education, technology and governance. Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey told Reuters that his country planned to change its geography materials by the end of the year. “Togo will be the first country to change its own geography books. In classrooms, we have to change it to set an example for every country in the world,” he said. “A just world begins with a just map.”

Togo will be the first country to change its own geography books. In classrooms, we have to change it to set an example for every country in the world.

· Robert DusseyTogo’s foreign minister described the country’s plan to update its geography materials.

Dussey told the General Assembly that maps influence education, imagination and collective perceptions. He argued that they are not neutral when they present a distorted picture that can pass from one generation to the next. The #CorrectTheMap campaign, backed by the African Union in August 2025, has collected more than 11,000 signatures, according to the article.

A just world begins with a just map.

· Robert DusseyDussey framed the map change as part of a broader effort to correct perceptions of Africa.
About this summary

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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