UN Members Adopt New World Map Showing a Smaller United States and Larger Africa

The United Nations has voted to promote a new world map that shows Africa larger and North America and Europe smaller than they appear on the traditional Mercator projection.

The resolution says the new map improves “the accuracy of the cartographic representation of the world.” AFP reported that 164 member states supported it, while the United States voted against and eight countries abstained.

“

the accuracy of the cartographic representation of the world

The resolution calls on member states to use the new map instead of the Mercator map, which was introduced in 1569 to help sailors navigate at sea. Nearly five centuries later, the projection remains the global standard, according to The Guardian.

“

Instead of focusing on real problems, this organization is debating 16th-century map projects and their role in advancing reparations and cognitive justice.

The Mercator projection makes areas near the equator appear substantially smaller than their actual size, while regions farther north and south appear larger. Africa can look roughly the same size as Greenland on the map, even though Africa is actually 14 times larger, The Guardian reported.

The United States criticized the initiative. Yaryna Ferencevych, who represents the United States at the UN, said before the vote that the organization was debating “16th-century map projects and their role in advancing reparations and cognitive justice” instead of focusing on real problems. Togo helped bring the resolution to a vote. Its foreign minister, Robert Dussey, said maps influence education, imagination and collective perceptions, and warned that distorted representations can be passed from one generation to the next.

“

Maps therefore are never neutral. When they show a distorted picture of our planet, they risk perpetuating an inaccurate representation that is passed from generation to generation.