UN General Assembly backs Equal Earth map in African-led push, US votes no

The United Nations General Assembly voted Friday to urge wider use of maps that more accurately reflect the true size of Africa and other continents, according to reports dated 4 September 2026. The resolution was backed by 164 countries, with the United States voting against and six states abstaining. It promotes the Equal Earth cartographic projection as an alternative to the Mercator projection.

The text was spearheaded by several African countries, with Togo driving the resolution and France co-sponsoring it. It states that Equal Earth "offers a more accurate representation of the sizes of continental landmasses and to this end is a relevant option for improving the accuracy of the cartographic representation of the world." The vote is not legally binding, and reporting notes it "in no way challenges the use of Mercator projection for maritime and aerial navigation, for which it remains fully suited."

164 in favour, one against

The tally was 164 in favour, one against and six abstentions, as reported by Deutsche Welle and France 24. The United States was the only country to vote against. Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Morocco, Serbia and Ukraine abstained.

Togo's foreign minister, Robert Dussey, told the assembly that maps "shape our understanding of the world." He added: "They guide education, nourish the imagination, and influence collective perceptions," and "They are, therefore, never neutral, when they present a distorted image of our planet, they risk perpetuating inaccurate representation that are passed down through generation."

Equal Earth and Mercator compared

The Mercator projection was created in 1569 by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator. It accurately depicts the shapes and angles of landmasses, which is necessary for shipping, but distorts relative sizes. Landmasses near the poles appear larger while those near the equator look smaller.

That distortion makes Greenland appear about as big as Africa, despite the African continent being about 14 times larger. France's foreign minister said that in the Mercator map, "the United States, Russia and China take on a disproportionate visual prominence compared to Africa, Latin America or southeast Asia," while "Greenland appears almost as big as Africa."

The Equal Earth projection was launched by a group of cartographers in 2018. One of the cartographers, Bojan Savric, said that "Equal Earth preserves the relative surface areas of continents and, as much as possible, shows their shapes as they appear on a globe." Campaign group #CorrectTheMap said: "You could fit the United States, China, India, Japan, Mexico and much of Europe into Africa and still have land to spare."

The United States objects

The United States said the Equal Earth projection pushed an "ideological agenda" and distracted attention from "genuine problems of international peace, prosperity or good relations." US representative Yaryna Ferencevych said ahead of the vote: "Instead of focusing on genuine problems... this body is debating map projects from the 16th century and their role in promoting reparations and cognitive justice."

That objection stood apart from the rest of the room. One Telegram account summarising BBC reporting described the measure as supporting replacement of the widely used Mercator projection, which makes Africa appear much smaller than it is. Another account described the resolution as sponsored by African states and aimed at countering perceptions that Africa is peripheral.

France and Togo to change maps

France, which co-sponsored the resolution, said on Friday that it would also abandon the Mercator projection. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said: "Changing maps obviously doesn't change the world. But correcting a distorted representation is already an act of truth." France 24 reported that the initiative comes as France is seeking to improve relations with Africa, particularly in former colonies with which it has prickly ties.

Togo's Dussey said his country aims to replace the maps used in its schools by the end of the year. He said the Mercator projection's use is a result of colonization, adding: "The world is changing. Africa also is changing."

Monexus analysis: the record as captured supports a narrow reading. The Assembly has endorsed Equal Earth as a relevant option for more accurate world maps, preserved Mercator for maritime and aerial navigation, and left adoption to member states, with France and Togo stating plans to change their own use.

Source records

The sources below were retrieved for this article. Reposts and mirrors may share the same reporting.

• https://f24.my/C8ms.g
• https://t.me/ClashReport/95126
• https://t.me/africaintel/15309
• https://t.me/intelslava/93935
• https://www.dw.com/en/un-approves-world-map-reflecting-true-size-of-africa/a-79040629?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf