UN adopts Equal Earth map resolution backed by 164 states

September 5, 2026 at 12:25 AM2 min

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The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on Friday promoting the Equal Earth projection to replace the Mercator map. The vote was 164-1 with six abstentions, with the United States casting the sole opposing vote. The resolution, sponsored by African Union member states and the Bahamas, aims to correct a colonial-era distortion that has visually shrunk Africa for 450 years.

Key Facts

The UN General Assembly adopted the 'Correct the Map' resolution on Friday by a vote of 164-1 with six abstentions.
The United States was the only country to vote against the resolution, calling it an 'ideological agenda'.
The resolution promotes the Equal Earth projection, which more accurately portrays the size of continents.
Togo's Foreign Minister Robert Dussey led the African Union campaign to limit use of the Mercator map.
France, a co-sponsor, announced ahead of the vote that it planned to abandon the Mercator map.

The Vote

The resolution was put forward by African Union member states and the Bahamas. It was backed by a vote of 164-1 with six abstentions. The United States cast the sole opposing vote, saying the resolution promoted an 'ideological agenda' and was a distraction from 'genuine problems of international peace, prosperity or good relations'. Togo led the AU's campaign to limit use of the widely-used Mercator map. Togo's Foreign Minister Robert Dussey said ahead of the vote, 'A fair world begins with a fair map.'

Map Distortion

The Mercator projection, developed in the 16th century by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator, distorts the relative size of land masses by expanding those nearer the poles. It makes Greenland appear roughly the same size as Africa, even though Africa is about 14 times larger. Some critics believe the Mercator map remains widely used because it visually exaggerates and centralises Western nations, perpetuating ideas of European superiority. The resolution is not legally binding and 'in no way challenges the use of the Mercator projection for maritime and aerial navigation, for which it remains fully suited,' the Togolese ministry said.

Reaction and Next Steps

Moky Makura, executive director of Africa No Filter, hailed the vote, saying 'now the real work begins'. Makura said the campaign wants to see accurate maps in schools, textbooks, newsrooms, businesses and on digital platforms used by billions daily. She added, 'If we got something as basic as Africa's size wrong for this long, what else about Africa have we simply accepted without questioning?' France, who co-sponsored the resolution, announced ahead of the vote that it planned to abandon the Mercator map.