Africa Gets Bigger, Europe Smaller as UN Endorses New World Map
What Happened
"The UN General Assembly has adopted the Equal Earth projection as its preferred world map, encouraging countries and international organizations to use it where accurate representation of continent sizes matters. The resolution was backed by 164 countries, with the US voting against it. The move aims to reduce distortions caused by the centuries-old Mercator projection, which makes regions in the Northern Hemisphere such as North America and Europe appear larger while making Africa, South America, and parts of Asia look smaller than they actually are. The new map presents continents closer to their true relative sizes."
Key Takeaways
The UN's decision is aimed at promoting a more accurate and balanced representation of the world in education, media, and official materials. Supporters argue that maps shape perceptions, and a fairer depiction of continents can help address historical biases in how different regions are viewed.