The UN General Assembly approved a resolution calling for the use of a world map with the “Equal Earth” projection. It more accurately depicts the true size of continents, particularly Africa.
As reported by Armenpress, 164 countries voted in favor of the resolution, with only the United States against and six abstentions. The resolution, initiated by Togo and supported by the African Union, calls for the gradual abandonment of the 16th-century Mercator projection in favor of the “Equal Earth” map developed in 2018.
The Mercator map exaggerates areas near the poles and reduces areas near the equator. As a result, Africa and Greenland appear nearly the same size on the map, while in reality, Africa is approximately 14 times larger than Greenland. This resolution is not legally binding and does not prohibit the use of the Mercator projection, which remains suitable for maritime and aerial navigation.
