Africa map size: Togo to change school maps, geography books after UN vote

Togo will change school maps and geography books to reflect Africa’s true size after a UN vote adopted the Equal Earth projection. Learn more about this hi

The American delegation dismissed the resolution as part of a "much larger and more radical ideological project."

The resolution, which was sponsored by Togo and backed by members of the African Union, was passed with 164 member states voting in favour.

The UN assembly voted 164 to 1, with six abstentions, to support Africa’s campaign for cartographic justice

Over 160 countries have voted at the United Nations to move away from a traditional global map that is nearly 500 years old towards a newer one that more accurately reflects Africa's true size.

The widely-used Mercator map is often criticised for visually exaggerating and centralising Western nations.

It makes Africa bigger while shrinking North America and Europe.

The resolution is part of the #CorrectTheMap campaign led by Togo and backed by all 55 African Union member states.

UN votes to adopt new map showing Africa's true size despite US opposition  thenationalnews.com

The Togo-sponsored resolution was backed by 164 nations - the US the only nation to vote against it.

Togo-sponsored resolution called to phase out traditional map that depicts continent as similar size to Greenland The United Nations has voted to adopt a resolution for the world to formally phase out the traditional Mercator map of the globe in favour of one that more accurately displays Africa’s size. In a session at

Africa-led campaign asks governments, schools and tech firms to move away from the centuries-old Mercator projection