Why the World Map Has Been Lying to You: Togo’s Mission to Correct Africa’s Size at the UN
For centuries, the world has been looking at a distorted version of our planet. The familiar Mercator projection map, used in classrooms, newsrooms, and navigation systems, dramatically shrinks the African continent while inflating the size of Europe, North America, and Russia. Now, the African Union has taken a historic step to correct this cartographic injustice. It has entrusted Togo with a mission: to present a new world map to the United Nations General Assembly in September 2026—one that respects the true size of every country, especially Africa.
The Problem with the Mercator Projection
The Mercator projection, created by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator in 1569, was designed for nautical navigation. It preserves angles and shapes locally, making it useful for sailors plotting straight-line courses. However, it does so at the cost of distorting area. As you move away from the equator, landmasses appear much larger than they actually are. The result? Greenland looks roughly the same size as Africa on a Mercator map, but in reality, Africa is 14 times larger. Similarly, Europe appears comparable in size to South America, though South America is nearly twice as large.
This distortion has profound consequences. It subtly reinforces a worldview where the Global North appears dominant and expansive, while the Global South—especially Africa—is visually minimized. Africa’s true land area is about 30.37 million square kilometers, yet on most Mercator maps, it appears smaller than Greenland (2.16 million square kilometers). This misrepresentation has been criticized by geographers, educators, and activists for decades.
Why Togo? The African Union’s Strategic Choice
The African Union (AU) has selected Togo to champion this resolution at the UN. This is not a random assignment. Togo, a small West African nation, has been a vocal advocate for decolonizing cartography and promoting accurate geographic representation. By entrusting Togo with this mission, the AU signals that even smaller nations can lead global conversations about fairness and accuracy. Togo’s delegation will present a resolution calling for the adoption of alternative map projections—such as the Gall-Peters projection or the AuthaGraph projection—that preserve the true relative sizes of continents.
This initiative is part of a broader movement to decolonize knowledge systems. Maps are not neutral; they reflect the priorities and biases of their creators. For centuries, European cartographers designed maps that centered their own continents, often at the expense of accuracy. The AU’s push is a demand for a more equitable visual representation of the world.
What Would a New Map Look Like?
Several alternative projections already exist that show Africa’s true size. The Gall-Peters projection, developed in the 19th century, accurately represents area but distorts shapes, making countries near the poles appear stretched. The AuthaGraph projection, created by Japanese architect Hajime Narukawa in 1999, is one of the most accurate for both area and shape, dividing the globe into 96 triangles and then flattening them with minimal distortion. Another option is the Equal Earth projection, designed specifically to address the shortcomings of Mercator while maintaining visual appeal.
For example, on a Gall-Peters map, Africa stretches from the top to the bottom of the map, showing its true vastness. Brazil appears larger than Alaska, and India dwarfs Scandinavia. These corrections are not just academic—they change how people perceive global power dynamics, resource distribution, and cultural significance.
Practical Implications: Beyond the Classroom
Adopting a new world map at the UN would have ripple effects across multiple sectors:
- Education: Textbooks and atlases worldwide would need to be updated, giving students a more accurate understanding of geography from an early age.
- Media and Journalism: News outlets often use Mercator maps to illustrate stories about Africa, inadvertently reinforcing stereotypes of a small, peripheral continent. A new standard would change this visual narrative.
- International Relations: Accurate maps can influence policy discussions about climate change, migration, and resource allocation. For instance, understanding Africa’s true size helps contextualize its agricultural potential and biodiversity.
- Navigation and Technology: Digital mapping services like Google Maps and Apple Maps already use a mix of projections, but a UN-endorsed standard could encourage more consistent use of area-accurate projections in public-facing tools.
Challenges and Criticisms
Despite the clear benefits, changing the world’s default map is not without obstacles. The Mercator projection is deeply ingrained in our collective consciousness. It is the map most people recognize, and alternatives can look unfamiliar or “wrong” at first glance. Additionally, no single projection is perfect—every flat map distorts something. The key is choosing a projection that prioritizes area accuracy over other properties, which is what the AU is advocating for.
There is also the question of political will. The UN General Assembly must vote on the resolution, and some nations may resist change due to inertia or national pride. However, the growing global awareness of cartographic bias, fueled by social media campaigns and educational initiatives, suggests that the time is ripe for this shift.
What You Can Do
As a reader, you can start by questioning the maps you encounter. Look up the true size of countries using tools like TheTrueSize.com, which lets you drag countries over a Mercator map to see their real proportions. Share this knowledge with others, especially in educational settings. Support organizations that promote accurate geographic representation, and follow Togo’s progress at the UN this September.
The map of the world is not fixed. It is a human creation, and we have the power to remake it. Togo’s mission is a step toward a more honest, equitable, and informed global perspective—one where Africa finally takes its rightful place on the map.
Source: Original article on RFI