UN to correct Africa map after overwhelming approval

The United Nations General Assembly has approved a resolution aimed at correcting distortions in conventional world maps, particularly those affecting Africa’s apparent size.

The resolution, titled “Correct the Map,” was adopted on Friday, September 4, 2026, after receiving overwhelming support from member states.

A total of 164 countries voted in favour, while the United States was the only country to oppose the measure. Six countries, including Ukraine, abstained.

The initiative, spearheaded by African countries and first endorsed by the African Union Assembly in February, calls for wider adoption of equal-area map projections that more accurately depict the relative size of countries and continents.

The African Union welcomed the vote, congratulating Togo and the Africa Group at the United Nations for what it described as a historic achievement in promoting fairer global cartographic representation.

The AU said the widely used Mercator projection has historically exaggerated the apparent size of countries and territories located closer to the poles.

It highlighted Africa’s size compared with Greenland, noting that Africa is about 14 times larger despite the two appearing relatively similar in size on many conventional maps.

Under the resolution, equal-area projections, including the Equal Earth projection, are expected to receive greater consideration in classrooms, media organisations and international institutions.

The AU argued that adopting more accurate maps would help ensure Africa’s geographical scale is properly represented and could influence how the continent is perceived globally.

The resolution builds on longstanding concerns among geographers and African advocates over the distortions created by traditional mapping systems, particularly the Mercator projection.

The United States’ decision to vote against the resolution stands out among the 171 votes cast, although Washington has not publicly explained its position.

The adoption marks a diplomatic success for the African Group and provides international backing for efforts to promote more geographically accurate representations of the world.

The AU described the move as a step towards ensuring maps reflect “Africa’s true scale, weight, and place in the world.”