55 Countries Say the World Map Is All Wrong
For hundreds of years, the widely used Mercator map has quietly misrepresented the size of Africa—making it appear far smaller than it really is. Now, a group of African nations is leading a campaign to fix that, advocating for a more accurate map that better reflects the continent’s true scale.
Originally designed in 1569 by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator for navigation, the Mercator projection enlarges areas the farther they are from the equator. As a result, regions like Greenland look nearly the same size as Africa, despite the continent being 14 times larger. North America appears about four times bigger than it really is. These distortions may have helped sailors plot courses centuries ago, but today, critics argue they reinforce outdated perceptions—especially of Africa.
In response, the African Union is backing a movement to replace the Mercator map with the Equal Earth projection, which maintains more accurate landmass proportions, though it alters shapes slightly. “No map projection is perfect—it is impossible to fit the spherical globe onto a 2D surface without compromises,” said Tom Patterson, one of the creators of the Equal Earth map, in an interview with the Washington Post. But for many Africans, seeing their continent depicted correctly isn’t just about geography—it’s about visibility, identity, and how future generations understand their place in the world.
The initiative, known as Correct the Map, points to the Mercator’s distortions as part of a broader legacy of colonialism that diminished Africa’s prominence. Supporters like Fara Ndiaye, co-founder of Speak Up Africa, see the effort as a turning point—transforming a cultural concern into political momentum.
The campaign’s goal is for international bodies, including the United Nations, to officially adopt the Equal Earth map. Some organizations are already on board: the World Bank has agreed to make the switch, and both NASA and National Geographic now use the Equal Earth projection as well, according to NPR.
As part of the push, the campaign is also encouraging public support through a Change.org petition, which has so far gathered over 6,500 signatures.
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