The United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution to phase out the 16th-century Mercator map projection in favor of an alternative that accurately reflects the true geographical size of nations, following an initiative led by African countries to counter historical misrepresentations of the continent.
Togo spearheaded the initiative on behalf of an African Union campaign to phase out the Mercator model, which significantly distorts landmasses by enlarging areas closer to the poles.
Under the traditional Mercator rendering, Greenland appears roughly equal in scale to Africa, despite the African continent being approximately 14 times larger.
”A fair world begins with a fair map,” Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey told Reuters ahead of Friday’s vote.
The adopted resolution recommends adopting the Equal Earth projection, a map design that accurately represents the proportional dimensions of continents.
The measure carries no legal obligation and “in no way challenges the use of the Mercator projection for maritime and aerial navigation, for which it remains fully suited,” according to a statement issued by Togo’s foreign ministry.
The UN General Assembly passed the measure by a vote of 164 to 1, with 6 nations abstaining.
The United States cast the sole opposing vote, asserting that the resolution promoted an “ideological agenda” while distracting the assembly from “genuine problems of international peace, prosperity or good relations.”
Educational and Global Initiatives
Although the Mercator map remains standard in educational environments globally, Togo aims to revise its national curriculum materials within the year.
”Togo will be the first country to change our own geography books,” Dussey said.
”In the classroom, we need to change it to give an example to all the countries in the world.”
Dussey stated that Togo plans to urge other nations, academic institutions, multilateral bodies, and digital tech firms to abandon the Mercator format, noting that the Equal Earth framework provides “the best perception” of global geography.
Over the next six months, Togo plans to gather African Union member countries and allied nations to coordinate strategies for global implementation, according to Dussey. He added that future outreach must engage tech corporations that manage navigation, GPS, and digital mapping software.
The Togolese official framed the map reform as part of broader efforts across the continent to dismantle colonial legacies, clarifying that the movement is not targeted against Europe or any other culture.
He noted that the global dominance of the Mercator layout was a direct byproduct of European colonization.
”The world is changing. Africa also is changing.”