UN General Assembly Passed Resolution to Correct Map
The international body voted to update the world map to more accurately reflect the true landmass size of Africa.
Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Geography
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In September 2026, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution to adopt a new world map reflecting Africa's true size. Togo led the initiative to replace the traditional projection, which had been in use since 1569.
Why it matters
The resolution aims to address long-standing inaccuracies in the traditional Mercator projection, which historically misrepresents the relative scale of continents. By seeking a more equitable representation, supporters hope to correct a centuries-old visual bias in global cartography.
The resolution, sponsored by Togo, passed with support from 164 nations. The #CorrectTheMap campaign garnered over 13,000 signatures to advocate for the change, noting that the traditional map scale incorrectly represents Africa relative to Greenland.
The players
United Nations General Assembly
This is the main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the United Nations.
Togo
This West African nation acted as the primary sponsor for the resolution at the United Nations.
African Union
This continental body consists of 55 member states located on the African continent.
Gerardus Mercator
He was a 16th-century cartographer who created the cylindrical map projection that bears his name.
United States
The United States is a North American country and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
The details
The resolution was backed by the African Union and supported by major powers including France and the United Kingdom. While the United States cast the sole vote against the measure, other nations including Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine chose to abstain.
Timeline
1569: Gerardus Mercator introduced the Mercator map projection.
September 2026: The UN General Assembly passed the map resolution.
Deeper Dive
The resolution officially marks a global departure from the 1569 Mercator map projection, which has defined world mapping for centuries. This shift challenges the long-standing geographic paradigm that has prioritized northern hemispheric scale over continental accuracy.
The adoption of a new world map will eventually impact educational materials and digital navigation tools globally. Citizens may see a transition in how geographic data is visually rendered in future textbooks and software interfaces.
The takeaway
This resolution signifies a major shift in how international bodies address historical biases in global imagery. Readers should look for potential updates in digital mapping tools and school curricula as institutions begin implementing the new standard.
Further reading
Learn more about evolving cartographic standards in the Geography section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily News.
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