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UN Adopts New World Map

4 Sep to 11 Sep
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UN Adopts New World Map. (2026, October 5). The Aporia. https://the-aporia.com/event/3660

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Photo via The GuardianPhoto via Al JazeeraPhoto via The Independent

NEW YORK - The United Nations General Assembly voted on Sept 4 to adopt a new world map that makes the African continent bigger while shrinking North America and Europe, drawing ire from Washington.

Summary AI · cited

The United Nations General Assembly voted on Friday to adopt a resolution for a new map that makes Africa bigger while shrinking North America and Europe.12

The resolution was supported by 164 countries, with the US voting against it and six other states abstaining.12

The new map is known as the Equal Earth cartographic projection and aims to provide a more accurate representation of continental landmasses.13

The resolution urges member states to use the new map in place of the traditional Mercator projection, which was designed for maritime navigation by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator in 1569.32

Togo's foreign minister stated that maps shape our understanding of the world and drove the resolution to correct this representation.2

Written by AI from articles by 5 outlets. Each sentence links to the articles it rests on, and was checked automatically: every name, number and quote must appear in the sentences it cites, or it is removed.

Sources cited (5)
  1. UN adopts new map: Africa bigger, North America and Europe smaller South China Morning Post, 4 Sep
  2. UN adopts major map reform to show true scale of continents Dawn, 4 Sep
  3. UN adopts new world map showing true scale of continents; only US votes against it The Straits Times, 4 Sep
  4. Japan, India, Ukraine: Why some countries are uneasy about new UN map Al Jazeera, 11 Sep
  5. UN votes to adopt new world map to reflect Africa's true size BBC, 4 Sep

What happened

The outlets' own sentences, most widely reported first. Hover or tap one to see who reported it.

The new map — known as the Equal Earth cartographic projection — “offers a more accurate representation of the sizes of continental landmasses and to this end is a relevant option for improving the accuracy of the cartographic representation of the world,” the resolution says.

9 of 15 outletsfirst reported 4 Sepwording from Dawn

The Mercator projection was developed by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator to assist European navigators at sea.

8 of 15 outletsfirst reported 4 Sepwording from Times of India

The Mercator projection makes Greenland and Africa appear about the same size, even though Africa is in reality about 14 times larger.

7 of 15 outletsfirst reported 4 Sepwording from Daily Mail

The United States was the only country to vote against the resolution, while six countries — Serbia, Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova and Ukraine — abstained.

9 of 15 outletsfirst reported 4 Sepwording from Times of India

What each outlet says

One AI summary per outlet of its latest article on this story, written from that article alone and checked against it. Open the article for the outlet's own words.

The Hindu6 Sep

The United Nations has approved a resolution in support of an alternative map that accurately represents Africa's size, which is often distorted on traditional Mercator projections. The resolution promotes the Equal Earth projection as a more accurate representation. The U.N.'s backing aims to correct centuries-old cartographic inaccuracies. No specific numbers or details about the resolution are provided.

U.N. approves resolution in support of map that shows Africa’s true size →4 articles from The Hindu on this story
The Straits Times4 Sep

The United Nations General Assembly voted to adopt a new world map, known as the Equal Earth cartographic projection, which makes Africa larger while shrinking North America and Europe, with 164 countries in favor and the US voting against it. The resolution aims for a more accurate representation of world geography. Six other states abstained from the vote. The new map is intended to replace the traditional…

While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Sept 5, 2026 →3 articles from The Straits Times on this story
Al Jazeera11 Sep

The United Nations General Assembly voted last week to encourage the use of new world maps that more accurately depict continents with their true sizes, with 164 countries in favor and six abstaining. The US was the only country to oppose the resolution, which promotes the Equal Earth projection over the widely used Mercator projection. India, Ukraine, and Japan have expressed concerns about how disputed territories…

Japan, India, Ukraine: Why some countries are uneasy about new UN map →3 articles from Al Jazeera on this story
The Guardian11 Sep

Japan has asked the operator of a new UN world map, known as the Equal Earth cartographic projection, to revise the map because it incorrectly shows the Kuril islands belonging to Russia. The disputed islands are also known in Japan as the Northern Territories and have been at the center of a long-standing territorial dispute between Japan and Russia. 164 UN members voted to adopt the new map on Friday, but it has…

Japan seeks change to new UN world map over Russia 'misconception' →2 articles from The Guardian on this story
BBC5 Sep

The United Nations has adopted a new map called the Equal Earth projection to replace the widely used Mercator map, which distorts the size of continents such as Africa. The Mercator map was created in 1569 by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator for navigation purposes and still influences many modern maps, including Google Maps. The key issue with the Mercator map is that it makes countries near the equator…

What different world maps get right - and what they get wrong →2 articles from BBC on this story
CBS News6 Sep

The United Nations General Assembly on Friday endorsed a new world map called the Equal Earth projection, which accurately represents Africa's larger size compared to Greenland. The resolution, sponsored by Togo and backed by African countries, was passed with 164 votes in favor, including opposition from only the US, and six abstentions. The new map shows continents in their true proportions, with Africa being 14…

UN endorses new map that shows Africa's size more accurately →2 articles from CBS News on this story
Show 9 more outlets
South China Morning Post4 Sep

The UN General Assembly voted 164-1 on Friday, with six abstentions, to adopt a new map called the Equal Earth cartographic projection. The resolution, spearheaded by African countries, makes Africa appear larger while shrinking North America and Europe compared to the traditional Mercator map. This shift is aimed at achieving "a more accurate representation" of continental landmasses, according to the resolution…

UN adopts new map: Africa bigger, North America and Europe smaller →
Dawn4 Sep

The UN General Assembly voted 164-0 (with 6 abstentions) to adopt a new map that makes Africa appear larger and shrinks North America and Europe. The resolution, led by several African countries, aims for a "more accurate representation" of world geography using the Equal Earth cartographic projection. According to cartographers, this new map preserves the relative surface areas of continents and shows their shapes…

UN adopts major map reform to show true scale of continents →
ABC News (AU)4 Sep

The United Nations General Assembly has voted to adopt a new world map, known as the Equal Earth cartographic projection, which makes Africa appear larger and North America smaller compared to the traditional Mercator projection. The motion was carried by 164 countries, with six abstaining and the US voting against it. The resolution aims to provide a more accurate representation of continental landmasses, with the…

Africa bigger, US smaller as UN votes to adopt a new world map →
NPR4 Sep

The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly backed a resolution, known as "Correct the Map", to change how Africa is represented on world maps. The vote was 164 to one, with six countries abstaining, and the only country voting against it was the United States. The resolution encourages the use of equal-area projections, such as Equal Earth, which more accurately show the true relative size of countries…

The U.N. backs a new world map showing Africa in its true relative size →
National Post5 Sep

The UN General Assembly voted 164-0 (with six abstentions) on Friday to adopt a new world map called the Equal Earth cartographic projection, which makes Africa larger and North America and Europe smaller. The resolution aims to provide a more accurate representation of continental landmasses, replacing the traditional Mercator projection that was designed in 1569 for maritime navigation. France co-sponsored the…

UN adopts ‘more accurate’ world map with larger Africa and smaller North America, Europe →
Times of India5 Sep

The United Nations General Assembly has endorsed a new world map called the Equal Earth projection, which accurately reflects Africa's size. 164 countries voted in favor of the resolution, while the US was opposed and six countries abstained. The new map shows Africa as about 14 times larger than Greenland, whereas under the traditional Mercator projection, they appear roughly comparable in size. The resolution…

A bigger Africa & a smaller Europe: What changes in new UN-backed world map →
Sydney Morning Herald5 Sep

The United Nations has voted to adopt a new world map that more accurately reflects countries' true size, shifting away from the 16th-century Mercator map. The resolution, sponsored by African states, passed with 164 votes in favor and 1 against, with some critics arguing that the Mercator map creates a subtle bias towards northern nations. Africa is about 14 times larger than Greenland, which appears roughly the…

Australia and Africa expand, North America and Europe shrink: UN adopts new world map →
Daily Mail6 Sep

The United Nations General Assembly has voted to adopt a new world map, known as the Equal Earth projection, which makes Africa appear larger and corrects what critics call "cartographic colonialism". The resolution, sponsored by Togo and backed by 164 member states, aims to move away from the centuries-old Mercator map. A key aspect of the change is that Africa will appear about 14 times larger than it does on the…

United Nations adopt new world map that shows Africa much bigger and cuts size of UK and US →
The Independent6 Sep

The UN General Assembly has voted in favor of a resolution sponsored by Togo to replace traditional world maps with more accurate representations of nations' sizes. The "Correct the Map" resolution passed with 164 votes in support and was opposed by only the US, with six other countries abstaining. The resolution encourages governments, schools, and companies to use maps that accurately depict Africa's size, which…

UN votes to approve new world map which will show true size of Africa →

Analysis

Agreed

Reported by outlets on both sides of the middle

“Maps shape our understanding of the world,” Togo’s foreign minister Robert Dussey was quoted by the UN as saying ahead of the vote.

9 outlets
Show 3 more

The "Correct the Map" resolution, sponsored by Togo and backed by African Union (AU) members, passed with the support of 164 nations, including France and the UK.

6 outlets

France – which co-sponsored the resolution in support of the new map – announced on Sept 4 that it would abandon the Mercator projection.

5 outlets

“They are therefore never neutral, when they present a distorted image of our planet, they risk perpetuating inaccurate representation that are passed down through generation.”

4 outlets

Disputed

Picked by our model, which is sometimes wrong

  • The US representative criticized the resolution as a reason for the UN losing credibility, whereas other countries supported it.45

Framing

How the first headlines put it

  • South China Morning Post and The Straits Times emphasize that Africa is shown larger while North America and Europe are smaller in the new map.13
Stated as fact12

How it changed

  1. 4 Sep

    NEW YORK - The United Nations General Assembly voted on Sept 4 to adopt a new world map that makes the African continent bigger while shrinking North America and Europe, drawing ire from Washington.

    14 outlets · The Straits Times
  2. 5 Sep

    Africa No Filter, one of the leading groups behind the campaign to promote the new map, welcomed the resolution and called for more widespread use of accurate maps.

    3 outlets · Times of India
  3. 6 Sep

    The UN said it does not ban Mercator or impose a replacement, but simply encourages wider use of the Equal Earth projection.

    3 outlets · Al Jazeera
  4. 11 Sep

    In August this year, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin paid his first-ever visit to the islands, drawing condemnation from Japan.

    2 outlets · Al Jazeera

Coverage 25 articles

Where to start What different world maps get right - and what they get wrong BBC News

Suggested from 15 outlets (7 flagged as leaning left, 0 right): one of the fuller accounts and its publisher is declared as reporting rather than commentary. Note that this article was itself flagged as leans left — it wins on coverage, not on neutrality.

  • 11 Sep Japan seeks change to new UN world map over Russia 'misconception'Japan has asked the operator of a new UN world map, known as the Equal Earth cartographic projection, to revise the map because it incorrectly shows the Kuril islands belonging to Russia. The disputed islands are also known in Japan as the Northern Territories and have been at the center of a long-standing territorial dispute between Japan and Russia. 164 UN members voted to adopt the new map on Friday, but it has…The Guardian
  • 11 Sep Japan, India, Ukraine: Why some countries are uneasy about new UN mapThe United Nations General Assembly voted last week to encourage the use of new world maps that more accurately depict continents with their true sizes, with 164 countries in favor and six abstaining. The US was the only country to oppose the resolution, which promotes the Equal Earth projection over the widely used Mercator projection. India, Ukraine, and Japan have expressed concerns about how disputed territories…Al Jazeera
  • 6 Sep UN votes to approve new world map which will show true size of AfricaThe UN General Assembly has voted in favor of a resolution sponsored by Togo to replace traditional world maps with more accurate representations of nations' sizes. The "Correct the Map" resolution passed with 164 votes in support and was opposed by only the US, with six other countries abstaining. The resolution encourages governments, schools, and companies to use maps that accurately depict Africa's size, which…The Independent
  • 6 Sep U.N. approves resolution in support of map that shows Africa’s true sizeThe United Nations has approved a resolution in support of an alternative map that accurately represents Africa's size, which is often distorted on traditional Mercator projections. The resolution promotes the Equal Earth projection as a more accurate representation. The U.N.'s backing aims to correct centuries-old cartographic inaccuracies. No specific numbers or details about the resolution are provided.The Hindu
  • 6 Sep India votes in favour of UNGA resolution endorsing new world mapThe Indian government has voted in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution to correct the world map by promoting more accurate representation of continental landmasses. The resolution was adopted on Friday, September 4, with 164 votes in its favour and 8 against, including from the United States. The resolution criticizes the widespread use of the Mercator projection, which it says distorts Africa's size and…The Hindu
  • 6 Sep United Nations adopt new world map that shows Africa much bigger and cuts size of UK and USThe United Nations General Assembly has voted to adopt a new world map, known as the Equal Earth projection, which makes Africa appear larger and corrects what critics call "cartographic colonialism". The resolution, sponsored by Togo and backed by 164 member states, aims to move away from the centuries-old Mercator map. A key aspect of the change is that Africa will appear about 14 times larger than it does on the…Daily Mail
  • 6 Sep UN endorses new map that shows Africa's size more accuratelyThe United Nations General Assembly on Friday endorsed a new world map called the Equal Earth projection, which accurately represents Africa's larger size compared to Greenland. The resolution, sponsored by Togo and backed by African countries, was passed with 164 votes in favor, including opposition from only the US, and six abstentions. The new map shows continents in their true proportions, with Africa being 14…CBS News
  • 6 Sep What’s the issue with the way Africa is shown on maps? | ExplainedThe African Union has endorsed the "Correct the Map" campaign to replace the Mercator map projection with alternative projections that accurately represent landmass sizes. The AU claims that the Mercator projection distorts Africa's size compared to other continents, inflating Europe and North America instead. The Mercator projection was designed in 1569 by Gerardus Mercator to solve navigation problems for sailors…The Hindu
  • 6 Sep Can you guess the real size of each country on the new world map?The United Nations General Assembly voted 164 to 1 on Friday to adopt a resolution promoting the use of the Equal Earth projection, which shows continents in their true proportions, as an alternative to the Mercator map. The US was the only country to vote against the resolution, calling it a "radical ideological project". The resolution is nonbinding and encourages schools, institutions, and tech companies to…Al Jazeera
  • 6 Sep U.N. backs new world map showing Africa's true sizeThe United Nations General Assembly has adopted a new map that accurately represents Africa's size, with the US voting against it and six other countries abstaining from the vote. The resolution passed with no further details on the number of votes in favor provided. The UN assembly voted to adopt this new map without giving a specific date or location for the vote.CBS News
Show all 25 articles
  • 5 Sep What different world maps get right - and what they get wrongThe United Nations has adopted a new map called the Equal Earth projection to replace the widely used Mercator map, which distorts the size of continents such as Africa. The Mercator map was created in 1569 by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator for navigation purposes and still influences many modern maps, including Google Maps. The key issue with the Mercator map is that it makes countries near the equator…BBC
  • 5 Sep Australia and Africa expand, North America and Europe shrink: UN adopts new world mapThe United Nations has voted to adopt a new world map that more accurately reflects countries' true size, shifting away from the 16th-century Mercator map. The resolution, sponsored by African states, passed with 164 votes in favor and 1 against, with some critics arguing that the Mercator map creates a subtle bias towards northern nations. Africa is about 14 times larger than Greenland, which appears roughly the…Sydney Morning Herald
  • 5 Sep A bigger Africa & a smaller Europe: What changes in new UN-backed world mapThe United Nations General Assembly has endorsed a new world map called the Equal Earth projection, which accurately reflects Africa's size. 164 countries voted in favor of the resolution, while the US was opposed and six countries abstained. The new map shows Africa as about 14 times larger than Greenland, whereas under the traditional Mercator projection, they appear roughly comparable in size. The resolution…Times of India
  • 5 Sep UN adopts ‘more accurate’ world map with larger Africa and smaller North America, EuropeThe UN General Assembly voted 164-0 (with six abstentions) on Friday to adopt a new world map called the Equal Earth cartographic projection, which makes Africa larger and North America and Europe smaller. The resolution aims to provide a more accurate representation of continental landmasses, replacing the traditional Mercator projection that was designed in 1569 for maritime navigation. France co-sponsored the…National Post
  • 4 Sep UN votes to adopt new world map that reflects Africa’s true sizeThe United Nations General Assembly voted 164-1 on Friday, with six abstentions, to adopt a new world map that accurately reflects countries' true sizes. The resolution, sponsored by African states and the Bahamas, aims to correct a colonial-era injustice that has visually shrunk Africa for 450 years. The proposed "Equal Earth" projection is more accurate in portraying continent sizes, as opposed to the widely-used…Al Jazeera
  • 4 Sep While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Sept 5, 2026The United Nations General Assembly voted to adopt a new world map, known as the Equal Earth cartographic projection, which makes Africa larger while shrinking North America and Europe, with 164 countries in favor and the US voting against it. The resolution aims for a more accurate representation of world geography. Six other states abstained from the vote. The new map is intended to replace the traditional…The Straits Times
  • 4 Sep The U.N. backs a new world map showing Africa in its true relative sizeThe United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly backed a resolution, known as "Correct the Map", to change how Africa is represented on world maps. The vote was 164 to one, with six countries abstaining, and the only country voting against it was the United States. The resolution encourages the use of equal-area projections, such as Equal Earth, which more accurately show the true relative size of countries…NPR
  • 4 Sep UN approves resolution in support of map that shows Africa's true sizeThe UN General Assembly voted in favor of a resolution sponsored by African states to promote the Equal Earth projection, which accurately represents the size of continents, over the 16th-century Mercator map. The resolution passed with 164 votes in support and only 1 vote against from the US, with 6 countries abstaining. Togo led the initiative, citing that the Mercator map makes Africa appear smaller than…The Straits Times
  • 4 Sep Africa bigger, US smaller as UN votes to adopt a new world mapThe United Nations General Assembly has voted to adopt a new world map, known as the Equal Earth cartographic projection, which makes Africa appear larger and North America smaller compared to the traditional Mercator projection. The motion was carried by 164 countries, with six abstaining and the US voting against it. The resolution aims to provide a more accurate representation of continental landmasses, with the…ABC News (AU)
  • 4 Sep UN votes to adopt new world map to reflect Africa's true sizeThe UN General Assembly has voted in favor of adopting a new world map that accurately reflects the size of Africa, with 164 nations supporting the resolution. The US was the only country to vote against it, while six countries abstained. This new map is expected to replace the traditional Mercator map, which critics say distorts Africa's size by making it appear similar in size to Greenland when it is actually 14…BBC
  • 4 Sep UN adopts major map reform to show true scale of continentsThe UN General Assembly voted 164-0 (with 6 abstentions) to adopt a new map that makes Africa appear larger and shrinks North America and Europe. The resolution, led by several African countries, aims for a "more accurate representation" of world geography using the Equal Earth cartographic projection. According to cartographers, this new map preserves the relative surface areas of continents and shows their shapes…Dawn
  • 4 Sep U.N. approves resolution in support of map that shows Africa’s true sizeThe United Nations General Assembly voted in favor of a resolution sponsored by African states to promote the use of the Equal Earth projection map, which more accurately represents the size of continents. The resolution passed with 164 votes in support and one against (the US), with six countries abstaining from the vote. Togo led the initiative, with Foreign Minister Robert Dussey stating that "A fair world begins…The Hindu
  • 4 Sep UN adopts new world map showing true scale of continents; only US votes against itThe United Nations General Assembly adopted a new world map on September 4, known as the Equal Earth cartographic projection, that makes Africa bigger and shrinks North America and Europe. The resolution was supported by 164 countries, while the US voted against it and six states abstained. According to the UN, the new map improves the accuracy of continental landmass representation, but the US representative Yaryna…The Straits Times
  • 4 Sep UN adopts new map: Africa bigger, North America and Europe smallerThe UN General Assembly voted 164-1 on Friday, with six abstentions, to adopt a new map called the Equal Earth cartographic projection. The resolution, spearheaded by African countries, makes Africa appear larger while shrinking North America and Europe compared to the traditional Mercator map. This shift is aimed at achieving "a more accurate representation" of continental landmasses, according to the resolution…South China Morning Post
  • 4 Sep UN votes to adopt new world map that shows Africa’s true scaleThe United Nations General Assembly voted 164-1 with six abstentions to phase out the traditional Mercator map in favor of a more accurate one that shows Africa's true scale. The new resolution adopts the 2018 Equal Earth design, which has already been used by some countries and institutions. Togo, which spearheaded the campaign, views this as a recognition of the "lasting cognitive, educational, cultural…The Guardian

Built 2026-10-05 from 25 articles. Every sentence on this page is quoted from the linked article; nothing was written by a model except the Summary and the items marked AI, which cite their sources, and the questions and labels under "Disputed". Photos are from the outlets that covered the story, never from articles our check marks sensitive.

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