A United Nations resolution on Sept. 4, 2006 adopted a new world map that drew ire from Washington, as it shows the African continent bigger and North America and Europe shrinking. The vote was supported by 164 countries, while the United States voted against it and six other states abstained.

African Union countries, led by Togo, moved the resolution, “Correct the Map,” aiming to address a colonial-era injustice that has visually shrunk Africa for 450 years, shaping how the continent is perceived in media, education, and policy around the world.

The new map — known as the Equal Earth cartographic projection — improves “the accuracy of the cartographic representation of the world” by seeking “a more accurate representation” of continental landmasses, the resolution said.

The U.N. General Assembly took this major step toward correcting distortions in commonly used world maps, particularly the Mercator projection, which misrepresents the relative size of continents and makes Africa and other equatorial regions appear smaller than they are. The resolution called on countries and international organizations to adopt more accurate map projections for representing areas and to gradually move away from the Mercator projection, which has remained one of the most widely used mapping systems for centuries.

Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator developed the projection in 1569 to meet a practical need in maritime navigation. It represents straight lines on a map as corresponding to compass directions, making it easier for sailors to plot their courses. However, this advantage came at the expense of accurately representing land areas, as regions near the poles appear significantly larger than they actually are.

The effects of this distortion are particularly evident in the representation of Africa. Under the Mercator projection, Africa appears similar in size to Greenland, even though Africa is approximately 14 times larger. African countries argue that this distortion is not merely a technical issue, but has contributed over decades to the “symbolic shrinking” of Africa and reinforced an imbalanced image of the world in the collective imagination.

Foreign Minister Robert Dussey of Togo said, “Maps shape our understanding of the world.” They “guide education, nourish the imagination, and influence collective perceptions,” he said.

The minister said that presenting a distorted image of the world can reinforce perceptions that are passed down from one generation to the next. He stressed that the initiative is not directed against any particular country or civilization, but rather seeks to promote knowledge based on scientific accuracy and equal dignity among peoples.