African Union Pushes for Map That Shows Africa’s True Size

The African Union (AU) has officially backed a campaign to replace the centuries-old Mercator map projection with one that more accurately portrays the size of Africa. Advocates argue that for too long, distorted maps have undermined Africa’s global significance and contributed to stereotypes about its importance.

Why the Mercator Map Distorts Africa

The Mercator projection, developed in the 16th century by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator, was designed for navigation. While it served sailors well, the map exaggerates the size of regions near the poles, such as Greenland and North America, while minimizing areas closer to the equator. This leaves Africa and South America appearing far smaller than they truly are.

Selma Malika Haddadi, deputy chairperson of the AU Commission, explained that this is more than a cartographic issue. “It might seem to be just a map, but in reality, it is not,” she said, emphasizing that the distortion fosters a false sense of Africa as “marginal,” despite its true status as the world’s second-largest continent by land area and home to more than one billion people across 55 nations. She argued that such portrayals influence education, media, and policymaking in ways that disadvantage Africa.

The ‘Correct The Map’ Campaign

To address the problem, advocacy groups Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa launched the “Correct The Map” initiative. Their proposal urges institutions to adopt the Equal Earth projection, a 2018 map designed to provide a more realistic picture of the world.

Moky Makura, executive director of Africa No Filter, called the Mercator map “the world’s longest misinformation and disinformation campaign.” She argued that it has shaped perceptions for centuries and must be replaced. Fara Ndiaye, co-founder of Speak Up Africa, noted that the issue goes deeper than geography, as the distorted image of Africa affects identity and pride. “It impacts how children see themselves,” she said, adding that her group is working to integrate the Equal Earth map into African classrooms.

The African Union has embraced this effort as part of its mission to “reclaim Africa’s rightful place on the global stage.” Haddadi said the campaign connects with broader demands for recognition of Africa’s role in history and for justice over colonialism and slavery. The AU will also work with member states to promote adoption of the Equal Earth projection and lobby international organizations.

Global Momentum for Change

Although the Mercator projection is still widely used, change is slowly happening. Google Maps, for instance, introduced a 3D globe view for desktops in 2018 but still defaults to Mercator on mobile. The World Bank says it already uses Equal Earth or Winkel Tripel projections for most of its maps and is gradually moving away from Mercator.

The campaign has also reached the United Nations. A request has been submitted to the UN’s geospatial committee, which will need to review and approve any changes. Outside Africa, leaders in the Caribbean have voiced support as well. Dorbrene O’Marde, vice chair of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, endorsed Equal Earth, describing it as a rejection of the Mercator’s “ideology of power and dominance.”

For supporters of “Correct The Map,” this shift is not just about accuracy but about dignity and fairness. Maps, they argue, shape how people view the world. By adopting the Equal Earth projection, Africa hopes to assert its rightful scale, presence, and influence in global consciousness.