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<\/figure>\nThe African Union has backed a campaign to end the use by governments and international organizations of the 16th-century Mercator map of the world in favor of one that more accurately displays Africa\u2019s size.<\/strong><\/p>\n Created by cartographer Gerardus Mercator for navigation, the projection distorts continent sizes, enlarging areas near the poles like North America and Greenland while shrinking Africa and South America.<\/p>\n \u201cIt might seem to be just a map, but in reality, it is not,\u201d AU Commission deputy chairperson Selma Malika Haddadi told Reuters, saying the Mercator fostered a false impression that Africa was \u201cmarginal,\u201d despite being the world\u2019s second-largest continent by area, with over a billion people. The AU has 55 member states.<\/p>\n Such stereotypes influence media, education and policy, she said.<\/p>\n Criticism of the Mercator map is not new, but the \u2018Correct The Map\u2019 campaign led by advocacy groups Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa has revived the debate, urging organizations to adopt the 2018 Equal Earth projection, which tries to reflect countries\u2019 true sizes.<\/p>\n \u201cThe current size of the map of Africa is wrong,\u201d Moky Makura, executive director of Africa No Filter, said. \u201cIt\u2019s the world\u2019s longest misinformation and disinformation campaign, and it just simply has to stop.\u201d<\/p>\n Chart of the world as per Mercator\u2019s projection, circa 1798, with the most recent discoveries. \u201cWe\u2019re actively working on promoting a curriculum where the Equal Earth projection will be the main standard across all (African) classrooms,\u201d Ndiaye said, adding she hoped it would also be the one used by global institutions, including Africa-based ones.<\/p>\n Haddadi said the AU endorsed the campaign, adding it aligned with its goal of \u201creclaiming Africa\u2019s rightful place on the global stage\u201d amid growing calls for reparations for colonialism and slavery.<\/p>\n The AU will advocate for wider map adoption and discuss collective actions with member states, Haddadi added.<\/p>\n The Mercator projection is still widely used, including by schools and tech companies. Google Maps switched from Mercator on desktop to a 3D globe view in 2018, though users can still switch back to the Mercator if they prefer.<\/p>\n On the mobile app, however, the Mercator projection remains the default.<\/p>\n \u2018Correct The Map\u2019 wants organizations like the World Bank and the United Nations to adopt the Equal Earth map. A World Bank spokesperson said they already use the Winkel-Tripel or Equal Earth for static maps and are phasing out Mercator on web maps.<\/p>\n The campaign said it has sent a request to the UN geospatial body, UN-GGIM. A UN spokesperson said that once received it must be reviewed and approved by a committee of experts.<\/p>\n Other regions are backing the AU\u2019s efforts. Dorbrene O\u2019Marde, Vice Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Reparations Commission, endorsed Equal Earth as a rejection of Mercator map\u2019s \u201cideology of power and dominance.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Hulton Archive\/Getty Images
Chart of the world as per Mercator\u2019s projection, circa 1798, with the most recent discoveries.
Fara Ndiaye, co-founder of Speak Up Africa, said the Mercator affected Africans\u2019 identity and pride, especially children who might encounter it early in school.<\/p>\n