AU backs Equal Earth to replace Mercator globally

The African Union has formally endorsed a global campaign to replace the long-used Mercator map with an alternative that more accurately reflects Africa’s size, arguing that the traditional projection distorts perceptions of continents and reinforces unequal power dynamics. The campaign advocates adopting the 2018 Equal Earth projection, with aspirations for broader adoption by international institutions, educators, and technology platforms. The move is framed not only as a cartographic choice but as a step toward reshaping global narratives about Africa’s role in the world.

The Mercator projection, created in 1569 to aid navigation by preserving straight-line courses, results in notable distortions as distance from the equator increases. Regions near the poles appear exaggerated in size, while equatorial areas, including Africa, Asia and parts of South America, look smaller by comparison. Proponents note that this distortion has long influenced education, media coverage and international policy, contributing to a perception of Africa as marginal despite its status as the world’s second-largest continent and home to more than a billion people. The campaign argues that adopting...