UN General Assembly Endorses Equal Earth Map Projection

The UN General Assembly voted 164 to one, with six abstentions, to endorse the Equal Earth projection over the Mercator projection for general world maps on 4 September 2026. The United States cast the lone dissenting vote, with its delegate arguing that the institution was wasting time on 16th century map projects instead of genuine problems. The African Union had previously adopted Equal Earth as continental policy earlier in the year.

The Mercator projection, created in the 16th century, was designed as a navigation tool to preserve compass bearings. While it preserves shapes, it distorts the size of landmasses as they move further from the equator, making regions like Greenland appear larger and Africa appear smaller than they are in reality. In contrast, the Equal Earth projection is an equal area projection that represents the relative sizes of continents and countries more accurately.

Experts note that no single map is perfect because a 3D globe cannot be replicated on a 2D surface without compromise. While the Equal Earth projection is appropriate for comparing relative sizes, conformal projections like the Mercator remain useful for navigation. Consequently, the resolution is unlikely to cause an immediate overhaul of GPS devices or digital navigation services.

Outlets with a center left lean frame the resolution as an act of cognitive justice and memorial reparation, arguing that the Mercator projection contributed to the historical erasure and marginalization of Africa. Conversely, outlets with a center right lean frame the event as a technical and educational shift, focusing on the geographic distinctions between different map projections and their specific applications.