(3 Minutes Read)
Created for navigation, the Mercator projection enlarges land near the poles, like North America and Greenland, while shrinking Africa and South America. The map falsely portrays Africa as “marginal,” despite being the world’s second-largest continent and home to over a billion people.
The African Union (AU) is backing a campaign to scrap the widely used 16th-century Mercator map. It said that the old map distorts the size of Africa and reinforces harmful stereotypes.
Created for navigation, the Mercator projection enlarges land near the poles, like North America and Greenland, while shrinking Africa and South America. The map falsely portrays Africa as “marginal,” despite being the world’s second-largest continent and home to over a billion people.
The ‘Correct The Map’ campaign, led by advocacy groups Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa, is calling for the adoption of the 2018 Equal Earth projection, which more accurately shows countries’ true proportions. The AU says the move aligns with its goal of “reclaiming Africa’s rightful place on the global stage.”
Critics argue that Mercator’s distortions shape how Africa is seen in education, media, and policy, influencing identity and pride, especially among children. Campaigners want Equal Earth adopted in African schools and by global bodies such as the UN and World Bank.
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While Google Maps switched to a 3D globe on desktop in 2018, its mobile app still uses Mercator. The World Bank says it is already phasing out Mercator in favor of more accurate projections.
