UN votes to adopt new map that makes our world look very different

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   UN General Assembly Adopts Equal Earth Map to Correct Geographic Distortion

   The United Nations General Assembly voted 164-1 to replace traditional world maps with the Equal Earth map. This new standard accurately represents the relative size of Africa while reducing the depicted size of Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Togo sponsored the resolution with support from the 55-member African Union. The United States was the only member state to vote against the measure. This change aims to eliminate centuries of geographic distortion and shift geopolitical perceptions without altering physical geography.

   Why it matters

   Traditional maps often distort the size of landmasses, typically inflating Northern Hemisphere nations. Advocacy groups and African nations pushed for this change to ensure a more equitable visual representation of the globe.

   What is confirmed

   • The UN General Assembly passed the resolution to adopt the Equal Earth map by a vote of 164-1.
   • The United States cast the single opposing vote.
   • Togo sponsored the measure with support from the 55-member African Union.
   • The Equal Earth map accurately portrays the relative size of Africa while reducing the size of Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

   What to watch next

   • Implementation of the map across UN official documents and educational materials
   • Reactions from member states regarding the shift in geopolitical representation
   Sources used for this update (5)

   1. baynews9.com — New Clearwater Adopt-a-Drain program aims to protect environment, reduce flooding
   2. jen.jiji.com — Pensions, Fornero: "Giorgetti contradicts himself, the League's proposal also creates unequal treatment"
   3. jen.jiji.com — Russia, Putin: "No attack on the EU". Lavrov reverses the threat: "Short war if Europe strikes us"
   4. www.csmonitor.com — Remapping fresh worldviews
   5. www.yahoo.com — Q&A: South Dakota’s next attorney general aims to undo criminal justice reforms, just not right away
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2. 1d ago

   UN Adopts New World Map Correcting Africa Size

   The United Nations General Assembly voted on Friday to replace the traditional world map with the Equal Earth map, a change that accurately portrays the true relative size of Africa while reducing the size of the United Kingdom, the United States, and Europe. Passed by a 164-1 vote, the resolution concludes a campaign driven by advocacy groups and African countries to eliminate centuries of geographic distortion. Togo sponsored the measure alongside support from the 55-member African Union, while the United States cast the single opposing vote.

   Why it matters

   Traditional maps based on the Mercator projection historically enlarged landmasses further away from the equator while shrinking those near it, which diminished the perceived scale of African nations. France previously adopted a fairer world map ahead of the United Nations vote. The newly endorsed map also alters the visual representation of Australia.

   What is confirmed

   • The United Nations General Assembly voted on Friday to adopt a new world map that reflects countries true relative sizes.
   • The resolution passed with 164 member states in favor and was opposed by the United States.
   • The Correct the Map resolution was sponsored by Togo and backed by the 55-member African Union.

   Still unconfirmed

   • France previously adopted a fairer world map ahead of the United Nations vote.

   What to watch next

   • Implementation of the new map across international organizations and educational curricula
   • Official responses from other member states that did not vote in favor
   Sources used for this update (8)

   1. www.dailymail.com — United Nations adopt new world map that shows Africa much bigger and cuts size of UK and US
   2. www.eyeradio.org — BBC: UN votes to adopt new world map to reflect Africa’s true size
   3. timesofindia.indiatimes.com — A bigger Africa & a smaller Europe: What changes in new UN-backed world map
   4. www.yahoo.com — Stop letting AI and other digital technology do your thinking for you | Opinion
   5. www.dailymail.com — Australia gets a new shape in world map - as debate erupts over controversial changes
   6. newsone.com — US Votes Against New UN World Map Correcting Africa's Size
   7. timesofindia.indiatimes.com — Who are Jessica Pegula’s parents? Meet billionaire dad Terry and Kim Pegula, the family behind her tennis career
   8. ca.news.yahoo.com — ‘Making Marie Antoinette’ Review: The Late Eleanor Coppola Bares Her Soul In A Moving Doc About Daughter Sofia’s 2006 Film – Telluride Film Festival
   confidence 100%
3. 3d ago

   UN Adopts New World Map Displaying Africa's True Scale

   The United Nations General Assembly voted on Friday to adopt a new world map that reflects countries' true relative sizes. Endorsed by a 164-1 vote, the resolution replaces the traditional Mercator projection with the Equal Earth map. African nations spearheaded the proposal to correct centuries of geographic distortion, which made Africa appear much smaller than it actually is on standard maps. France previously adopted a fairer world map ahead of the UN vote. The United States voted against the resolution.

   Why it matters

   Traditional global cartography relies heavily on the Mercator projection, a 16th-century navigation tool that severely distorts landmasses by enlarging regions further from the equator. Critics argue this longstanding visual bias diminishes the perceived scale and importance of continents like Africa. The newly endorsed Equal Earth map addresses these imbalances by presenting a more geographically balanced representation of the globe.

   What is confirmed

   • The United Nations General Assembly voted on Friday to adopt a new world map that reflects countries' true relative sizes.
   • The UN General Assembly voted 164-1 to endorse the Equal Earth map, which shows Africa's true size compared to the distorted Mercator projection.
   • The United States voted against the resolution.
   • France adopted a fairer world map ahead of the UN vote on more balanced geography.

   What to watch next

   • Implementation of the new Equal Earth map across UN publications and official materials
   • Potential adoption of the new map by other member states following the US vote against the resolution
   Sources used for this update (11)

   1. The New York Times — U.N. to Vote on African Proposal for a New World Map
   2. The Guardian — UN to vote on adopting new world map that shows Africa’s true scale
   3. The Independent — Even Trump has been fooled by the distorted world map – why it’s time to change it
   4. cnn.com — UN to vote on adopting new map that would make our world look very different
   5. Le Monde.fr — France adopts fairer world map ahead of UN vote on more balanced geography
   6. www.cnn.com — UN votes to adopt new map that makes our world look very different
   7. nypost.com — UN endorses new world map showing Africa’s true size — after US voted against it
   8. www.dailymail.com — The map of the world as you know it will completely change to show countries' true sizes under UN resolution - with Africa much larger
   9. www.nation.com.pk — El Niño set to become very strong, raising risks of extreme weather into 2027
   10. www.yahoo.com — UN votes to adopt new world map reflecting Africa's true size
   11. www.aol.com — UN General Assembly endorses a new world map that shows more accurately Africa's size
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