Maps get it wrong: Activists call to show Africa’s true size
The African Union urges global use of accurate map projections, challenging Mercator’s distortion of Africa’s true size and global perception.
The African Union has officially called on international organizations to adopt a mapping projection that more accurately reflects the true size of the African continent. One of the most commonly used projections is the Mercator projection, which was designed for navigation and preserves direction well. However, its directional advantages come at a cost—it significantly distorts the size of landmasses, especially near the poles and around the equator.
For example, although Africa is roughly 14 times larger than Greenland, the Mercator projection makes Greenland appear much larger than it actually is. Diplomats from the African Union argue that the use of such maps is a political decision that influences how Africa is perceived globally.
Facts are facts:
— Correct the Map (@CorrectTheMap) April 17, 2025
Total area of Greenland: 2,166,086km
Total area Africa: 30,365,000km.
Yet both are depicted the same on world maps? Make it make sense. It’s time to start living in the truth. Sign the petition today: https://t.co/Sc8NRH5z8A pic.twitter.com/YhzAAtHLZD
“It might seem to be just a map, but in reality, it is not,” said AU Commission Deputy Chairperson Selma Malika Haddadi in an interview with Reuters. The Mercator projection, originally developed for navigation, preserves direction but distorts size—especially near the poles—making regions like Africa appear much smaller than they are.
One organization driving the call to change the maps is Correct the Map.
“For over 450 years, we have based our understanding of Africa, and the world, on a map that is wrong! In fact, you could fit the United States, China, India, Japan, Mexico and much of Europe into Africa and still have land to spare,” reads the campaign’s website.
Rather than the Mercator projection, the organizers are calling for the mass adoption of the Equal Earth Projection, which advocates argue “more accurately reflects the true size of Africa.”
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