AFRICA DEMANDS TRUE SIZE ON WORLD MAP

Africa Demands Its True Size—And the World Is Taking Notice

A Visual Campaign With Political Weight

The African Union (AU) has formally endorsed the “Correct the Map” movement—calling for governments, schools, and global institutions to ditch the centuries‑old Mercator map and adopt the Equal Earth projection instead. This shift isn’t just about aesthetics; AU leaders argue the Mercator map distorts geography and reinforces harmful stereotypes that depict Africa as “marginal” despite its significance.
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The Problem With Mercator

Developed in 1569 for sea navigation, Mercator’s projection dramatically enlarges regions close to the poles, like Europe and Greenland, while shrinking equatorial continents—Africa appears much smaller than in reality. Greenland, for example, looks roughly the same size on the traditional Mercator map, although Africa is actually 14 times larger.
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Why Equal Earth Is a Better Alternative

The Equal Earth projection, designed in 2018 by Bojan Šavrič, Bernhard Jenny, and Tom Patterson, emphasizes equal-area representation—accurately scaling all continents. It retains visual balance without exaggerating polar regions. Advocates, including educators and institutions like NASA and the World Bank, support its broader adoption.
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Reclaiming Global Perception Through Maps

Cartography isn’t neutral—it shapes identities and perspectives. AU Commission deputy chair Selma Malika Haddadi captured this succinctly:

"A map may seem innocent, but it reinforces who is seen as central or peripheral."
The campaign reflects a broader effort to decolonize how the world is taught and viewed—building pride in African heritage while resisting outdated biases.
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Early Wins, Institutional Momentum

Some progress has already been made. Several African countries are integrating Equal Earth in school curricula. International bodies like the World Bank are phasing out Mercator in favor of more accurate maps, and universities are considering broader institutional shifts.
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Quick Overview

Issue	Insight
Mercator’s Distortion	Enlarges polar regions, minimizes equatorial continents like Africa
Equal Earth Advantages	Maintains true area and visual realism without exaggerated distortion
Political Implications	Maps influence confidence, education, and international perception
Campaign Impact	Gaining traction in African education systems and among global institutions