GoKawiilUN General Assembly votes to replace Mercator map with Equal Earth projection
On September 4, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution to phase out the 16th-century Mercator map projection in favor of the Equal Earth projection, which more accurately represents the relative sizes of continents and countries. The Mercator map, created by Gerardus Mercator in 1569, has long been criticized for exaggerating the size of Northern Hemisphere landmasses like Canada and Russia while shrinking equatorial regions such as Africa.
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Because the Mercator projection remains the default for classrooms, government agencies and web mapping tools like Google Maps, its distortions have subtly reinforced perceptions that wealthier, higher-latitude nations are geographically dominant. Adopting Equal Earth as a global standard could reshape how students, policymakers and the public visualize global proportions, though Mercator's navigational usefulness means it will likely persist in specialized scientific contexts.
- The UN voted on September 4 to phase out the Mercator map in favor of the Equal Earth projection.
- Mercator distorts landmass sizes, making Northern Hemisphere countries like Canada and Russia appear far larger than they are relative to Africa.
- Geographers say the shift carries symbolic and educational significance, though Mercator will still be used for navigation-related purposes.
Replogle Globes World Classic Desk Globe — If the Mercator debate has you craving an undistorted view of Earth, nothing beats a real globe — land masses in their true relative sizes, no projection compromises. A classic Replogle desk globe is a handsome conversation piece for a home office or classroom and a great teaching tool for the kids after reading about the UN's switch to Equal Earth.
See Replogle Globes World Classic Desk Globe on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: nature.com — Shenai, 2026-09-09
Published there as: “Hello Equal Earth: what the UN's new world map will change”
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