FRANCE
September 4, 2026 · 18:31 UTC
UN ditches Mercator map to adopt more accurate one reflecting Africa's true size
Overview
The UN General Assembly on Friday voted to shift away from the 16th-century Mercator map, designed by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator, for a more accurate one reflecting the true size of continents. The resolution, spearheaded by several African countries and co-sponsored by France, was backed by 164 countries. The US voted against and six other states abstained.
Short history
The Mercator map came from Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator in the 1500s. It let sailors plot straight-line courses on flat paper but stretched land sizes farther from the equator. The UN General Assembly voted on 4 September 2026 to drop it for a different projection. A resolution led by several African countries and co-sponsored by France passed with 164 votes in favor. The United States voted against it and six countries abstained.
Predictive model
The UN General Assembly voted 164-1 with six abstentions on September 4 to drop the Mercator projection in favor of a map that shows Africa and other southern landmasses at their actual scale. The resolution came from African sponsors with French co-sponsorship and marks the first formal UN shift away from the 16th-century Flemish chart that had been standard in its offices and materials. The US cast the lone no vote.
The change will roll out first in UN publications and training materials. Further adoption depends on whether member states update their own school curricula and official atlases; past map debates have taken years to fade from classrooms even after scientific agreement. No procedural deadline exists in the resolution, so the practical timeline hinges on national education ministries and cartographic suppliers.
This sits outside the Gulf realignment and US-Iran conflict ladders.
Next visible step is the UN secretariat issuing the replacement maps. Horizon: 12-36 months before most UN field offices switch.