What different world maps get right - and what they get wrong
As the UN adopts a new world map to reflect Africa's true size, let's take a closer look at what different maps get right and wrong.
10 sourcesHeat 8.9Updated 4h ago
UN votes to adopt new world map to reflect Africa's true size
12 articles from BBC News, NPR World, CBS News, Fox News and 6 more.
News Clarion synthesisAcross 10 sources
The United Nations General Assembly voted 164-1 to adopt the Equal Earth map, which more accurately represents Africa's true size compared to the traditional Mercator projection used since the 16th century. The United States was the sole nation to vote against the resolution, while six countries abstained. The new map shows Africa larger and Europe smaller than they appear on Mercator projections, which have historically depicted Africa as smaller than its actual size. The resolution, sponsored by African nations, aims to counter perceptions that the continent is peripheral and encourages governments worldwide to adopt the more accurate Equal Earth projection.
AI-generated summary of 12 source articles. Not original reporting — every claim links to its source below.
How outlets framed it
3 anglesUS opposition and isolation
Several outlets led with the United States voting alone against the resolution, emphasizing America's singular stance rather than the broad international consensus.
NPR World · BBC News · CBS News · Fox News
Historical cartographic distortion
These outlets foregrounded how Africa has been systematically underrepresented in maps since the 16th century, treating the new map as a correction to longstanding geographic misrepresentation.
CBS News · France 24 · Fortune · Al Jazeera
Regional size redistribution
Rather than focusing on Africa alone, these outlets emphasized the relative size changes across multiple continents, highlighting which regions appear larger or smaller on the new projection.
Times of India · Japan Times · Euronews
AI analysis of how 10 publishers framed this story, based on their headlines and summaries. A description of the coverage, not a judgement of any outlet.
Full coverage
The U.N. backs a new world map showing Africa in its true relative size
The U.N. has backed a new map showing Africa in its true relative size, with the U.S. standing alone in opposition.
UN votes to adopt new world map to reflect Africa's true size
The Togo-sponsored resolution was backed by 164 nations - the US the only nation to vote against it.
U.N. backs new world map showing Africa's true size
The United Nations General Assembly voted to adopt a new map that more accurately depicts Africa's size. The U.S. was the only country to vote against the map, while six other countries abstained.
UN endorses new map that shows Africa's size more accurately
Africa has long been represented as smaller than its real size in maps, which are largely based on an ancient projection.
United Nations votes 164-1 for Equal Earth map after US brands it 'radical ideological project'
The United Nations adopted the Equal Earth map showing Africa's true size, but the United States was the sole nation to vote against the resolution.
UN approves resolution in support of map that shows Africa's true size
The United Nations on Friday voted for a shift away from the 16th-century Mercator global map towards one more accurately reflecting countries' true size, a resolution sponsored by African states to counter perceptions that the continent is peripheral.
Paris drops Mercator projection: France now looks smaller on world maps
France is redrawing its world map: deeming the Mercator projection misleading, the foreign ministry will drop it in favour of a map that better reflects actual continental sizes, especially Africa.
U.N. General Assembly endorses a new world map that represents Africa more accurately in its larger size. Only the U.S. voted against it
The vote encourages governments and institutions around the world to replace the traditional Mercator map, commonly used since the 16th Century, with the Equal Earth projection.
UN approves new map showing Africa’s true size
The UN General Assembly has backed a resolution to change to maps that more accurately show the true size of Africa.
Africa bigger and U.S. smaller: U.N. adopts new map
The new map — known as the Equal Earth cartographic projection — improves "the accuracy of the cartographic representation of the world," the resolution said.
