The African Union (AU) is calling for a new world map that reflects the true size of Africa
Addis Ababa, August 14, 2025 – The African Union (AU) has announced its support for an international campaign to replace the 500-year-old Mercator projection with a map that more accurately reflects the true dimensions of Africa.
Created in the 16th century by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator to facilitate maritime navigation, this projection distorts land masses: it greatly enlarges North America and Greenland while shrinking Africa and South America. According to advocates of the Correct The Map campaign, this distortion reinforces a biased perception of Africa’s role in the world.
“Even though it may seem like just a map, the Mercator projection perpetuates the false idea that Africa is marginal,” said Selma Malika Haddadi, Vice-Chairperson of the AU Commission. “These misleading representations influence education, media narratives, and even international policy.”
As the world’s second-largest continent, Africa is home to 54 nations and over a billion people. Supporters argue that it is time to correct its geographic representation. The Correct The Map movement, spearheaded by NGOs Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa, is advocating for the adoption of the Equal Earth projection (2018), designed to provide a more accurate depiction of continental sizes.
“The current size of Africa on the map is wrong. This is arguably the oldest disinformation campaign in the world, and it must stop,” stated Moky Makura, Executive Director of Africa No Filter.
For the AU, this campaign is part of its broader goal of “reclaiming Africa’s rightful place on the global stage,” within the wider debates on reparations for slavery and colonialism. The continental body plans to coordinate its member states to promote the Equal Earth projection within educational systems and international institutions.
Despite these efforts, the Mercator projection remains widely used, particularly in school textbooks and digital applications. While Google Maps replaced it with a 3D globe on its desktop version in 2018, it continues to be the default projection on mobile. The campaign now hopes to convince major players such as the United Nations and the World Bank to make the shift.
