African Union Joins Campaign to Replace Mercator Map, Advocating for More Accurate Representation of Africa’s Size

The African Union has joined forces with advocacy groups to push for the adoption of a more accurate representation of Africa’s size on maps, aiming to correct the distorted perception of the continent globally.

In an interview with Reuters, Selma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission, highlighted that misrepresentation of Africa’s size on maps influences perceptions across various sectors, including media, education, and policy-making. She emphasized, “Although it may seem trivial, the map significantly impacts our collective understanding of Africa.”

Campaigns such as “Correct The Map” spearheaded by organizations like Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa are gathering momentum, with the petition currently falling short of its target of 5,000 signatures. The campaign’s objective is to redefine perceptions about Africa, showcasing its true scale, power, and potential.

Advocates for “Correct The Map” campaign are advocating global entities to transition from the commonly used Mercator map to the Equal Earth map. Developed by cartographer Tom Patterson in 2017, the Equal Earth map is an equal-area projection that depicts the true relative sizes of countries and continents but distorts their shapes. In contrast, the Mercator map, while preserving shape, distorts actual sizes.

Mercator’s map, introduced by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator in 1569, revolutionized navigation during the age of exploration and colonialism due to its ability to allow explorers to plot their journeys in a straight line without adjusting compasses. However, on Mercator’s map, Africa appears similar in size to Greenland, while in reality, it is approximately three times larger, Patterson noted.

Patterson explained that institutions may continue using the Mercator map to maintain consistency in shapes as users zoom in, avoiding distortion of circular objects into ovals. However, organizations like NASA and National Geographic have started adopting the Equal Earth map, with the World Bank phasing out the Mercator map due to its commitment to accurate representation of all people on all platforms.

Google Maps introduced an optional Mercator map option on its desktop version in 2018. Efforts have been made to engage the United Nations in this mission, although the UN has yet to respond to requests for comment. The campaign organizers concluded, “By implementing this change, we equip future generations with an undistorted and respectful perspective of Africa, focusing on its opportunities rather than misrepresentations.”