Togo will ask United Nations member states to adopt a world map that more accurately reflects the true size of Africa and abandon the centuries-old Mercator projection, the country’s foreign minister announced.
The Mercator projection, created in the 16th century for navigation, distorts the relative sizes of continents, making Greenland appear as large as Africa, even though Africa is about 14 times bigger.
This distortion has long reinforced perceptions of Africa’s marginality, influencing global narratives in education, media, and policy.
The African Union has tasked Togo with leading a “Correct The Map” campaign to end the use of the Mercator projection by governments and international organizations.
The initiative, spearheaded by advocacy groups Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa, calls for the adoption of the 2018 Equal Earth projection, which aims to depict countries in proportion to their actual land area.
“The size we see of the African continent on the globe is geographically inaccurate,” Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey said Monday, urging the international community to embrace “scientific truth.”
Despite its distortions, the Mercator projection remains widely used, including by schools and major technology companies.
“Accurate representation is not just about maps—it is about agency, progress, and ensuring the world sees Africa as it truly is,” said Moky Makura, executive director of Africa No Filter.
Earlier this year, the African Union adopted a resolution promoting the Equal Earth projection and encouraging its 55 member states to transition away from the Mercator map.
Togo’s proposal to the UN is expected to build on that resolution, pushing for a global shift toward more accurate cartographic representation.
