The United Nations General Assembly has endorsed the Equal Earth map projection as a more accurate alternative to the traditional Mercator projection, which critics argue distorts the relative sizes of continents and reinforces perceptions of global power rooted in a Eurocentric worldview. The resolution, adopted this month, received overwhelming support with 164 countries voting in favor, one opposing vote from the United States, and six abstentions.
The Equal Earth projection, developed in 2018 by cartographers Tom Patterson, Bojan Šavrič, and Bernhard Jenny, aims to present a more balanced visual representation of landmasses, particularly emphasizing a realistic portrayal of Africa’s size. Its adoption was proposed by Togo and is intended to gradually replace the Mercator map on educational materials and official websites.
Tom Patterson, a U.S.-based cartographer known for his work with national parks, noted the sudden surge in global interest since the UN vote, which forced him out of retirement to assist government officials seeking clarification. He and his colleagues emphasized that the map itself is strictly a mathematical representation of the Earth’s surface without political borders or colors. However, some confusion and criticisms have emerged due to versions available on Patterson’s website that include geopolitical boundaries and national labels.
The United States opposed the resolution, with its representative Yaryna Ferencevych dismissing related initiatives as distractions. The Equal Earth projection reduces the apparent size of the U.S. and Greenland, the latter a territory previously highlighted by former President Donald Trump’s remarks. Other countries raised concerns as well: Japan sought revisions over the depiction of the disputed Kuril Islands appearing as Russian territory, while Ukraine abstained due to the coloring of Crimea, which contrasts with the rest of its territory under Russian control. Ukrainian officials argued this violated international law.
The developers stressed that such disputes stem from misinterpretations of the map’s intent, noting that the projection is purely a geometric exercise without any intention to influence political boundaries. They are adjusting maps available to the public to better align with current geopolitical sensitivities, including updating country names such as renaming Turkey to Türkiye.
Bernhard Jenny highlighted the inherent challenges in cartography, explaining that representing the Earth’s curved surface on a flat map necessitates compromises. Unlike the Mercator projection, which maintains consistent navigation bearings but enlarges northern hemisphere countries, the Equal Earth map prioritizes area accuracy, though it distorts some peripheral countries such as New Zealand.
Previous alternatives like the Gall-Peters projection have tried to correct size distortions but attracted criticism for visual elongation. The Equal Earth projection balances scientific accuracy with aesthetic considerations, a combination the developers describe as central to modern cartography.
Bojan Šavrič expressed that the UN’s recognition of their work underscores the importance of promoting map literacy worldwide, emphasizing that no single map can perfectly portray the globe without compromise. The resolution does not ban the Mercator projection but encourages use of projections offering more accurate size representations.
Jenny observed that the UN’s engagement with map projections marks a significant moment for the field, noting the unusual level of attention devoted to what is often seen as a technical matter. For the three cartographers, the endorsement of their projection represents both a professional milestone and a catalyst for greater global awareness about the complexities of representing the world’s geography.