UN backs equal-area world maps 164-1. India votes yes, US alone no.
Where it stands
The United Nations General Assembly adopted the "Correct the Map" resolution on 4 September 2026. The vote was 164 in favour, 1 against and 6 abstentions. India voted in favour. The United States cast the only no vote. Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine abstained. Togo moved the text for the Group of African States. The resolution encourages governments, schools, international bodies and technology companies to use equal-area maps when relative size matters. The Equal Earth projection of 2018 is named as one such map. The Mercator projection makes Greenland look as large as Africa. Africa is about 14 times larger. The resolution is a recommendation. No country must change its maps. India said the text supports equal-area maps in general, not one named projection.
Background
Gerardus Mercator published his world map in 1569 for sailors. On a Mercator map a straight line keeps one compass bearing. Land far from the equator swells in size. Greenland covers about 2.2 million square kilometres. Africa covers about 30 million square kilometres. On a Mercator map the two look alike. Equal-area maps keep sizes true. Shapes bend instead. James Gall described one in 1855. Arno Peters promoted a similar map in 1973. Three cartographers published the Equal Earth projection in 2018. Two African groups started the Correct the Map campaign in Dakar on 7 April 2025. The African Union Commission backed the campaign on 14 August 2025.
How it developed
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7 April 2025 to 3 September 2026How it started
A 2025 campaign in Dakar grew into an African Union initiative at the UN
On 7 April 2025 two advocacy groups started the Correct the Map campaign in Dakar, Senegal. The groups are Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa. The campaign asks the United Nations, the World Bank, schools and media to use the Equal Earth projection. On 14 August 2025 the African Union Commission backed the campaign. Deputy Chairperson Selma Malika Haddadi said a wrong map distorts how the world sees Africa. In February 2026 the African Union Assembly endorsed the initiative at its 39th summit in Addis Ababa. Togo took the text to the United Nations for the Group of African States. On 3 September 2026 Togo's Foreign Minister Robert Dussey presented draft resolution A/80/L.104.
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4 September 2026, about 9 pm ISTNew fact
General Assembly adopts Correct the Map by 164 votes to 1
On 4 September 2026 the General Assembly adopted draft resolution A/80/L.104 by a recorded vote. The vote was 164 in favour, 1 against and 6 abstentions. The United States voted no. Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine abstained. Togo's Foreign Minister Robert Dussey introduced the text for the Group of African States. The resolution encourages governments, schools, international organisations and technology companies to use equal-area maps when relative size matters. The Equal Earth projection is named as one option. The text also asks for teaching about the limits of any flat map.
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4 September 2026, before and after the voteOfficial response
US calls the resolution ideological. Ukraine abstains over Equal Earth maps.
Yaryna Ferencevych, the Deputy US Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council, gave the US explanation of vote. Ferencevych said the resolution mocks the work and purpose of the United Nations. Ferencevych said the text belongs to a larger and more radical ideological project. Ferencevych said such resolutions are barnacles on the UN's work. Ukraine's representative said published Equal Earth maps show Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine in an unacceptable way. Ukraine abstained. Ireland, for the European Union, said the resolution covers only education and geographical literacy. Ireland said the text does not touch sovereignty or borders.
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4 September 2026, about 9:25 pm ISTOfficial response
India votes yes. India asks for neutrality among map projections.
India voted in favour. India's representative gave an explanation of vote after the vote. India said the resolution should be read as support for equal-area projections in general. India said the text does not endorse the Equal Earth projection or any other single projection. India said equal-area maps help because they keep the relative sizes of land masses. India said no single projection suits every purpose. India asked that the resolution stay neutral on technology and method. India said countries, institutions and mapmakers should choose the projection that fits their needs.
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4 September 2026, late evening ISTSettled
African Union welcomes the vote. Togo says Mercator stays for navigation.
The African Union Commission welcomed the adoption on 4 September 2026. Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf congratulated Togo and its President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé. Youssouf said Africa must be shown in its true dimensions and its rightful place in the world. The AU said the resolution promotes equal-area maps such as Equal Earth in classrooms, media and international institutions. Togo's foreign ministry said the resolution does not challenge the Mercator projection for sea and air navigation. A General Assembly resolution is a recommendation. The resolution binds no country. Each government, school or company decides its own maps.
Why it matters for UPSC
For GS1, know why the Mercator projection inflates land far from the equator. Know also why an equal-area map keeps size true but bends shape. NCERT Class 11 Practical Work in Geography, Chapter 4, covers both. For GS2, remember that a General Assembly resolution is a recommendation under Article 10 of the UN Charter. Only Security Council decisions bind members, under Article 25. India voted yes. India also asked that no single projection be endorsed.
Key terms
Sources (13)
- African Union · official · Congratulations to the delegation of Togo and the Africa Group on the adoption of resolution A/80/L.104, 'Correct the Map' — first endorsed by the African Union Assembly in February (X post, 4 September 2026)5 Sep, 10:45 am
- NPR · African Union backs campaign to replace Mercator map that distorts Africa's size (21 August 2025)5 Sep, 10:45 am
- UN Meetings Coverage and Press Releases · official · General Assembly Adopts Text to 'Correct the Map', among Others Proclaiming Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development, Child Marriage Elimination Day (GA/12779, 4 September 2026)5 Sep, 10:45 am
- Business Standard · Africa now bigger on world map: 164 nations back UN resolution, US opposes (ANI copy, 5 September 2026)5 Sep, 10:45 am
- UN News · official · UN tells the world: Stop making Africa look small (4 September 2026)5 Sep, 10:45 am
- United States Mission to the United Nations · official · Explanation of Vote Before the Vote for UNGA 80 Adoption on the Resolution to 'Correct the Map' (Yaryna Ferencevych, 4 September 2026)5 Sep, 10:45 am
- NPR · The U.N. backs a new world map showing Africa in its true relative size (4 September 2026)5 Sep, 10:45 am
- UN Meetings Coverage and Press Releases · official · General Assembly Adopts Text to 'Correct the Map' (GA/12779, 4 September 2026): explanations of vote by the United States, Ukraine and Ireland5 Sep, 10:45 am
- United Nations · official · General Assembly, 80th session, 114th plenary meeting, 4 September 2026 — transcript (India's explanation of vote at 53:09)5 Sep, 10:45 am
- UN Web TV · official · General Assembly: 114th Plenary meeting, 80th session (4 September 2026; Item 13, draft resolution A/80/L.104)5 Sep, 10:45 am
- African Union Commission · official · Communiqué du Président de la Commission de l'Union africaine sur l'adoption de la résolution « Correct The Map » (4 September 2026)5 Sep, 10:45 am
- Al Jazeera · UN votes to adopt new world map that reflects Africa's true size (4 September 2026)5 Sep, 10:45 am
- ANI · UNGA adopts 'Correct the Map' resolution which depicts Africa's true size; AU Chairperson welcomes move (5 September 2026)5 Sep, 10:45 am