Africa Wants Better Maps
For many years, world maps have shown Africa as smaller than it really is. Now, the African Union (AU) wants this to change. The goal is to show Africa’s true size so people can understand its importance.
How the Problem Started
The mistake comes from a map design called the Mercator projection, made in 1569 by Gerardus Mercator. It was good for sailors because it showed straight lines across the oceans.
But this map stretched areas near the top and bottom of the Earth and made areas near the middle look smaller. This meant that Europe, North America, and Greenland looked much bigger, while Africa, India, and South America looked much smaller.
On many classroom maps, Africa looks about the same size as Greenland. In reality, Africa is 14 times larger than Greenland.
The Push for Fair Maps
In April 2025, two African groups, Africa No Filter and Speak Up Africa, started the “Correct the Map” campaign. They want schools and countries to use maps like the Equal Earth projection, which shows the continents in their real size.
On August 14, 2025, the AU supported the campaign. The Caribbean Community and many teachers in the world also joined in.
Why It Matters
This fight is about more than maps. Africa is the second-largest continent, with 54 countries and over 1.4 billion people. But wrong maps have made people think Africa is smaller and less important. Historians say old maps also helped spread colonial ideas that made Europe seem more powerful.
Today, campaigners say fixing maps is about fairness and pride. As one leader explained, “Maps shape how we see the world, and how power is understood.”
The Takeaway
Maps are not just drawings. They affect how people think. For over 450 years, the Mercator map has made Africa look small. Now, the “Correct the Map” campaign wants children and adults to learn from fair maps like Equal Earth.
Quick Revision
Old maps make Africa look smaller than it really is.
This is because of the Mercator map, made long ago by Gerardus Mercator.
Africa looks like Greenland, but Africa is 14 times bigger.
In 2025, the African Union supported Correct the Map to fix this.
Fair maps like Equal Earth projection show the true size of continents.
