Africa bigger and America smaller – UN approves new map

 

TT

 

Published 20.49

 

The world map from the Equal Earth initiative, which the UN General Assembly supported in a vote on Friday. Photo: Equal Earth/Handout/AFP/TT

The UN General Assembly has voted in favor of a resolution on a new world map, which will provide a more truthful representation of the continents.

The map depicts Africa in a larger format than on most traditional maps, while Europe and North America are shrunk.

The new map – known as Equal Earth – is described in the UN resolution as a “reasonable alternative to improve the accuracy of the cartographic representation of the world”.

The resolution urges member states to start using the new map, instead of the traditional Mercator projection.