Africa wants its true size on the world map

"That marginalization has real-life consequences, Correct the Map argues. Africa's smaller-than-actual cartographic footprint in the Mercator projection contributes to the global lack of attention for Africa. Some campaigners go even further, claiming not only that Mercator negatively affects how the world sees Africa, but also how Africans see themselves. The cartographically diminished size of their continent affects their identity and pride, they say."

""(Mercator) is the world's longest misinformation and disinformation campaign, and it just simply has to stop," Moky Makura, executive director of advocacy group Africa No Filter, told The group champions the introduction of the Equal Earth projection, which aims to give Africa its magnitudinal due. According to AU Commission deputy chair Selma Malika Haddadi, the Mercator projection misrepresents Africa as "marginal," while it is in fact the world's second-largest continent in both area (after Asia but ahead of North America) and population (after Asia but ahead of Europe)."

Maps using the Mercator projection understate Africa's true size, making Russia appear larger despite Africa being nearly twice its area (30.4 million km² versus 17.1 million km²). The African Union has joined Correct the Map to urge governments and international organizations to adopt the Equal Earth projection. Campaigners argue Mercator's diminished cartographic footprint reduces global attention on Africa and harms African identity and pride. The Equal Earth projection is proposed for classrooms to restore proportional representation and to help reclaim Africa's place on the global stage. Advocates emphasize that maps shape perceptions of power and learning.

Read at Big Think