A growing campaign led by African advocacy groups is challenging the continued use of the distorted Mercator projection, which shrinks Africa’s true size while enlarging regions near the poles. The African Union recently endorsed the movement.

Advocacy groups are urging schools, organizations and media outlets to adopt the Equal Earth projection, which more accurately reflects the continent’s scale and significance. They argue that correcting the map is not only about Africa but also about global truth and accuracy, countering long-standing biases shaped by outdated cartography.

Mark Monmonier, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Geography and the Environment, says the Mercator projection is obsolete and geographers have long advised people to not use it as a world map.

“It was a useful navigation tool in the 16th century, because it has straight lines, giving navigators a line of constant direction to sail along,” Monmonier says. “But outside of that very narrow navigation application, there is no point in using it.”

Read more in the Associated Press article, “Campaigners want to change the world map to show Africa is bigger.”