Most world maps make Africa look much smaller than it really is. Now, the United Nations wants to change how people see the world. On Friday, 164 countries voted to support maps that show the real size of Africa and other regions.
For a long time, schools and books used a map called the Mercator projection. A mapmaker created it in 1569 to help sailors navigate ships. However, this map distorts size. It makes areas near the North and South Poles look very big, while places near the equator like Africa look much smaller.
The new resolution encourages schools, media, and governments to use equal-area maps like the Equal Earth map. Cartographers created the Equal Earth map in 2018 to show the correct size of continents compared to each other.
The resolution is not legally binding, so countries are not forced to change their maps. Only the United States voted against the decision, while six countries abstained. Supporters say the change will help people learn the true scale and importance of Africa.