Common world map shows ‘distorted view’ of Africa. Advocates are trying to change that

Fara Ndiaye says the most common world map has “presented a distorted view of our world” for more than 400 years. 

“It dramatically shrinks Africa almost by half while inflating other parts of the world,” Ndiaye, co-founder of Speak Up Africa, told As It Happens guest host Catherine Cullen. 

The Mercator projection is commonly used in mapmaking, especially for navigation charts. However, experts say it’s less practical for world maps, as its scale becomes increasingly distorted the farther you move from the Equator — causing areas near the poles to appear disproportionately large.

But her advocacy group, along with Africa No Filter, is leading a campaign called Correct The Map, urging for the replacement of the centuries-old Mercator map with the Equal Earth map, which she says is a more accurate representation of the world.

Last week, the African Union endorsed the initiative, with deputy chairperson Selma Malika Haddadi telling Reuters it aligns with the AU’s goal of “reclaiming Africa’s rightful place on the global stage,” amid mounting calls for reparations for colonialism and slavery.

For Ndiaye, the inaccurate sizing is “a lot deeper” than cartography. She says it reinforces perceptions of which regions are seen as “central and powerful,” and which are viewed as “peripheral and marginal.” 

“This distortion reinforces stereotypes of Africa as being less — maybe less significant,” said Ndiaye. 

She says they are now working to get schools, media, and global institutions such as the United Nations and the World Bank to adopt the Equal Earth map. 

What is the Mercator map? 

The Mercator map dates back to 1569, when it was created by cartographer Gerardus Mercator for navigating the high seas. Its design allows sailors to chart straight-line paths using latitude and longitude.

According to Shiv Balram, a university lecturer in the department of geography at Simon Fraser University, the Mercator map is created from what is called a “map projection” — a mathematical process for turning the 3D shape of the Earth into a flat, 2D map.

Balram says that such a transformation results in distortion, as it affects shape, area, direction and angles.

“Imagine trying to make a beach ball flat,” said Balram. “It is near impossible to do so without making strategic tears on the beach ball in order to make it flat without any folds.” 

In the case of the Mercator projection, Balram says only direction is preserved accurately. Other properties — like the size and shape of continents — are in “various levels of misrepresentation.” 

“The issue is not that the Mercator map is problematic. It is more that the Mercator map is misused for purposes for which it was not intended,” said Balram. 

“If we need to represent shapes and areas correctly on a map, then we need another map projection that preserves areas and shapes.” 

Is there a solution? 

Balram says that mapmakers must understand the consequences of the projections they use. 

For world maps, says Balram, area-preserving projections like Equal Earth are best for showing countries in their “correct relative sizes.” When mapping individual countries like Canada or the U.S., other area-preserving projections, such as the Albers Equal Area Conic, are used to better match their location and shape.

When it comes to digital tools, Balram says Google Maps uses a version of the Mercator projection known as Web Mercator. This projection treats Earth as a 3D object and is well-suited for on-screen display.

Balram says the mission behind the Correct The Map campaign is “relevant and justified” because it’s about identifying the best map projection to accurately represent the size of Africa. 

“Many maps have been carelessly using non-area preserving projections to represent areas on maps,” said Balram. “To represent Africa smaller than it actually is … would be a gross misrepresentation.” 

For Ndiaye, restoring Africa’s true size is not just about “correcting centuries of miseducation,” it’s about ensuring that future generations of Africans grow up with a more accurate and empowering view of their continent and themselves. 

“Maps shape imaginations,” said Ndiaye. “When children open their textbooks and see Africa portrayed as smaller than Europe, they internalize a message of marginality.” 

“For us, it’s unacceptable that generations continue to grow with maps that diminish Africa’s scale and by extension, its importance … I think that correcting the map is about restoring the truth and dignity in how Africa is seen and how Africans see themselves.”