---
title: " UN Backs New Equal Earth Map Model to Show Countries’ True Relative Sizes"
english_title: "UN Backs Equal Earth Map Model to Correct Distortions in Traditional World Map"
publisher: "english.truevisionnews.com"
canonical_url: "https://english.truevisionnews.com/news/382659/un-equal-earth-map-model-country-size-distortion"
published_at: "2026-09-15T06:57:00+05:30"
category: "Tech Info"
language: "ml"
image: "https://cf.zdn.im/img/truevisionnews.com/0/image-uploads/6aa89f830d227_un-equal-earth-map-model-country-size-distortion.jpg"
keywords: ["Equal Earth map", "UN world map", "Mercator projection", "world map", "India map size", "global cartography"]
---

#  UN Backs New Equal Earth Map Model to Show Countries’ True Relative Sizes

> **Lead Summary:**  The traditional world map model commonly seen in school textbooks and digital mapping systems may soon give way to a new map designed to more accurately represent the relative sizes of continents and countries. The 78th United Nations General Assembly, which met on September 4, 2026, decided to support a new world map model aimed at correcting geographical misconceptions and representing the actual positions and sizes of countries more accurately at the international level.

## Article Content

 The traditional world map model commonly seen in school textbooks and digital mapping systems may soon give way to a new map designed to more accurately represent the relative sizes of continents and countries. The 78th United Nations General Assembly, which met on September 4, 2026, decided to support a new world map model aimed at correcting geographical misconceptions and representing the actual positions and sizes of countries more accurately at the international level.

The world map model developed by mathematician and cartographer Gerardus Mercator in 1569 has been widely used for centuries. It was originally designed to help ships and sailors navigate across the spherical Earth without losing direction during sea voyages.

However, the Mercator projection has a major limitation. Areas become increasingly enlarged visually as they move away from the equator towards the poles. Africa has an area of about 30.4 million square kilometres, while Greenland covers only about 2.2 million square kilometres. Yet, on the traditional Mercator map, the two appear to be of a similar size. Africa is actually about 14 times larger than Greenland.

The distortion occurs because the curved surface of the Earth has to be represented on a flat sheet. As a result, countries such as Canada, Russia, the United States and European nations appear much larger, while Africa, India and Latin American countries appear smaller.

The resolution submitted under the leadership of West African country Togo received support from 164 of the UN’s 193 member states, including India, while the United States voted against it. The UK, Israel, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Ukraine abstained.

The Indian representative called for maps that accurately and fairly represent land areas and the sizes of continents. US representative Yariana Ferencevich questioned the relevance of discussing 16th-century maps when numerous global issues remain unresolved, arguing that the UN should focus on peace, economic growth and security.

The new model is the Equal Earth projection, designed in 2018 by international cartographers Bojan Šavrič, Tom Patterson and Bernhard Jenny. Under the model, countries around the equator, including India, and South American countries such as Brazil will receive greater visual representation than under the old map. Greenland, which appears enormous on the Mercator projection, will appear as a much smaller island.

The Equal Earth projection uses curved meridians to arrange latitudes and longitudes while retaining a familiar overall map appearance. The UN has clarified that changing the map will not alter the actual size of the Earth, national borders, or latitude and longitude coordinates.

The transition is expected to affect school textbooks, atlases and digital mapping systems. Professional mapping applications such as GIS, ArcGIS and QGIS are also expected to incorporate the model as a standard option. The map change itself will not alter any country’s territory or sovereignty, but supporters say it could reduce the visual imbalance traditionally created by world map projections.

The Equal Earth Map and Equal Earth Projection can already be found online through internet searches, with high-quality images and digital globes available for viewing and download. Platforms such as Google Maps and OpenStreetMap can provide 2D map views based on such projections.

Schools in France have begun using new models in place of the existing Mercator map, while Boston Public Schools have already used Peters projection maps showing relative sizes more accurately. Togo, Nigeria and Ghana have also incorporated the Equal Earth model into their maps.

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