UN resolution prompts France to replace Mercator with Eckert IV map

UN resolution prompts France to replace Mercator with Eckert IV map

The French foreign ministry announced on 6 September that it will phase out the Mercator projection in diplomatic use, adopting the Eckert IV equal-area map in line with a United Nations General Assembly resolution. The resolution, adopted on 4 September, endorsed the Equal Earth projection as a more accurate representation of Africa’s size, passing 164-1 with the United States casting the sole opposing vote. The move follows calls from member states to replace the traditional Mercator map, which distorts continental proportions.

Actors

United Nations General Assembly African Union Bahamas United States France Jean-Noël Barrot Togo

Locations

United Nations Headquarters, New York, United States Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Bahamas United States France Togo

Articles

September 06, 2026
1 total
UN General Assembly adopts resolution urging use of Equal Earth map to better represent Africa's size
UN General Assembly adopts resolution urging use of Equal Earth map to better represent Africa's size

CBS News • 06 Sep 07:29

The UN General Assembly voted to endorse the Equal Earth projection, encouraging its adoption over the traditional Mercator map to more accurately depict Africa and other continents.

Credibility 78% Manip. 27% Center
September 05, 2026
3 total
France to replace Mercator map projection with Eckert IV for diplomatic use
France to replace Mercator map projection with Eckert IV for diplomatic use

euronews.com • 05 Sep 19:12

The French foreign ministry will phase out the Mercator projection in favor of the Eckert IV projection, aligning with a recent UN resolution that promotes more proportionally accurate world maps.

Credibility 78% Manip. 7% Center
UN adopts equal-area world map, United States votes against resolution
UN adopts equal-area world map, United States votes against resolution

Fox News • 05 Sep 17:48

The United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution endorsing the Equal Earth map projection, which shows continents at their true relative sizes, with the United States casting the sole opposing vote.

Credibility 72% Manip. 10% Center
UN General Assembly backs resolution to adopt Equal Earth map projection
UN General Assembly backs resolution to adopt Equal Earth map projection

Al Jazeera • 05 Sep 12:52

The UN General Assembly voted 164-to-1 to encourage the use of the Equal Earth projection, a map that more accurately reflects the size of continents, while the United States opposed the measure.

Credibility 72% Manip. 12% Center
September 04, 2026
3 total
UN General Assembly adopts resolution urging use of equal-area world maps
UN General Assembly adopts resolution urging use of equal-area world maps

npr.org • 04 Sep 22:26

The UN General Assembly voted 164-1 to support a resolution promoting equal-area map projections that more accurately depict Africa's size, with the United States the sole dissenting vote.

Credibility 78% Manip. 32% Center
UN General Assembly adopts resolution to replace Mercator map with equal-area projection
UN General Assembly adopts resolution to replace Mercator map with equal-area projection

BBC • 04 Sep 17:26

The UN General Assembly voted to endorse an equal-area world map that more accurately depicts Africa's size, with 164 countries supporting the resolution and the United States voting against it.

Credibility 78% Manip. 10% Center
UN General Assembly adopts map reform to replace Mercator projection with Equal Earth
UN General Assembly adopts map reform to replace Mercator projection with Equal Earth

CNN • 04 Sep 14:55

The UN General Assembly voted 164-6-1 to endorse the Equal Earth projection, aiming to portray countries’ surface areas more accurately, after a proposal led by African nations.

Credibility 78% Manip. 32% Center