Correct the World Map: Use Accurate Projections That Show Africa’s True Size


Correct the World Map: Use Accurate Projections That Show Africa’s True Size
The Issue
We, the undersigned, call on educational institutions, publishers, and government bodies to adopt world maps that accurately represent the true size of continents—particularly Africa.
For centuries, the commonly used Mercator projection has significantly distorted the size of landmasses, making regions such as Europe and North America appear larger than they truly are, while minimizing the size and importance of Africa and other regions.
Africa is the second-largest continent on Earth, yet in many classrooms and media representations, it appears far smaller than its actual scale. This misrepresentation contributes to widespread misconceptions about global geography, history, and the relative significance of different regions.
We urge decision-makers to:
- Replace or supplement Mercator maps with more accurate projections such as the Gall–Peters or Robinson projections
- Educate students about map distortions and the impact of projection choices
- Ensure that future educational materials reflect geographic accuracy and fairness
By taking these steps, we can promote a more truthful and equitable understanding of our world.
Call to Action:
Sign this petition to support accurate global representation and educational fairness.

1
The Issue
We, the undersigned, call on educational institutions, publishers, and government bodies to adopt world maps that accurately represent the true size of continents—particularly Africa.
For centuries, the commonly used Mercator projection has significantly distorted the size of landmasses, making regions such as Europe and North America appear larger than they truly are, while minimizing the size and importance of Africa and other regions.
Africa is the second-largest continent on Earth, yet in many classrooms and media representations, it appears far smaller than its actual scale. This misrepresentation contributes to widespread misconceptions about global geography, history, and the relative significance of different regions.
We urge decision-makers to:
- Replace or supplement Mercator maps with more accurate projections such as the Gall–Peters or Robinson projections
- Educate students about map distortions and the impact of projection choices
- Ensure that future educational materials reflect geographic accuracy and fairness
By taking these steps, we can promote a more truthful and equitable understanding of our world.
Call to Action:
Sign this petition to support accurate global representation and educational fairness.

1
Petition created on 28 March 2026