UN backs new world map that more accurately shows Africa’s true size and scale, 164 countries vote in favour

The world map could be getting a facelift after the UN backed a new cartographic projection to portray the size of continents more accurately.

"The UN on Saturday endorsed the adoption of the Equal Earth projection, a map that depicts Africa and South America closer to their actual relative size while reducing the distortion of Europe and North America seen in the widely used Mercator projection."

The resolution was supported by 164 countries while six countries abstained, although the US opposed the move citing that the UN should focus on more pressing international issues rather than changing a centuries-old approach of a world map portrayal.