Explaining the true size of Africa, a lesson in map projections
Africa's landmass is far larger than commonly portrayed, and Mercator projection significantly distorts relative sizes compared with equal-area projections.
The African Union advocates replacing Mercator world maps with an Equal Area projection to accurately reflect Africa's true size and counter marginalizing stereotypes.
No single correct world map exists; all map projections are compromises and usefulness should guide projection choice rather than claims of absolute truth.
African Union endorses campaign to finally fix the maps that massively understate how big the continent really is
The Equal Earth projection shows Africa's true size, revealing that fourteen Greenlands fit inside Africa, prompting campaigns to replace Mercator maps in education and institutions.