Mercator projection won’t disappear entirely despite UN endorsing new world map

Published 2w ago · Updated 1w ago

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Cartographers are pushing past centuries of western bias to redefine how the world is visually represented.

Cartographers have recently reexamined global cartography by highlighting long-standing western biases embedded within traditional map projections. Although international bodies like the United Nations have begun endorsing alternative world maps that present landmasses more accurately, older projections such as the Mercator remain deeply entrenched in popular culture and navigation. Experts emphasize that map-making is inherently political, reflecting historical power dynamics rather than objective geographical truths.

The Equal Earth projection was originally unveiled by cartographers to provide a more accurate visual representation of landmass sizes.
Traditional world maps have historically exaggerated the size of northern hemisphere nations while diminishing regions near the equator.
Modern cartography initiatives seek to dismantle centuries of Eurocentric bias in global geography.

Timeline

Sep 15Reports highlighted that the Mercator projection will persist despite new UN map endorsements.
Sep 18Cartographers discussed how traditional projections encode centuries of western bias.

Why it matters

World maps shape how people perceive global geography, politics, and the relative importance of different nations. Rethinking these projections addresses historical distortions that have favored western regions for centuries.

What outlets agree on

Outlets agree that traditional map projections carry historical western biases and that newer alternatives are gaining institutional and cartographic recognition.

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Mercator projectionEqual Earth projectionU.N.

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