UN General Assembly votes to adopt Equal Earth map projection showing Africa's true size
The UN General Assembly voted 164-1 on September 4, 2026 to adopt a resolution encouraging the use of the Equal Earth map projection over the Mercator projection, which distorts the relative size of continents. The United States was the sole country to vote against it, calling it a "radical ideological project." Six countries abstained. The resolution is non-binding and does not ban the Mercator projection.
23
Divergence score
15 outlets covered it, splitting into 14 framing camps across 4 bias groups.
14 camps
4 bias groups
The spectrum · how 15 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
Globe and Mail
Al Jazeera
NPR
Deutsche Welle
Fox News
AP News
Jerusalem Post
BBC
Breitbart
CNN
South China Morning Post
Reuters
Washington Post
The Hill
NY Post
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
Widest split · the two outlets furthest apart, and who published first
Furthest apart on this story
NPR
The U.N. backs a new world map showing Africa in its true relative size
educational accuracy push · neutral
Breitbart
U.N. Backs New Map Projection, Demands World Stop Making Africa Look Small
ideological overreach shrinking US · negative
First to report
- Reutersfirst
- BBC+24 min
- South China Morning Post+2.0 h
- Al Jazeera+2.4 h
- NPR+5.4 h
- Deutsche Welle+6.6 h
- Globe and Mail+7.5 h
- NY Post+14.3 h
- The Hill+20.0 h
- CNN+22.8 h
- Fox News+24.8 h
- Washington Post+26.3 h
By each outlet's earliest publish time in this story. Feeds that index slowly can appear later than they printed.
The split, in one line
Most outlets frame the vote as correcting a colonial-era injustice. Breitbart frames it as enhancing Africa's size at the expense of the U.S. and Russia. The U.S. calls it a radical ideological project and a distraction from genuine problems.
How each outlet covered it
Broad agreement on what happened
Outlets across the spectrum land in roughly the same place: the shared language is highlighted.
23LOW DIVERGENCE
THE RIGHT
“United Nations votes 164-1 for Equal Earth map after US brands it 'radical ideological project'”FOX Fox News RIGHT
DOWN THE MIDDLE
“UN adopts new map: Africa bigger, North America and Europe smaller” · Globe and Mail, Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, AP News, Jerusalem Post, BBC, South China Morning Post, Reuters, The Hill
+Hide the full sourcingSee how all 15 outlets put it
LEFT3
NPRNPR The U.N. backs a new world map showing Africa in its true relative size 7d ago CNNCNN UN adopts new map to fix world's proportions - CNN 6d ago WPWashington Post The U.N. backed a map that shows Africa true to size. The U.S. was sole objector. 6d ago CENTER3
APAP News UN General Assembly endorses a new world map that shows more accurately Africa's size RReuters UN approves resolution in support of map that shows Africa's true size 7d ago HThe Hill US only country to oppose UN resolution correcting Africa's size on world maps 6d ago RIGHT3
FOXFox News United Nations votes 164-1 for Equal Earth map after US brands it 'radical ideological project' 6d ago BBreitbart U.N. Backs New Map Projection, Demands World Stop Making Africa Look Small 5d ago NYPNY Post UN endorses new world map showing Africa's true size — after US voted against it 6d ago INTERNATIONAL6
GMGlobe and Mail UN votes for more accurate maps to show Africa's true size 7d ago AJAl Jazeera UN votes to adopt new world map that reflects Africa's true size 7d ago DWDeutsche Welle UN approves world map reflecting true size of Africa 7d ago JPJerusalem Post UN approves resolution in support of map that shows Africa's true size 5d ago BBCBBC UN votes to adopt new world map to reflect Africa's true size 7d ago SCSouth China Morning Post UN adopts new map: Africa bigger, North America and Europe smaller 7d ago 9 tracked claims across 15 outlets
Fact ledger
All9Disputed1Claimed1Corroborated7
3/15
Disputed
The six abstaining countries were Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine
Corroborated
Disputed
8 more tracked claimsSign up free to see the full ledger