NEW WORLD MAP

AN INTERACTIVE PROJECTION STUDY

The New World Map

Hover the same country across two projections and measure how strongly a flat map changes its visual weight.

LINKED REGION MODE

One place. Two projections.

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Choose a country or territory
MercatorAngles preserved · area distorted
Preparing map
Equal EarthRelative area preserved
Preparing map
SEPTEMBER 2026The UN General Assembly backed fairer world maps. Here is what the resolution actually means.

Mercator and Equal Earth, linked

Both maps share a geographic centre and zoom factor. Screen footprint measures projected display area; the separately labelled geodesic estimate measures the area enclosed by the displayed boundary on a spherical Earth.

The true size of Africa

Africa covers about 30.37 million km², roughly fourteen times Greenland’s 2.17 million km². Equal Earth makes that relative area visible, while Mercator enlarges high-latitude regions.

Frequently asked questions

What is the new world map?

It is a popular name for renewed use of equal-area world maps such as Equal Earth, not a change to geography or borders.

Did the UN ban Mercator?

No. The September 2026 General Assembly resolution encourages equal-area maps when relative size matters; it does not prohibit Mercator.

Why does Africa look bigger?

Equal Earth keeps area proportional. Mercator enlarges high-latitude regions, making equatorial Africa look smaller by comparison.

Is Equal Earth accurate in every way?

No flat world map is. Equal Earth preserves relative area but still distorts some shape, distance and direction.