If you were asked to draw a world map, how would you go about it? It sounds simple, but the task is deceptively complex. The Earth is a sphere, and to represent it on a flat surface, you'd essentially need to peel off the planet's skin and flatten it out — something that's not just impractical, but impossible. This is the fundamental reason why almost every world map you’ve ever seen is wrong. there are ways to make it right but no-one bothered to.
Most of us grew up with a distorted view of the world. Remember thinking Greenland is about the same size as Africa? It’s not. In reality, Africa is 14 times larger than Greenland. Or maybe you assumed Alaska was bigger than Mexico. Again — wrong. These misconceptions didn’t just happen. They’re the result of the world maps we’ve been using for centuries, which have consistently misrepresented the size and significance of entire continents and countries. These inaccuracies have done more than just confuse geography students — they’ve shaped our worldview and embedded subconscious biases that persist to this day.
The Problem with the Map
When most people imagine a map of the world, they picture the same version — the one that hangs on school walls, appears in textbooks, and even guides you via Google Maps. This familiar image is based on the Mercator projection, a map developed by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator in 1569. Originally designed to help sailors navigate the seas by preserving direction, the Mercator map distorts the size of landmasses dramatically as they move away from the equator.
This is why Greenland appears comparable in size to Africa, even though it’s much smaller. It’s also why Europe looks larger than South America, when in fact it’s about half the size. The Mercator projection enlarges regions like Europe and North America while shrinking vast parts of the Global South — particularly Africa and South Asia. As a result, the map visually inflates the influence of historically wealthy and powerful countries, and minimizes that of others. This distortion isn't just geographical — it’s political. this is why they don't do anything about it. It serves a political purpose.
Many people are unaware that maps are not neutral tools. Every map reflects choices — technical, cultural, and often, historical. The maps that rose to prominence were designed in and for the West, often aligned with the interests of colonial powers. The Mercator map, for instance, became widespread during the age of exploration and colonization, in part because it was excellent for plotting sea routes — something European empires relied on to expand and dominate.
Over time, these maps have influenced how countries are perceived, affecting everything from diplomatic importance to investment decisions and even tourism trends. When entire continents like Africa and South America are visually minimized, the world internalizes a skewed sense of their importance.
The 20th and 21st centuries saw efforts to create more accurate world maps. Technological advancements and a better understanding of the Earth’s geography have made this possible. Yet despite these efforts, the Mercator projection still dominates — partly due to historical momentum and familiarity, but also because designing a perfect world map is, by nature, impossible.
Our planet is three-dimensional and spherical. Flattening it out always requires trade-offs. You can preserve shape, area, distance, or direction — but not all of them at once. Every map lies in some way. The question is: which lies are we willing to live with? In recent years, cartographers and campaigners have introduced the Equal Earth projection, a map that offers a more balanced representation of landmass sizes. Instead of portraying western nations as bigger and more important. This new map - It doesn’t exaggerate Europe or shrink Africa. It isn’t perfect — no map is — but it comes far closer to the truth than Mercator’s centuries-old design.
Activists, especially from Africa, are now urging schools and global organizations to switch to this more accurate depiction. Their message is simple: in a world where size often implies power and importance, getting the map right is more than just academic — it’s political and necessary. Changing the world map won't instantly erase bias or undo centuries of distortion. But it’s a step toward clarity — and equity. Maps shape how we see the world, and by extension, how we value different parts of it. If we want a future that’s fair and informed, it begins with a more honest view of the Earth itself. Yes, the world is round. Yes, all maps must lie a little. But some lies are more damaging than others. And it's long past time we chose truth over tradition.