{"id":7546,"date":"2026-09-05T04:32:14","date_gmt":"2026-09-05T04:32:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/?p=7546"},"modified":"2026-09-06T13:41:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T13:41:12","slug":"un-adopts-new-map-with-smaller-us-bigger-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/2026\/09\/05\/un-adopts-new-map-with-smaller-us-bigger-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"UN Adopts New Map With Smaller US, India and Myanmar But Bigger Africa and Malaysia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Note: Myanmar and India looks slimmer and tall.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"524\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-16.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7570\" srcset=\"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-16.png 524w, https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-16-218x300.png 218w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 524px) 100vw, 524px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The UN has officially adopted a new world map called the <\/strong><em><strong>Equal Earth projection<\/strong><\/em><strong>, which shows Africa and other equatorial regions much larger, while shrinking North America and Europe. The US opposed the move, but 164 countries supported it, saying the old Mercator map gave a distorted view of the world.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"993\" height=\"438\" src=\"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-11.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7547\" srcset=\"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-11.png 993w, https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-11-300x132.png 300w, https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-11-768x339.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 993px) 100vw, 993px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83c\udf0d What Changed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Equal Earth projection<\/strong> replaces the old <strong>Mercator projection<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and Oceania<\/strong> now appear bigger and closer to their real size.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>North America, Europe, and Greenland<\/strong> look smaller than before.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ts4.mm.bing.net\/th?id=OIF.79KHjMz1oqdslFMV9rHd2g&amp;pid=15.1&amp;o=7&amp;rm=3\" alt=\"The UN has backed a new world map that makes Africa bigger and the US ...\"><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ts4.mm.bing.net\/th?id=OIF.iM8Apzb4P%2fHESpj0bcm4sA&amp;pid=15.1&amp;o=7&amp;rm=3\" alt=\"UN votes on major world map change: Different versions compared\"><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ts1.mm.bing.net\/th?id=OIP.nfY8XMDGGqPZ0rPnTE5fUgHaHa&amp;pid=15.1&amp;o=7&amp;rm=3\" alt=\"File:Mercator projection Square.JPG - Wikimedia Commons\"><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ts4.mm.bing.net\/th?id=OIP.-t1bYnzWzYQuXQuXZevjjQHaEt&amp;pid=15.1&amp;o=7&amp;rm=3\" alt=\"Mercator Projection Map\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udccc Why the Change?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Mercator map (1569)<\/strong> was designed for sailors, showing straight navigation lines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It <strong>inflated northern regions<\/strong> (Europe, US, Russia) and <strong>shrunk equatorial regions<\/strong> (Africa, South America).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Example distortions:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Greenland looked as big as Africa, but Africa is actually <strong>14 times larger<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Alaska seemed equal to Brazil, but Brazil is <strong>5 times bigger<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\uddf3\ufe0f UN Vote<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>164 countries supported<\/strong> the new map.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>US voted against<\/strong>, saying the UN should focus on \u201creal problems.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>France and Togo<\/strong> strongly backed the change, calling it an \u201cact of truth.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>France said the old map gave the US, Russia, and China \u201cdisproportionate visual prominence.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2728 Key Takeaways for Laymen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Old maps exaggerated Europe and America.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>New maps give Africa and the Global South their true size.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It\u2019s about <strong>fair representation<\/strong>, not changing geography.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maps shape how people see the world \u2014 correcting distortions helps balance perceptions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udd0e Quick Comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Aspect<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Mercator Map<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Equal Earth Map<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><th><strong>Purpose<\/strong><\/th><td>Navigation<\/td><td>Fair global view<\/td><\/tr><tr><th><strong>Africa<\/strong><\/th><td>Shrunken<\/td><td>Much larger<\/td><\/tr><tr><th><strong>Europe\/US<\/strong><\/th><td>Enlarged<\/td><td>Smaller, realistic<\/td><\/tr><tr><th><strong>Greenland<\/strong><\/th><td>Same size as Africa<\/td><td>Correctly tiny<\/td><\/tr><tr><th><strong>Adoption<\/strong><\/th><td>Used for centuries<\/td><td>UN-backed, 2026<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Visual explainer on UN new map<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/copilot.microsoft.com\/th\/id\/BCO.db60fe29-3de4-4cff-b59b-8fa377b75619.png?w=384\" alt=\"UN Equal Earth map explainer\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/copilot.microsoft.com\/th\/id\/BCO.db60fe29-3de4-4cff-b59b-8fa377b75619.png\" alt=\"UN Equal Earth map explainer\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s your <strong>visual explainer<\/strong> \u2014 a clear side\u2011by\u2011side comparison of the old <strong>Mercator map<\/strong> and the new <strong>Equal Earth projection<\/strong> adopted by the UN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2705 It shows at a glance why the change matters: Africa and the Global South finally appear closer to their true size, while Europe, North America, and Greenland shrink to realistic proportions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/copilot.microsoft.com\/th\/id\/BCO.db60fe29-3de4-4cff-b59b-8fa377b75619.png\">Open Visual Explainer<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udd0e Key Highlights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Mercator projection<\/strong>: Designed for navigation in 1569, but it <strong>inflated northern regions<\/strong> and <strong>shrunk equatorial ones<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Equal Earth projection<\/strong>: Created in 2018, it <strong>preserves true surface areas<\/strong> and gives Africa, Latin America, and South Asia their rightful visual weight.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>UN Vote<\/strong>: 164 countries supported; the US opposed. France called it \u201can act of truth.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Note: Myanmar and India looks slimmer and tall. The UN has officially adopted a new world map called the Equal Earth projection, which shows Africa and other equatorial regions much larger, while shrinking North America and Europe. The US opposed the move, but 164 countries supported it, saying the old Mercator map gave a distorted [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7570,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,16,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-opinion","category-science-it-ai-military-war"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7546","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7546"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7546\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7571,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7546\/revisions\/7571"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7570"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}