Popular navigation apps unlikely to ditch Mercator maps despite UN resolution
September 11, 2026 6:50am
Nearly every country represented in the United Nations General Assembly recently voted in favor of promoting world maps that more accurately show the size of va...
Nearly every country represented in the United Nations General Assembly recently voted in favor of promoting world maps that more accurately show the size of various continents. But the UN resolution is unlikely to change how millions of people regularly see versions of 16th-century Mercator maps depicting skewed continent sizes in navigation apps. On September 4, the African-led resolution attracted 164 votes in favor, with six countries abstaining from voting. Ars Technica reported this update on 2026-09-09 with additional details in the linked source coverage.
5-Second Takeaway
Nearly every country represented in the United Nations General Assembly recently voted in favor of promoting world maps that more accurately show the size of various continents.
Why This Matters
But the UN resolution is unlikely to change how millions of people regularly see versions of 16th-century Mercator maps depicting skewed continent sizes in navigation apps. On September 4, the African-led resolution attracted 164 votes in favor, with six countries abstaining from voting.
What Changed
- Ars Technica published this report on 2026-09-09.
- The headline focus is "Popular navigation apps unlikely to ditch Mercator maps despite UN resolution".
- Nearly every country represented in the United Nations General Assembly recently voted in favor of promoting world maps that more accurately show the size of various continents.
- But the UN resolution is unlikely to change how millions of people regularly see versions of 16th-century Mercator maps depicting skewed continent sizes in navigation apps.
- On September 4, the African-led resolution attracted 164 votes in favor, with six countries abstaining from voting.
- Only the United States voted to oppose the resolution after describing it as a “radical ideological project,” according to UN News.
- The non-binding UN resolution does not impose map changes on anyone.
- Instead, it “encourages governments, schools, international organizations, and technology companies to use the Equal Earth projection and other so-called equal-area maps when relative size matters,” UN News reported.
Key Facts
- Ars Technica published this report on 2026-09-09.
- The headline focus is "Popular navigation apps unlikely to ditch Mercator maps despite UN resolution".
- Nearly every country represented in the United Nations General Assembly recently voted in favor of promoting world maps that more accurately show the size of various continents.
- But the UN resolution is unlikely to change how millions of people regularly see versions of 16th-century Mercator maps depicting skewed continent sizes in navigation apps.
Key Numbers
- Ars Technica published this report on 2026-09-09.
- On September 4, the African-led resolution attracted 164 votes in favor, with six countries abstaining from voting.