The Mercator projection, in use since the 16th century, makes the continent look comparatively small

Editorial: The push for fairer cartography rejects colonial shrinkage of a huge continent by the Mercator projection. This is not pedantry. It’s politics

The Mercator projection, in use since the 16th century, makes the continent look comparatively small

The African Union has backed a campaign to end the use of the 16th-century Mercator map of the world, in favour of one that more accurately displays Africa's size.