A widely used global map has long distorted Africa’s true size, shrinking its proportions for centuries in a misrepresentation that has influenced how the continent is perceived worldwide. The distortion stems from a projection method that alters landmass scale, particularly near the poles, while keeping Europe and other regions more accurately sized. Cartographers and educators continue to debate the implications of this visual bias, which has shaped historical and modern perspectives on geography and international relations. Critics argue the inaccurate portrayal reinforces outdated stereotypes about Africa’s relative importance.
For 450 years, the world's most-used map has made Africa look smaller than it really is.
