Resources
Explore how others are advocating for accurate map projections and learn about the impact of correcting Africa’s representation. See the growing support for a more representative perspective.
The Self-Deception Trap: Exploring the Economic Dimensions of Charity Dependency within Africa-Europe Relations
2024
Prof. Carlos Lopes
This book challenges the stigmatized narratives about Africa and highlights that historically, Africa has been portrayed through an accepted view that minimises the continent’s proper size and developmental achievements.
Title: The True Size of Africa
December, 2010
Kai Kruse
In December 2010, Kai Krause caused a stir by producing a map of Africa designed to illustrate the limitations of widespread map projections of the world.
Use Literally Anything but Web Mercator
19 May 2021
ESRI
While the Mercator projection was helpful for navigation in the days of early explorers, there are now many better choices. Learn more about the common misconceptions that surround Web Mercator and which coordinate systems are available for different purposes and map scales in ArcGIS.
SOAS Centenary Lecture – How Big is Africa? Prof. Carlos Lopes, SOAS University of London
4 October 2017
SOAS
Dr Carlos Lopes discusses demography, land mass, the blue economy, migration, and more within Africa and globally to give a better, more precise idea of Africa’s place globally.
Africa’s true size
Jan 16, 2024
The Yarbros
A video illustrating how the Mercator projection distorts the size of Africa, providing a visual comparison to other landmasses.
Mapped: Visualizing the True Size of Africa
February 19, 2020
Jeff Desjardins
An article from Visual Capitalist illustrates how various countries can fit within Africa, emphasizing the continent’s vastness compared to common perceptions.
Why do Western maps shrink Africa?
March 23, 2017
Sophie Morlin-Yron
A CNN article discusses how the Mercator projection distorts the size of landmasses, making Africa appear smaller.
This animated map shows the true size of each country
August 27, 2019
Dataviz
A Nature article featuring an animated map that reveals the actual sizes of countries, correcting misconceptions from traditional projections.
Africa size comparison
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MapFight
A website that compares the size of Africa to other countries and continents, providing a visual representation of its true scale.
The great map myth was incredibly unfair to the ‘mother continent’: This is the true size of Africa
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Green Earth
An article discusses the Mercator projection’s historical context and its impact on the perception of Africa’s size.
The True Size of Africa and Why It Matters
August 30, 2022
Rabah Arezki
This article examines how misconceptions about Africa’s size can influence policy decisions, particularly in agriculture and resource management. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing Africa’s vast arable land to address food security challenges exacerbated by global crises
Leveraging Africa’s Inner Strength to Realize Its Full Economic Potential
January 13, 2025
Landry Signe, Acha Leke, Mayowa Kuyoro, and Omid Kassiri
This Brookings Institution article discusses the internal factors that can drive Africa’s economic growth, highlighting the need for political stability and effective governance to harness the continent’s full potential
Comparing the Real Size of African Economies – Highlights of the 2011 Round of the International Comparison Program (ICP)
April 2014
African Development Bank
This report by the African Development Bank analyzes the real GDP growth rates of African countries, providing insights into economic performance and the implications of underestimating the continent’s economic size
Economic Growth in Africa
June 18, 2024
Jan Reents and Dr. Klaus-Jürgen Gern
This analysis discusses the drivers behind Africa’s GDP growth, including commodity prices, governance improvements, and foreign investment, while considering the implications of misrepresenting the continent’s size.