Listen "Are we using the wrong world map?"
Episode Synopsis
The Mercator projection, a map that’s been around for over 450 years and which most people use, distorts size. It stretches land masses farther from the equator. It can make Greenland looks the same size as Africa, when in reality Africa is actually around 14 times bigger. Campaigners want schools, organisations and governments to use a different one - the Equal Earth map. And now the African Union, which represents all 55 states on the continent, has endorsed the “Correct the Map” campaign.The BBC’s Makuochi Okafor explains some of the arguments for switching to a different map and also the wider implications of showing Africa as smaller than it really is.Moky Makura, from Africa No Filter, tells us what her organisation is hoping to achieve with the Correct the Map campaign. Plus Edwin Rijkaart, known to his YouTube subscribers as Geodiode tells us why we use the Mercator projection in the first place. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Benita Barden, Chelsea Coates and Abiona Boja
Editor: Verity Wilde
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Benita Barden, Chelsea Coates and Abiona Boja
Editor: Verity Wilde
More episodes of the podcast What in the World
How ultra-processed foods impact the body
15/01/2026
Is Grok undressing you?
14/01/2026
Iran protests: What’s happening?
12/01/2026
All the single ladies, put your hands up
09/01/2026
Why people learn English
08/01/2026
Brick phones are so back
07/01/2026
Does using AI impact the environment?
06/01/2026
Venezuela: What just happened?
05/01/2026
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.