For decades, the Mercator projection has shaped how much of the world sees the size of countries. But it significantly distorts areas, making countries closer to the equator appear smaller and those farther north and south appear larger.
Using the Equal Earth projection, this comparison puts the true size of African countries into perspective by placing them alongside countries from other parts of the world.
The comparison comes as global attention continues to focus on Africa’s place in the world, including recent efforts at the United Nations to formally recognise the historical impact of the transatlantic slave trade.
