An Equal Area Projection for World Maps
It is possible to controll the distortions mathematically. Some constraints can be hold for the whole projection.
Nowadays more the 400 projection methods are known. Not all projections are able to map the whole world.
Equal area projections are supposed to be used when you want to compare sizes on maps. The Equal Earth Projection is a new projection method for equal area world maps and was developped in 2018.
Characteristics
| Extrinsics: | Pseudocylindric |
| Intrinsics: | Equal Area |
| Area of Use (Extent): | World |
About the Graticule
- poles are mapped as straight lines parallel to the equator
- equator, parallels and poles are straight lines and parallel
- central meridian is a straight line
- other meridians are curved lines
- equator is NOT equidistant
Projection Paramters
in the normal aspect (projection origin on equator)
- Central Meridian
- Orientation (what is up. North, South)
Known Implementations
| Central Meridians | Value | Map Focus | Orientation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenwich | 0° | Europe, Africa | N |
| Florence | 11° E | Africa | N |
| 90° W | North and South America | N or S | |
| 150 ° E | Oceania | N | |
| 150° E | Oceania, Australia | S |
Projection Distortions (Intrinsics)
The Tissot Indicatrix is a method to analyse the distortion behavior of a map projection. An infinitesimal small cirle on the earth model generally is mapped to an ellipse (=Tissot Indicatrix).
A map projection is claimed “Equal Area” when in all points of the projection, the indicatrices have the same areal size. But in most points, the indicatrices are no circles and vary in shape.
- all projected Tissot Indicatrices have the same area = equal area intrinsics
- the shape of the Tissot Indicatrices vary in each point (size and orientation)
- in Equator area, the lenghtes get longer in direction of the meridians and shorter in east-west direction
- because the poles are projected as a line, the east-west distortion increases when nearing the poles
Formula
developped / published 2018 by Bojan Šavrič, Tom Patterson & Bernhard Jenny
in the International Journal of Geographical Information Science.
Popularity
On 4th September 2026, the United Nations General Assembly voted for a resolution which “encourages governments, schools, international organizations and technology companies to use the Equal Earth projection and other so-called equal-area maps when relative size matters, matters, and to teach the limitations of any flat map in representing a spherical planet.” [UN-Web 2026]
Other Equal Area Projection for World Maps
there exist various other Equal Area Projection Methods for World Maps.
see e.g. “Map Projection Selection by Regional Use”
latest version: 16.09.2026
first published: 16.09.2025
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