NEW! Watch the 2018 NACIS video on designing the Equal Earth projection.

August 7, 2018 – The Equal Earth map projection is a new equal-area pseudocylindrical projection for world maps. We created it to provide a visually pleasing alternative to the Gall-Peters projection, which some schools and organizations have adopted out of concern for fairness—they need a world map showing continents and countries at their true sizes relative to each other.

In addition to being rigorously equal-area throughout, other Equal Earth features include:

• An overall shape similar to that of the Robinson projection. (The Robinson, although popular and pleasing to the eye, is not equal-area as is the Equal Earth projection).

• The curved sides of the projection suggest the spherical form of Earth.

• Straight parallels that make it easier to compare how far north or south places are from the equator.

• Meridians are evenly spaced along any given line of latitude.

• Easy-to-implement code that runs efficiently in software.