France shifts cartographic standards to change its appearance on world maps

France is adopting a new map projection, moving away from Mercator—the centuries-old standard that has shaped world maps globally. Mercator's system exaggerates size at higher latitudes, making France look substantially larger than it actually is. The shift means France will appear smaller on future world maps, reflecting its true proportions. It's a deliberate choice about how a major European nation wants to be represented in global geography.