7 Billion.

This preview for 7 Billion, a year-long series National Geographic is doing on overpopulation delivers some jaw-dropping facts in beautifully animated kinetic typography.

“In 1975, there were 3 megacities [>10 million people] — Tokyo, Mexico City and New York City. Right now, there are 21. By 2050, 70% of us will be living in a megacity.”

“But we don’t take up as much space as you think… Standing shoulder to shoulder, all 7 billion of us would fill the city of Los Angeles.”

So it’s not space that we need so much as sharing resources:

  • 5% of us consume 23% of the world’s energy
  • 13% of us don’t have clean drinking water
  • 38% lack adequate sanitation

[via Brain Pickings]