As Flowing Data called out, National Geographic recently explored the incredible population growth that Earth has experienced since 1800. Here are some key findings:

Today

• 7 billion people
• 194 countries
• >7,000 languages
• >50% living in urban areas
• 21 megacities with populations >10 million
• every second 5 babies are born, and 2 people die
• 13% don’t have access to clean drinking water

Yesterday and Tomorrow

• 1 billion people in 1800. 9 billion by 2045?
• Life expectancy in 1960 = 56.  Today = 69.  Tomorrow ?
• 70% living in megacities by 2050

I thought it would be neat to see which countries have been driving growth and which will continue to do so from now until 2050. Here is an interactive data report I put together that shows 100 years of population growth in the 30 largest countries of 2010.

And here is the data animation that National Geographic released last week