Just in time for World Population Day last week, the United Nations issued a simple press release full of statistics that have decidedly complex implications. Another 2.5 billion urban dwellers are anticipated to inhabit the world’s cities by 2050. By 2050, India is projected to add 404 million urban dwellers, China 292 million and Nigeria 212 million. Most of the growth, no surprise, will come in Asia and Africa. These, and other mind-boggling facts, needed a little more attention, so we created an infographic that contained the most compelling information.

“Managing urban areas has become one of the most important development challenges of the 21st century. Our success or failure in building sustainable cities will be a major factor in the success of the post-2015 UN development agenda,” said John Wilmoth, director of the Population Division in the UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Indeed.

Diana Lind is the former executive director and editor in chief of Next City.