145 of its 550 stories (26%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of people falling ill ran at more than ten times the usual rate (8 stories).
18 Oct to 24 Oct: 28 in every 100 of its stories were about people being harmed — about one and a half times the world's share (19).
What stood out
The news pointed at South Africa on 4 of the 7 days held.
Most on Monday 19 October 2026: Reports of abductions ran at about twice the usual rate (5 stories).
Compared with
the world's news over the same days; "usual" is its own 30 days before.
How it moved
How harsh or warm the words were in South Africa's stories about people being harmed
Higher is warmer, lower is harsher. Dashed line: the world.
South AfricaThe world
Key events
the events its news covered most, newest on the rightScroll sideways for earlier events. Key events are the most covered, not necessarily the most harmful: attacks, accidents and disasters, displacement, protests and outbreaks, ranked by the share of the day's outlets that reported them and how clearly they were about one thing, so every year competes fairly.
Its biggest days
when the news pointed at South Africa most171 of its 601 stories (28%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of people falling ill ran at more than ten times the usual rate (6 stories).
203 of its 625 stories (32%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Outbreaks were named in 17 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual, with norovirus.
157 of its 610 stories (26%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of abductions ran at about twice the usual rate (5 stories).
In detail
against the world's news, same daysPeople and attention
a tenththe world's rateten times
About 60 million people live in South Africa. Over these days its news carried 16 stories about people being harmed for every million people — about twice the world's rate (8.5 per million).
How much of the world's attention reached it for its size: coverage per person, not harm per person. Population is approximate (about 2023).
Parts of life
Share of its stories about people being harmed, by part of life.
Rights & justice34%314 stories
Health27%249 stories
Food & livelihood12%115 stories
Shelter & services11%103 stories
Disasters & accidents6%55 stories
Conflict & violence5%49 stories
Deaths & injuries, cause not given3%26 stories
Displacement2%23 stories
Harm reported
Stories, not people: a story counts once however many people it reports.
Stories reporting people killed152 Stories reporting people affected142 Stories reporting arrests98 Stories reporting people falling ill22 Stories reporting abductions20 Stories reporting people injured14 Stories reporting refugees11 Stories reporting people displaced11 Stories reporting evacuations8Harsh or warm words
harshwarm
Its stories' words were a little harsher than the world's.
Filled dot: South Africa. Ring: the world. Measured over 954 stories.
Feelings
Angerabout as angry as the world's
Against its own usual: about two-thirds of usual
Griefa little less grief-stricken than the world's
Against its own usual: about half usual
Fearabout as fearful as the world's
Against its own usual: a little more than usual
Warmthabout as warm as the world's
Against its own usual: about as usual
a quarterlike the worldfour times
Dot: South Africa in these days. Line: the world. Dashed ring: South Africa's own usual (the 30 days before).
Its neighbours, same days
South Africa28 in 100
of its 3,462 stories were about people being harmed · mostly rights & justice
Mozambique20 in 100
of its 92 stories were about people being harmed · mostly conflict & violence
Botswana18 in 100
of its 99 stories were about people being harmed · mostly health
Eswatini0 in 100
of its 3 stories were about people being harmed · mostly
Namibia17 in 100
of its 287 stories were about people being harmed · mostly health
Zimbabwe14 in 100
of its 510 stories were about people being harmed · mostly rights & justice
Countries that share a border on the map (the nearest ones for an island). A country with few stories ranks lower.
Where it happened
Accidents & disastersProtests & strikes
South Africa (bright) and its neighbours. Dots: its key events in these days. Click a dot for its stories.
Diseases and disasters named far more than usual
outbreaks20 Oct17 of its stories that day, about 5 times its usual · also 19 OctCounted where the stories mention most, so a storm abroad can land under a country only mentioned. Opens that day.