← 17 May Thursday 18 May 2017 · to 23:59 UTC 19 May →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
52,386 stories about harm· Trends· Every past day

We measure how the world's news covered people being harmed — and the help and hope within it.

How to read these numbers →

The day's news pointed at building collapse in Sri Lanka, illness in Monrovia and violence in Baghdad. Sri Lanka's coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Over the whole world, the tone was about as usual.

Part of lifeRights & justice 31 in 100 of the stories about harm · about as usual Country that rose mostSri Lanka 69 in 100 of its 551 stories, usually 24
RegionLatin America & Caribbean 31 in 100 of its stories, usually 29
Tone of the words About as usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Disasters & accidents

Sri Lanka

378 of its 551 stories (69%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. Colombo accounted for 272 of Sri Lanka's 378 stories about harm, carried by 159 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (198 stories). Building collapse was named in 165 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

Sri Lanka over 30 days → its stories → Colombo stories →
Health

Liberia

126 of its 192 stories (66%) were about people being harmed, usually 50%. Monrovia accounted for 93 of Liberia's 126 stories about harm, carried by 90 outlets. Haemorrhagic fever was named in 13 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

Liberia over 30 days → its stories → Monrovia stories →
Conflict & violence

Iraq

461 of its 605 stories (76%) were about people being harmed, usually 63%. Baghdad accounted for 227 of Iraq's 461 stories about harm, carried by 172 outlets. Reports of people displaced ran at about twice the usual rate (41 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

Iraq over 30 days → its stories → Baghdad stories →
Protests & strikes

South Korea

318 of its 1,065 stories (30%) were about people being harmed, usually 19%. 173 of Gwangju's 218 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people killed ran at about 6 times the usual rate (224 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's.

South Korea over 30 days → its stories → Gwangju stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Conflict & violence

Burundi

32 of its 39 stories (82%) were about people being harmed, usually 67%. Bujumbura accounted for 29 of Burundi's 32 stories about harm, carried by 19 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about 10 times the usual rate (13 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Mali

139 of its 183 stories (76%) were about people being harmed, usually 58%. Aguelhoc accounted for 97 of Mali's 139 stories about harm, carried by 110 outlets. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Venezuela

791 of its 1,038 stories (76%) were about people being harmed, usually 62%. 131 of Caracas' 173 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Denmark

105 of its 288 stories (36%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. HIV was named in 19 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Greece

264 of its 867 stories (30%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. 190 of Athens' 220 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about 7 times the usual rate (79 stories).

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Syria

Damascus accounted for 506 of Syria's 1,032 stories about harm, carried by 267 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about 5 times the usual rate (545 stories). Its coverage was about three times as angry as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: hunger in Cambodia (19 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); heatwave in United Arab Emirates (11 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); volcanic eruption in New Zealand (39 of its stories, about 9 times its usual); hiv in Denmark (19 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); cyclone in Bangladesh (20 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).

20 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 21; 20 the day before
24 in 10019 in 10019 Apr26 Apr3 May10 May18 May19 Apr: 21 in 10020 Apr: 21 in 10021 Apr: 22 in 10022 Apr: 23 in 10023 Apr: 22 in 10024 Apr: 22 in 10025 Apr: 21 in 10026 Apr: 20 in 10027 Apr: 20 in 10028 Apr: 20 in 10029 Apr: 20 in 10030 Apr: 21 in 1001 May: 22 in 1002 May: 21 in 1003 May: 21 in 1004 May: 21 in 1005 May: 21 in 1006 May: 23 in 1007 May: 24 in 1008 May: 20 in 1009 May: 20 in 10010 May: 20 in 10011 May: 19 in 10012 May: 20 in 10013 May: 22 in 10014 May: 20 in 10015 May: 20 in 10016 May: 20 in 10017 May: 20 in 10018 May: 20 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 18 May. The big dot is this day; the shaded band is a normal day (the 30 days before it). Click a day to open it. Based on 52,386 stories about harm among 255,946 counted on 18 May.

Read the day's briefing

Mentions of building collapse ran more than ten times their usual in Sri Lanka's news. of the day's 255,946 news stories, 20 in every 100 were about people being harmed, as usual. Sri Lanka stood out: 69% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 24%. A year earlier, on 18 May 2016, 20 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, the same as today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Congo88 in 100 of its 169 stories · usually 78 · mostly health Venezuela76 in 100 of its 1,038 stories · usually 62 · mostly rights & justice Iraq76 in 100 of its 605 stories · usually 63 · mostly conflict & violence Mali76 in 100 of its 183 stories · usually 58 · mostly conflict & violence Yemen73 in 100 of its 136 stories · usually 75 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US580 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1728 Tulsa County US471 stories about protests or strikes, of its 516 Times Square US343 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1350 Jerusalem Israel221 stories about protests or strikes, of its 423 Damascus Syria205 stories about protests or strikes, of its 506

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zambia: feelings about like the world'sVietnam: feelings about like the world'sVanuatu: feelings about like the world'sUzbekistan: feelings about like the world'sUruguay: too little coverage to readMicronesia: too little coverage to readU.S. Virgin Islands: feelings about like the world'sGuam: feelings about like the world'sPuerto Rico: feelings about like the world'sUnited States: feelings about like the world'sSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands: too little coverage to readFalkland Islands: too little coverage to readCayman Islands: feelings about like the world'sIsle of Man: too little coverage to readUnited Arab Emirates: feelings about like the world'sUkraine: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: feelings about like the world'sTunisia: feelings about like the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: feelings about like the world'sTonga: feelings about like the world'sTogo: feelings about like the world'sThailand: feelings about like the world'sTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: feelings about like the world'sTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sSweden: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: feelings about like the world'sSlovenia: feelings about like the world'sSingapore: feelings about like the world'sSierra Leone: feelings about like the world'sSeychelles: feelings about like the world'sSerbia: too little coverage to readSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: feelings about like the world'sSt Vincent: feelings about like the world'sSt. Lucia: feelings about like the world'sRomania: feelings about like the world'sPortugal: feelings about like the world'sPeru: feelings about like the world'sParaguay: too little coverage to readPapua New Guinea: feelings about like the world'sPalau: too little coverage to readOman: feelings about like the world'sNorway: feelings about like the world'sNigeria: feelings about like the world'sNiger: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readCuraçao: too little coverage to readNepal: feelings about like the world'sNamibia: feelings about like the world'sMozambique: feelings about like the world'sMorocco: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara: feelings about like the world'sMontenegro: too little coverage to readMongolia: feelings about like the world'sMoldova: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: feelings about like the world'sMalta: feelings about like the world'sMalaysia: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: too little coverage to readNorth Macedonia: feelings about like the world'sLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLithuania: feelings about like the world'sLibya: feelings about like the world'sLesotho: feelings about like the world'sLaos: feelings about like the world'sKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: too little coverage to readKenya: feelings about like the world'sKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sJamaica: feelings about like the world'sPalestine: feelings about like the world'sIreland: feelings about like the world'sIndonesia: feelings about like the world'sIndia: feelings about like the world'sIceland: feelings about like the world'sHungary: feelings about like the world'sHaiti: feelings about like the world'sGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGuinea: feelings about like the world'sGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGabon: feelings about like the world'sSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: feelings about like the world'sNew Caledonia: too little coverage to readFrench Southern Territories: too little coverage to readÅland Islands: too little coverage to readFiji: feelings about like the world'sEstonia: feelings about like the world'sEritrea: feelings about like the world'sEquatorial Guinea: feelings about like the world'sEgypt: feelings about like the world'sEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: too little coverage to readGreenland: feelings about like the world'sFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: feelings about like the world'sCroatia: feelings about like the world'sCôte d'Ivoire: feelings about like the world'sCosta Rica: feelings about like the world'sDR Congo: feelings about like the world'sComoros: too little coverage to readChina: feelings about like the world'sChile: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: too little coverage to readMyanmar: feelings about like the world'sBurkina Faso: too little coverage to readBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: feelings about like the world'sBrazil: feelings about like the world'sBotswana: feelings about like the world'sBosnia and Herzegovina: feelings about like the world'sBhutan: feelings about like the world'sBenin: feelings about like the world'sBelize: feelings about like the world'sBelarus: feelings about like the world'sBarbados: feelings about like the world'sBahamas: feelings about like the world'sAustralia: feelings about like the world'sHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readArmenia: feelings about like the world'sAntigua & Barbuda: feelings about like the world'sAngola: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: too little coverage to readJammu & Kashmir: feelings about like the world'sAksai Chin: feelings about like the world'sGaza: feelings about like the world'sWest Bank: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Free Zone): feelings about like the world'sAzad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: feelings about like the world'sSiachen Glacier: feelings about like the world'sCrimea: feelings about like the world'sEast Jerusalem: feelings about like the world'sAzad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: feelings about like the world'sVatican City: feelings about like the world'sMarshall Islands: feelings about like the world'sNorthern Mariana Islands: too little coverage to readAmerican Samoa: too little coverage to readChagos Islands: feelings about like the world'sSt. Helena: feelings about like the world'sPitcairn: too little coverage to readAnguilla: too little coverage to readBermuda: feelings about like the world'sBritish Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: too little coverage to readJersey: feelings about like the world'sGuernsey: feelings about like the world'sSan Marino: feelings about like the world'sSt Kitts & Nevis: too little coverage to readCook Islands: feelings about like the world'sAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: feelings about like the world'sMonaco: feelings about like the world'sMaldives: feelings about like the world'sLiechtenstein: too little coverage to readWallis & Futuna: too little coverage to readSt. Martin: too little coverage to readSt. Barthélemy: too little coverage to readMacao: feelings about like the world'sNorfolk Island: too little coverage to readSint Maarten: too little coverage to readChristmas Island: too little coverage to readGibraltar: feelings about like the world'sMayotte: too little coverage to readZimbabwe: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sYemen: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sVenezuela: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sUK: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sUganda: coverage a little angrier than the world'sTürkiye: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sTimor-Leste: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSyria: coverage about three times as angry as the world'sSouth Sudan: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSudan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSri Lanka: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sSpain: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSouth Korea: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sSouth Africa: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSomalia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSlovakia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSenegal: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sRwanda: coverage a little warmer than the world'sRussia: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sQatar: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPoland: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPhilippines: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPanama: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sNorth Korea: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sNew Zealand: coverage a little warmer than the world'sNetherlands: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sMexico: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMali: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sMalawi: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sLiberia: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sLebanon: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sLatvia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sKyrgyzstan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sKuwait: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sJordan: coverage a little warmer than the world'sJapan: coverage a little warmer than the world'sItaly: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sIsrael: coverage a little warmer than the world'sIraq: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sIran: coverage a little warmer than the world'sHonduras: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGuyana: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sGreece: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sGhana: coverage a little warmer than the world'sGermany: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sGambia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sFrance: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sFinland: coverage a little warmer than the world'sEthiopia: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sEl Salvador: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sDenmark: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sCzechia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCuba: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCongo: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sColombia: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sHong Kong: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sChad: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCentral African Republic: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sCanada: coverage a little warmer than the world'sCameroon: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCambodia: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sBurundi: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sBolivia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBelgium: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sBangladesh: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBahrain: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sAzerbaijan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAustria: coverage a little warmer than the world'sArgentina: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAlgeria: coverage a little warmer than the world'sAlbania: coverage a little warmer than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about three times as angry as the world's
AngerGriefFearWarmth Like the world'sToo little news

Each country in the colour of the feeling its news carried most, against the world's news that day. Stronger colour: further above the world. Click a country.

Strongest feelings

● Afghanistan about three times as angry as the world's · 256 stories about harm ● Syria about three times as angry as the world's · 1,032 stories about harm ● Denmark about twice as fearful as the world's · 105 stories about harm ● Mali about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 139 stories about harm ● Sri Lanka about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 378 stories about harm ● Russia about twice as fearful as the world's · 851 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Rights & justice31% 16,045 stories · about as usual Health21% 10,631 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence19% 9,673 stories · less than usual (usually 22%) Disasters & accidents13% 6,441 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given8% 4,107 stories · about as usual Shelter & services3% 1,674 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood3% 1,671 stories · about as usual Displacement2% 993 stories · about as usual

Of the stories about people being harmed, what part of life each was about. The mark is usual.

Harm reported 30 days →

Stories reporting people killed16,496 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests7,353 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured5,594 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and Syria Stories reporting people affected5,401 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees766 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Italy Stories reporting abductions461 at about half the usual rate · most about Nigeria and the US Stories reporting people displaced364 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about Nigeria and the US Stories reporting evacuations245 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and Canada Stories reporting people falling ill49 at about the usual rate

Stories that report it, not people: we count what reporters wrote, not what happened.

How it felt 30 days →

harshwarm

The words in the day's stories were about as usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.

● Angera little less than usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefabout as usual
● Fearabout as usual

From the words reporters used across the whole day, never one story. Fear is the weakest of the four measures. How?

The weekly briefing · 18 Oct – 24 Oct

The week in human impact

Read the week →

Unlock a year of trends, free. Follow up to 5 countries, with a bell when their news changes, and 👍 vote for Pro — ten years of the archive, any period, daily alerts.

Create a free account

Sign in · a username, an email and a password.

How to read these numbers →

These are counts of stories, not counts of suffering. Most of what happens to people is never reported at all.