← 29 Sep Saturday 30 September 2017 · to 23:59 UTC 1 Oct →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
24,718 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 →

A disaster in Bucharest, evacuations in Indonesia and arrests in Kuwait drew the news. Romania's coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's. Everywhere we counted, the words were much harsher than usual.

Part of lifeRights & justice 28 in 100 of the stories about harm · much more than usual Country that rose mostKuwait 71 in 100 of its 99 stories, usually 16
RegionSouth Asia 35 in 100 of its stories, usually 32
Tone of the words Much harsher than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Conflict & violence

Romania

110 of its 200 stories (55%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Bucharest accounted for 100 of Romania's 110 stories about harm, carried by 76 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (67 stories). Its coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's. Fear in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.

Romania over 30 days → its stories → Bucharest stories →
Disasters & accidents

Indonesia

244 of its 418 stories (58%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. Reports of evacuations ran at about three times the usual rate (93 stories). Road crashes were named in 23 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Warmth in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

Indonesia over 30 days → its stories →
Rights & justice

Kuwait

70 of its 99 stories (71%) were about people being harmed, usually 16%. Reports of arrests ran at more than ten times the usual rate (67 stories). Its coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Kuwait over 30 days → its stories →
Deaths & injuries, cause not given

Ghana

94 of its 432 stories (22%) were about people being harmed, usually 12%. Reports of people injured ran at about 6 times the usual rate (7 stories). Grief in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.

Ghana over 30 days → its stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Disasters & accidents

Vanuatu

65 of its 70 stories (93%) were about people being harmed, usually 61%. Ambae accounted for 47 of Vanuatu's 65 stories about harm, carried by 40 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about 5 times the usual rate (37 stories).

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Afghanistan

208 of its 285 stories (73%) were about people being harmed, usually 59%. Reports of arrests ran at about 5 times the usual rate (49 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Rights & justice

South Africa

157 of its 510 stories (31%) were about people being harmed, usually 22%. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (30 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Cameroon

30 of its 70 stories (43%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. 12 of Yaounde's 12 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (23 stories).

its stories →
Rights & justice

Egypt

160 of its 337 stories (47%) were about people being harmed, usually 40%. Cairo accounted for 129 of Egypt's 160 stories about harm, carried by 126 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about 4 times the usual rate (130 stories).

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Syria

Idlib accounted for 129 of Syria's 281 stories about harm, carried by 114 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (86 stories). Its coverage was about three times as angry as the world's. Grief in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: power cuts in U.S. Virgin Islands (66 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); plane crash in Congo (36 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); volcanic eruption in Portugal (19 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); poisoning in Germany (53 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); earthquake in China (104 of its stories, about 9 times its usual).

23 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 25; 23 the day before
33 in 10020 in 1001 Sep8 Sep15 Sep22 Sep30 Sep1 Sep: 25 in 1002 Sep: 26 in 1003 Sep: 27 in 1004 Sep: 25 in 1005 Sep: 24 in 1006 Sep: 23 in 1007 Sep: 25 in 1008 Sep: 26 in 1009 Sep: 30 in 10010 Sep: 33 in 10011 Sep: 29 in 10012 Sep: 25 in 10013 Sep: 24 in 10014 Sep: 23 in 10015 Sep: 24 in 10016 Sep: 27 in 10017 Sep: 27 in 10018 Sep: 23 in 10019 Sep: 23 in 10020 Sep: 23 in 10021 Sep: 23 in 10022 Sep: 22 in 10023 Sep: 24 in 10024 Sep: 24 in 10025 Sep: 20 in 10026 Sep: 21 in 10027 Sep: 20 in 10028 Sep: 22 in 10029 Sep: 23 in 10030 Sep: 23 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 30 Sep. 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 24,718 stories about harm among 105,256 counted on 30 Sep.

Read the day's briefing

Romania's news was 55% about people being harmed, against a usual 23%. of the day's 105,256 news stories, 23 in every 100 were about people being harmed, below the usual 25. A year earlier, on 30 September 2016, 21 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 23 today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Vanuatu93 in 100 of its 70 stories · usually 61 · mostly disasters & accidents U.S. Virgin Islands82 in 100 of its 95 stories · usually 58 · mostly disasters & accidents Congo80 in 100 of its 123 stories · usually 59 · mostly disasters & accidents Yemen74 in 100 of its 78 stories · usually 69 · mostly health Syria74 in 100 of its 378 stories · usually 73 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Barcelona Spain258 stories about protests or strikes, of its 279 Washington US197 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1301 Madrid Spain153 stories about protests or strikes, of its 199 Chicago US97 stories about protests or strikes, of its 204 Paris France75 stories about protests or strikes, of its 122

Stories, not people.

Where harm was most of the news

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zimbabwe: near the world's share or lessZambia: near the world's share or lessVietnam: near the world's share or lessVenezuela: near the world's share or lessUzbekistan: near the world's share or lessUruguay: near the world's share or lessMicronesia: no storiesGuam: near the world's share or lessUnited States: near the world's share or lessSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands: no storiesFalkland Islands: no storiesCayman Islands: near the world's share or lessIsle of Man: no storiesUnited Kingdom: near the world's share or lessUnited Arab Emirates: near the world's share or lessUkraine: near the world's share or lessTurkmenistan: near the world's share or lessTunisia: near the world's share or lessTonga: near the world's share or lessTogo: near the world's share or lessTimor-Leste: no storiesThailand: near the world's share or lessTanzania: near the world's share or lessTajikistan: near the world's share or lessTaiwan: near the world's share or lessSwitzerland: near the world's share or lessEswatini: near the world's share or lessSuriname: near the world's share or lessSpain: near the world's share or lessSouth Korea: near the world's share or lessSomaliland: no storiesSolomon Islands: near the world's share or lessSlovakia: near the world's share or lessSlovenia: near the world's share or lessSingapore: near the world's share or lessSeychelles: near the world's share or lessSerbia: no storiesSenegal: near the world's share or lessSaudi Arabia: near the world's share or lessSão Tomé: near the world's share or lessSamoa: near the world's share or lessSt Vincent: near the world's share or lessSt. Lucia: near the world's share or lessRussia: near the world's share or lessQatar: near the world's share or lessPoland: near the world's share or lessPhilippines: near the world's share or lessPeru: near the world's share or lessParaguay: near the world's share or lessPapua New Guinea: near the world's share or lessPanama: near the world's share or lessPalau: near the world's share or lessOman: near the world's share or lessNorway: near the world's share or lessNorth Korea: near the world's share or lessNigeria: near the world's share or lessNiger: near the world's share or lessNicaragua: near the world's share or lessNew Zealand: near the world's share or lessNiue: near the world's share or lessNetherlands: near the world's share or lessCuraçao: no storiesNepal: near the world's share or lessNamibia: near the world's share or lessMozambique: near the world's share or lessMorocco: near the world's share or lessWestern Sahara: no storiesMontenegro: near the world's share or lessMongolia: near the world's share or lessMoldova: near the world's share or lessMauritius: near the world's share or lessMauritania: near the world's share or lessMalta: near the world's share or lessMali: near the world's share or lessMalaysia: near the world's share or lessMalawi: near the world's share or lessNorth Macedonia: near the world's share or lessLuxembourg: near the world's share or lessLithuania: near the world's share or lessLiberia: near the world's share or lessLesotho: near the world's share or lessLebanon: near the world's share or lessLatvia: near the world's share or lessLaos: near the world's share or lessKyrgyzstan: near the world's share or lessKosovo: no storiesKiribati: near the world's share or lessKenya: near the world's share or lessKazakhstan: near the world's share or lessJordan: near the world's share or lessJapan: near the world's share or lessJamaica: near the world's share or lessItaly: near the world's share or lessIsrael: near the world's share or lessIreland: near the world's share or lessIran: near the world's share or lessIceland: near the world's share or lessHungary: near the world's share or lessHonduras: near the world's share or lessHaiti: near the world's share or lessGuyana: near the world's share or lessGuinea-Bissau: near the world's share or lessGuinea: near the world's share or lessGuatemala: near the world's share or lessGrenada: near the world's share or lessGhana: near the world's share or lessGermany: near the world's share or lessGeorgia: near the world's share or lessGambia: near the world's share or lessGabon: near the world's share or lessFrance: near the world's share or lessSt Pierre & Miquelon: no storiesFrench Polynesia: near the world's share or lessNew Caledonia: near the world's share or lessFrench Southern Territories: no storiesÅland Islands: no storiesFinland: near the world's share or lessFiji: near the world's share or lessEstonia: near the world's share or lessEritrea: near the world's share or lessEquatorial Guinea: near the world's share or lessEcuador: near the world's share or lessDominican Republic: near the world's share or lessDjibouti: near the world's share or lessGreenland: near the world's share or lessFaroe Islands: near the world's share or lessDenmark: near the world's share or lessCzech Republic: near the world's share or lessN. Cyprus: no storiesCyprus: near the world's share or lessCroatia: near the world's share or lessCôte d'Ivoire: near the world's share or lessCosta Rica: near the world's share or lessComoros: no storiesChina: near the world's share or lessHong Kong: near the world's share or lessChile: near the world's share or lessChad: near the world's share or lessCentral African Republic: near the world's share or lessCape Verde: no storiesCanada: near the world's share or lessBurundi: near the world's share or lessBurkina Faso: near the world's share or lessBulgaria: near the world's share or lessBrunei: near the world's share or lessBrazil: near the world's share or lessBotswana: near the world's share or lessBosnia and Herzegovina: near the world's share or lessBolivia: near the world's share or lessBhutan: near the world's share or lessBenin: near the world's share or lessBelize: near the world's share or lessBelgium: near the world's share or lessBelarus: near the world's share or lessBarbados: near the world's share or lessBahrain: near the world's share or lessBahamas: near the world's share or lessAzerbaijan: near the world's share or lessAustria: near the world's share or lessAustralia: near the world's share or lessHeard & McDonald Islands: no storiesArmenia: near the world's share or lessArgentina: near the world's share or lessAngola: near the world's share or lessAndorra: no storiesAlgeria: near the world's share or lessJammu & Kashmir: near the world's share or lessAksai Chin: near the world's share or lessWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): no storiesWestern Sahara (Free Zone): no storiesAzad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: near the world's share or lessSiachen Glacier: near the world's share or lessCrimea: near the world's share or lessAzad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: near the world's share or lessVatican City: near the world's share or lessMarshall Islands: near the world's share or lessNorthern Mariana Islands: no storiesAmerican Samoa: near the world's share or lessChagos Islands: no storiesSt. Helena: no storiesPitcairn: no storiesAnguilla: near the world's share or lessBermuda: near the world's share or lessBritish Virgin Islands: near the world's share or lessTurks & Caicos Islands: no storiesMontserrat: near the world's share or lessJersey: near the world's share or lessGuernsey: near the world's share or lessSan Marino: no storiesSt Kitts & Nevis: no storiesCook Islands: no storiesAruba: near the world's share or lessNauru: no storiesMonaco: near the world's share or lessMaldives: near the world's share or lessLiechtenstein: no storiesWallis & Futuna: no storiesSt. Martin: no storiesSt. Barthélemy: no storiesMacao: near the world's share or lessNorfolk Island: no storiesSint Maarten: no storiesChristmas Island: no storiesGibraltar: near the world's share or lessMayotte: no storiesYemen: 74 in 100 of its 78 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Vanuatu: 93 in 100 of its 70 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)U.S. Virgin Islands: 82 in 100 of its 95 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Puerto Rico: 62 in 100 of its 2,067 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Uganda: 34 in 100 of its 100 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Türkiye: 47 in 100 of its 339 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Trinidad & Tobago: 45 in 100 of its 69 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Syria: 74 in 100 of its 378 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Sweden: 36 in 100 of its 316 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)South Sudan: 71 in 100 of its 14 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Sudan: 46 in 100 of its 26 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Sri Lanka: 37 in 100 of its 151 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)South Africa: 31 in 100 of its 510 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Somalia: 66 in 100 of its 180 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Sierra Leone: 39 in 100 of its 51 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Rwanda: 56 in 100 of its 68 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Romania: 55 in 100 of its 200 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Portugal: 35 in 100 of its 84 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Pakistan: 40 in 100 of its 1,165 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Mexico: 40 in 100 of its 685 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Madagascar: 61 in 100 of its 18 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Libya: 55 in 100 of its 75 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Kuwait: 71 in 100 of its 99 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Palestine: 31 in 100 of its 671 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Iraq: 31 in 100 of its 807 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Indonesia: 58 in 100 of its 418 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)India: 30 in 100 of its 4,425 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Greece: 33 in 100 of its 184 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Ethiopia: 44 in 100 of its 71 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)El Salvador: 62 in 100 of its 13 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Egypt: 47 in 100 of its 337 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Dominica: 58 in 100 of its 53 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Cuba: 68 in 100 of its 402 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)DR Congo: 71 in 100 of its 7 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Congo: 80 in 100 of its 123 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Colombia: 38 in 100 of its 175 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Cameroon: 43 in 100 of its 70 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Cambodia: 53 in 100 of its 73 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Myanmar: 50 in 100 of its 122 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Bangladesh: 59 in 100 of its 490 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Antigua & Barbuda: 57 in 100 of its 14 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Albania: 42 in 100 of its 24 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Afghanistan: 73 in 100 of its 285 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Palestine: 31 in 100 of its 671 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Palestine: 31 in 100 of its 671 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)Palestine: 31 in 100 of its 671 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 23)
A quarter or more above the world's share Near the world's or lessNo stories

Each country shaded by how much of its news was about people being harmed, against the world's 23 in 100 that day. Stronger colour: further above. A country with few stories is drawn closer to the world's. Click a country.

Most of its news about harm

● Syria 74 in 100 of its 378 stories · mostly conflict & violence ● Afghanistan 73 in 100 of its 285 stories · mostly conflict & violence ● Congo 80 in 100 of its 123 stories · mostly disasters & accidents ● Vanuatu 93 in 100 of its 70 stories · mostly disasters & accidents ● Cuba 68 in 100 of its 402 stories · mostly health ● U.S. Virgin Islands 82 in 100 of its 95 stories · mostly disasters & accidents

Stories, not people. Countries with at least 50 stories.

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Rights & justice28% 6,725 stories · much more than usual (usually 22%) Disasters & accidents24% 5,716 stories · much less than usual (usually 29%) Health20% 4,922 stories · more than usual (usually 17%) Conflict & violence15% 3,711 stories · less than usual (usually 17%) Deaths & injuries, cause not given6% 1,487 stories · about as usual Shelter & services3% 845 stories · about as usual Displacement2% 524 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 309 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 killed7,121 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests3,098 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected2,687 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Bangladesh Stories reporting people injured2,061 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees486 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about Bangladesh and the US Stories reporting evacuations390 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and Indonesia Stories reporting people displaced195 at about half the usual rate · most about Nigeria and the US Stories reporting abductions154 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Nigeria Stories reporting people falling ill13 at about a third of the usual rate · most about the US and Cuba

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 much harsher than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.

● Angerabout as usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefa little more than 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 · 19 Oct – 25 Oct

The week in human impact

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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.