← 20 Dec Thursday 21 December 2017 · to 23:59 UTC 22 Dec →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
40,525 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 news turned to the earthquake in Iran, people injured in Australia and protests in Baghdad (Iraq). Saudi Arabia's coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Over the whole world, the tone was about as usual.

Reports of people falling ill ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about France and the US →
Part of lifeRights & justice 29 in 100 of the stories about harm · about as usual Country that rose mostSouth Sudan 92 in 100 of its 251 stories, usually 61
RegionOceania 30 in 100 of its stories, usually 18
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

Iran

264 of its 563 stories (47%) were about people being harmed, usually 34%. Tehran accounted for 199 of Iran's 264 stories about harm, carried by 169 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about 4 times the usual rate (47 stories). Earthquake was named in 164 of its stories about harm, about three times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

Iran over 30 days → its stories → Tehran stories →
Rights & justice

Australia

2,155 of its 6,865 stories (31%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (1,172 stories). Hypothermia was named in 19 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

Australia over 30 days → its stories →
Protests & strikes

Iraq

290 of its 423 stories (69%) were about people being harmed, usually 58%. 47 of Baghdad's 84 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of refugees ran at about three times the usual rate (18 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

Iraq over 30 days → its stories → Baghdad stories →
Conflict & violence

Saudi Arabia

Riyadh accounted for 204 of Saudi Arabia's 236 stories about harm, carried by 196 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (29 stories). Cholera was named in 83 of its stories about harm, about three times usual. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

Saudi Arabia over 30 days → its stories → Riyadh stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Protests & strikes

Colombia

69 of its 153 stories (45%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. 4 of Bogota's 8 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (21 stories). Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Mexico

510 of its 1,207 stories (42%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Reports of people injured ran at about 4 times the usual rate (243 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Rights & justice

Myanmar

95 of its 119 stories (80%) were about people being harmed, usually 59%. Yangon accounted for 67 of Myanmar's 95 stories about harm, carried by 75 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about 4 times the usual rate (58 stories).

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Philippines

832 of its 1,850 stories (45%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Reports of people affected ran at about 5 times the usual rate (394 stories). Tropical storm was named in 251 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual, with power cuts.

its stories →
Displacement

Lebanon

154 of its 334 stories (46%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. Beirut accounted for 119 of Lebanon's 154 stories about harm, carried by 43 outlets. Reports of people displaced ran at more than ten times the usual rate (79 stories).

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Afghanistan

305 of its 471 stories (65%) were about people being harmed, usually 57%. Kabul accounted for 233 of Afghanistan's 305 stories about harm, carried by 264 outlets. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: food poisoning in France (138 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); hurricane in Cuba (34 of its stories, about three times its usual); tropical storm in Philippines (251 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); tuberculosis in Tanzania (16 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); cyclone in Fiji (13 of its stories, about 4 times its usual).

20 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 21; 20 the day before
24 in 10019 in 10022 Nov29 Nov6 Dec13 Dec21 Dec22 Nov: 20 in 10023 Nov: 20 in 10024 Nov: 21 in 10025 Nov: 24 in 10026 Nov: 23 in 10027 Nov: 20 in 10028 Nov: 20 in 10029 Nov: 19 in 10030 Nov: 19 in 1001 Dec: 20 in 1002 Dec: 21 in 1003 Dec: 20 in 1004 Dec: 19 in 1005 Dec: 20 in 1006 Dec: 20 in 1007 Dec: 19 in 1008 Dec: 20 in 1009 Dec: 23 in 10010 Dec: 24 in 10011 Dec: 22 in 10012 Dec: 21 in 10013 Dec: 20 in 10014 Dec: 20 in 10015 Dec: 19 in 10016 Dec: 21 in 10017 Dec: 22 in 10018 Dec: 22 in 10019 Dec: 21 in 10020 Dec: 20 in 10021 Dec: 20 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 21 Dec. 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 40,525 stories about harm among 202,155 counted on 21 Dec.

Read the day's briefing

Reports of people falling ill ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about France and the US. Stories about people being harmed made up 20 in every 100 of the day's 202,155 stories, as usual. It was the second day running that the news turned to Iran. In Iran's news, mentions of the earthquake ran about three times their usual. Iran stood out: 47% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 34%.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

South Sudan92 in 100 of its 251 stories · usually 61 · mostly conflict & violence Myanmar80 in 100 of its 119 stories · usually 59 · mostly rights & justice Yemen76 in 100 of its 340 stories · usually 75 · mostly health Iraq69 in 100 of its 423 stories · usually 58 · mostly conflict & violence Afghanistan65 in 100 of its 471 stories · usually 57 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US337 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1857 Jerusalem Israel273 stories about protests or strikes, of its 573 Barcelona Spain205 stories about protests or strikes, of its 252 Charlottesville US152 stories about protests or strikes, of its 160 Hebron Palestine143 stories about protests or strikes, of its 148

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zimbabwe: feelings about like the world'sZambia: feelings about like the world'sVietnam: feelings about like the world'sVanuatu: feelings about like the world'sUzbekistan: feelings about like the world'sUruguay: feelings about like the world'sMicronesia: feelings about like the world'sU.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 readTurkmenistan: too little coverage to readTunisia: feelings about like the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: feelings about like the world'sTonga: feelings about like the world'sTogo: too little coverage to readTimor-Leste: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: feelings about like the world'sTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: feelings about like the world'sSri Lanka: feelings about like the world'sSpain: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: feelings about like the world'sSlovakia: 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 readSenegal: feelings about like the world'sSão 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'sPanama: feelings about like the world'sPalau: feelings about like the world'sOman: 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 readNamibia: feelings about like the world'sMozambique: feelings about like the world'sMorocco: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara: too little coverage to readMontenegro: 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'sLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLithuania: feelings about like the world'sLesotho: feelings about like the world'sLebanon: feelings about like the world'sLaos: feelings about like the world'sKyrgyzstan: feelings about like the world'sKuwait: 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'sJapan: 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'sGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGuinea: feelings about like the world'sGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: feelings about like the world'sGhana: feelings about like the world'sGermany: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGambia: feelings about like the world'sSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: too little coverage to readNew Caledonia: feelings about like the world'sFrench Southern Territories: too little coverage to readÅland Islands: too little coverage to readFinland: feelings about like the world'sEstonia: feelings about like the world'sEritrea: feelings about like the world'sEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: too little coverage to readDominica: feelings about like the world'sDjibouti: feelings about like the world'sGreenland: feelings about like the world'sFaroe Islands: feelings about like the world'sDenmark: feelings about like the world'sCzech Republic: feelings about like the world'sN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: feelings about like the world'sCuba: 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: too little coverage to readComoros: too little coverage to readHong Kong: feelings about like the world'sChile: feelings about like the world'sChad: feelings about like the world'sCentral African Republic: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: too little coverage to readCanada: feelings about like the world'sCambodia: feelings about like the world'sMyanmar: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: feelings about like the world'sBurkina Faso: feelings about like the world'sBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: feelings about like the world'sBrazil: feelings about like the world'sBotswana: feelings about like the world'sBolivia: 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'sBahrain: feelings about like the world'sAzerbaijan: feelings about like the world'sAustria: feelings about like the world'sHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readArgentina: feelings about like the world'sAntigua & Barbuda: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: too little coverage to readAlgeria: feelings about like the world'sAlbania: feelings about like the world'sGaza: feelings about like the world'sWest Bank: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readEast Jerusalem: feelings about like the world'sMarshall Islands: too little coverage to readNorthern Mariana Islands: too little coverage to readAmerican Samoa: too little coverage to readChagos Islands: too little coverage to readSt. Helena: too little coverage to readPitcairn: too little coverage to readAnguilla: feelings about like the world'sBritish Virgin Islands: feelings about like the world'sTurks & 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: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: too little coverage to readCook Islands: too little coverage to readAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: too little coverage to readMonaco: too little coverage to readLiechtenstein: feelings about like the world'sWallis & 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: too little coverage to readMayotte: too little coverage to readYemen: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sVenezuela: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUK: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sUnited Arab Emirates: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUkraine: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sUganda: coverage a little warmer than the world'sTürkiye: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sThailand: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sTanzania: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSyria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSweden: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSouth Sudan: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sSudan: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSouth Korea: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSouth Africa: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sSomalia: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sRwanda: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sRussia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sQatar: coverage a little warmer than the world'sPoland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPhilippines: 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 about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNew Zealand: coverage a little warmer than the world'sNetherlands: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sNepal: coverage a little angrier than the world'sMexico: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sMalta: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sMali: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sMalaysia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMalawi: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMadagascar: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sNorth Macedonia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sLibya: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sLiberia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sLatvia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sJordan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sItaly: coverage a little warmer than the world'sIsrael: coverage a little angrier than the world'sIraq: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sIran: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sHonduras: coverage a little warmer than the world'sHaiti: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sGuyana: coverage a little angrier than the world'sGreece: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sGabon: coverage a little angrier than the world'sFrance: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sFiji: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sEthiopia: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sEl Salvador: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sEgypt: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as 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 angry as the world'sChina: coverage a little warmer than the world'sCameroon: coverage about three times as fearful as the world'sBosnia: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sBelgium: coverage a little warmer than the world'sBangladesh: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sBahamas: coverage a little warmer than the world'sAustralia: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sArmenia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sAngola: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage a little angrier than the world'sChina: coverage a little warmer than the world'sKashmir: coverage a little angrier than the world'sKashmir: coverage a little angrier than the world'sUkraine: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage a little angrier than the world'sVatican City: coverage a little warmer than the world'sBermuda: coverage a little warmer than the world'sMaldives: coverage a little warmer than 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

● Cameroon about three times as fearful as the world's · 101 stories about harm ● Saudi Arabia about twice as angry as the world's · 236 stories about harm ● South Sudan about twice as angry as the world's · 232 stories about harm ● Yemen about twice as angry as the world's · 257 stories about harm ● Malta about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 71 stories about harm ● Ethiopia about twice as angry as the world's · 66 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Rights & justice29% 11,566 stories · about as usual Health22% 8,579 stories · more than usual (usually 19%) Conflict & violence18% 7,111 stories · less than usual (usually 21%) Disasters & accidents17% 6,846 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given5% 2,121 stories · about as usual Shelter & services3% 1,307 stories · about as usual Displacement3% 1,201 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood2% 938 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 killed12,784 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests6,202 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected5,527 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured4,345 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees1,035 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions408 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced374 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations319 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and the Philippines Stories reporting people falling ill137 at about twice the usual rate · most about France and the US

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 →

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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.