← 30 Aug Saturday 31 August 2019 · to 23:59 UTC 1 Sep →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
22,469 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 →

Storm surge in the Bahamas, protests in Palmira (Colombia) and rights and justice in Tunis drew the news. Colombia's coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's. Everywhere we counted, the words were much softer than usual.

Reports of evacuations ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about the US and the Bahamas → Reports of people falling ill ran at about three times the usual rate, most often about the US and Uganda → Help and hope: reports of aid and relief ran at about twice the usual rate →
Part of lifeRights & justice 27 in 100 of the stories about harm · much less than usual Country that rose mostBahamas 67 in 100 of its 292 stories, usually 24
RegionEast Asia 26 in 100 of its stories, usually 19
Tone of the words Much softer than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Disasters & accidents

Bahamas

197 of its 292 stories (67%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. Abaco accounted for 108 of the Bahamas' 197 stories about harm, carried by 94 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (31 stories). Storm surge was named in 94 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.

Bahamas over 30 days → its stories → Abaco stories →
Protests & strikes

Colombia

62 of its 84 stories (74%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. 12 of Palmira's 12 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people displaced ran at about 4 times the usual rate (13 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as warm as the world's.

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

Angola

13 of its 27 stories (48%) were about people being harmed, usually 20%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (10 stories). Road crashes were named in 11 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Rights & justice

Norway

100 of its 152 stories (66%) were about people being harmed, usually 19%. Reports of arrests ran at more than ten times the usual rate (54 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Uganda

61 of its 96 stories (64%) were about people being harmed, usually 42%. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (11 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

France

344 of its 1,031 stories (33%) were about people being harmed, usually 18%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (178 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Hong Kong

595 of its 904 stories (66%) were about people being harmed, usually 51%. Hong Kong Island accounted for 466 of Hong Kong's 595 stories about harm, carried by 554 outlets. 464 of Hong Kong Island's 466 stories were about protests or strikes.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Sudan

89 of its 120 stories (74%) were about people being harmed, usually 59%. 49 of Darfur's 50 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of people displaced ran at about three times the usual rate (14 stories).

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: hurricane in US (3581 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); measles in New Zealand (24 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); road crashes in Angola (11 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); landslides in Mexico (24 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); road crashes in UK (64 of its stories, about 7 times its usual).

24 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 22; 21 the day before
31 in 10019 in 1002 Aug9 Aug16 Aug23 Aug31 Aug2 Aug: 21 in 1003 Aug: 25 in 1004 Aug: 31 in 1005 Aug: 24 in 1006 Aug: 22 in 1007 Aug: 23 in 1008 Aug: 22 in 1009 Aug: 22 in 10010 Aug: 26 in 10011 Aug: 26 in 10012 Aug: 22 in 10013 Aug: 21 in 10014 Aug: 20 in 10015 Aug: 21 in 10016 Aug: 21 in 10017 Aug: 24 in 10018 Aug: 25 in 10019 Aug: 20 in 10020 Aug: 20 in 10021 Aug: 19 in 10022 Aug: 19 in 10023 Aug: 21 in 10024 Aug: 21 in 10025 Aug: 21 in 10026 Aug: 21 in 10027 Aug: 20 in 10028 Aug: 20 in 10029 Aug: 20 in 10030 Aug: 21 in 10031 Aug: 24 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 31 Aug. 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 22,469 stories about harm among 92,277 counted on 31 Aug.

Read the day's briefing

On the side of help, reports of aid and relief ran at about twice the usual rate. Stories about people being harmed made up 24 in every 100 of the day's 92,277 stories, above the usual 22. the Bahamas' news was 67% about people being harmed, against a usual 24%. Evacuations were reported at about twice the usual rate, most often about the US and the Bahamas. A year earlier, on 31 August 2018, 20 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 24 today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Yemen92 in 100 of its 75 stories · usually 74 · mostly conflict & violence Afghanistan83 in 100 of its 622 stories · usually 73 · mostly conflict & violence Tunisia80 in 100 of its 81 stories · usually 22 · mostly rights & justice Sudan74 in 100 of its 120 stories · usually 59 · mostly rights & justice Colombia74 in 100 of its 84 stories · usually 38 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Hong Kong Island Hong Kong464 stories about protests or strikes, of its 466 Beijing China183 stories about protests or strikes, of its 212 Jerusalem Israel127 stories about protests or strikes, of its 152 Moscow Russia124 stories about protests or strikes, of its 144 Boston US97 stories about protests or strikes, of its 215

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Vanuatu: feelings about like the world'sUzbekistan: feelings about like the world'sUruguay: feelings about like the world'sMicronesia: too little coverage to readU.S. Virgin Islands: 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: too little coverage to readIsle of Man: too little coverage to readUkraine: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: 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'sTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: feelings about like the world'sTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: too little coverage to readSpain: feelings about like the world'sSouth Korea: feelings about like the world'sSomalia: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: feelings about like the world'sSlovakia: too little coverage to readSlovenia: too little coverage to readSingapore: 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'sQatar: feelings about like the world'sPortugal: feelings about like the world'sPhilippines: 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: too little coverage to readPakistan: feelings about like the world'sOman: too little coverage to readNorth Korea: feelings about like the world'sNiger: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readNetherlands: feelings about like the world'sCuraçao: too little coverage to readNepal: feelings about like the world'sNamibia: feelings about like the world'sMorocco: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara: feelings about like the world'sMontenegro: feelings about like the world'sMongolia: too little coverage to readMoldova: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: feelings about like the world'sMalta: feelings about like the world'sMali: too little coverage to readMalaysia: feelings about like the world'sMalawi: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: too little coverage to readNorth Macedonia: too little coverage to readLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLithuania: too little coverage to readLiberia: feelings about like the world'sLesotho: too little coverage to readLebanon: feelings about like the world'sLatvia: too little coverage to readLaos: too little coverage to readKyrgyzstan: 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'sIceland: feelings about like the world'sHungary: feelings about like the world'sHonduras: 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'sGreece: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGambia: feelings about like the world'sGabon: feelings about like the world'sSt Pierre & Miquelon: too little coverage to readFrench Polynesia: too little coverage to readNew Caledonia: too little coverage to readFrench Southern Territories: too little coverage to readÅland Islands: too little coverage to readFinland: feelings about like the world'sEthiopia: feelings about like the world'sEstonia: feelings about like the world'sEritrea: too little coverage to readEquatorial Guinea: feelings about like the world'sEl Salvador: too little coverage to readDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: feelings about like the world'sDjibouti: too little coverage to readGreenland: 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'sCroatia: too little coverage to readCosta Rica: feelings about like the world'sDR Congo: feelings about like the world'sComoros: too little coverage to readChile: too little coverage to readChad: feelings about like the world'sCentral African Republic: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: too little coverage to readCameroon: feelings about like the world'sCambodia: feelings about like the world'sMyanmar: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: too little coverage to readBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: too little coverage to readBotswana: too little coverage to readBolivia: feelings about like the world'sBhutan: feelings about like the world'sBenin: too little coverage to readBelize: feelings about like the world'sBelarus: feelings about like the world'sBarbados: feelings about like the world'sBahrain: feelings about like the world'sBahamas: 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: too little coverage to readAndorra: too little coverage to readAlgeria: feelings about like the world'sAlbania: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Free Zone): feelings about like the world'sCrimea: feelings about like the world'sVatican City: too little coverage to readMarshall 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: too little coverage to readBermuda: feelings about like the world'sBritish Virgin Islands: feelings about like the world'sTurks & Caicos Islands: feelings about like the world'sMontserrat: 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: feelings about like the world'sAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: too little coverage to readMonaco: feelings about like the world'sMaldives: too little coverage to readLiechtenstein: too little coverage to readWallis & Futuna: too little coverage to readSt. Martin: too little coverage to readSt. Barthélemy: too little coverage to readMacao: too little coverage to readNorfolk 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 readZimbabwe: coverage a little warmer than the world'sZambia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sYemen: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sVietnam: coverage a little warmer than the world'sVenezuela: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sGuam: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sUK: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUnited Arab Emirates: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sUganda: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sTürkiye: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sThailand: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSyria: coverage about three times as angry as the world'sSwitzerland: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSweden: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSouth Sudan: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSudan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSri Lanka: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSouth Africa: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sRwanda: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sRussia: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sPoland: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sNorway: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sNigeria: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sNew Zealand: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sMozambique: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sMexico: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sLibya: coverage a little angrier than the world'sJordan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sItaly: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sIsrael: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sIreland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sIraq: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sIran: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sIndonesia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sIndia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGuyana: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGhana: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sGermany: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sFrance: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sFiji: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sEgypt: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sEcuador: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sFaroe Islands: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCuba: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sCôte d’Ivoire: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sCongo: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sColombia: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sChina: coverage a little angrier than the world'sHong Kong: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sCanada: coverage a little warmer than the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBrazil: coverage a little warmer than the world'sBosnia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBelgium: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBangladesh: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAustralia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sArmenia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAngola: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about three times as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sChina: coverage a little angrier than the world'sPalestine: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sPalestine: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sPalestine: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful 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

● Syria about three times as angry as the world's · 220 stories about harm ● Afghanistan about three times as angry as the world's · 515 stories about harm ● Italy about one and a half times as warm as the world's · 125 stories about harm ● Cuba few stories about twice as fearful as the world's · 29 stories about harm ● Poland about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 58 stories about harm ● Norway about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 100 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Rights & justice27% 6,076 stories · much less than usual (usually 33%) Disasters & accidents27% 5,993 stories · much more than usual (usually 17%) Health19% 4,157 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence16% 3,487 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given6% 1,293 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 540 stories · about as usual Displacement2% 482 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 215 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 killed6,161 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests2,543 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected1,894 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,755 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations672 at about twice the usual rate · most about the US and the Bahamas Stories reporting refugees239 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced148 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions132 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about Congo and Pakistan Stories reporting people falling ill90 at about three times the usual rate · most about the US and Uganda

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 softer than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.

● Angerabout as usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefa little less 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 · 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.