← 6 Dec Saturday 7 December 2019 · to 23:59 UTC 8 Dec →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
12,837 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 gas explosion in Slovakia, protests in Baghdad (Iraq) and abductions in India. India's coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Everywhere we counted, the words were much harsher than usual.

Part of lifeRights & justice 35 in 100 of the stories about harm · more than usual Country that rose mostSaudi Arabia 51 in 100 of its 512 stories, usually 17
RegionSouth Asia 32 in 100 of its stories, usually 21
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 →
Disasters & accidents

Slovakia

19 of its 27 stories (70%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Presov accounted for 15 of Slovakia's 19 stories about harm, carried by 52 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about 6 times the usual rate (7 stories). Gas explosion was named in 17 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual.

Slovakia over 30 days → its stories → Presov stories →
Protests & strikes

Iraq

185 of its 218 stories (85%) were about people being harmed, usually 65%. Baghdad accounted for 131 of Iraq's 185 stories about harm, carried by 319 outlets. 125 of Baghdad's 131 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

Iraq over 30 days → its stories → Baghdad stories →
Rights & justice

India

1,386 of its 4,313 stories (32%) were about people being harmed, usually 18%. Reports of abductions ran at about 4 times the usual rate (59 stories). Tsunami was named in 26 of its stories about harm, about 9 times usual, with poisoning. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

India over 30 days → its stories →
Conflict & violence

Saudi Arabia

263 of its 512 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (159 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

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

Kenya

105 of its 251 stories (42%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (66 stories). Building collapse was named in 11 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with drownings. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

New Zealand

90 of its 331 stories (27%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Reports of people injured ran at about 5 times the usual rate (13 stories). Flooding was named in 21 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual, with heavy rain.

its stories →
Rights & justice

Taiwan

30 of its 76 stories (39%) were about people being harmed, usually 14%. Reports of arrests ran at about 4 times the usual rate (6 stories).

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Ukraine

56 of its 348 stories (16%) were about people being harmed, usually 6%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (24 stories).

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Myanmar

11 of its 17 stories (65%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (5 stories).

its stories →
Rights & justice

Kyrgyzstan

9 of its 22 stories (41%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (5 stories).

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: earthquake in Armenia (16 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); flooding in New Zealand (21 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); road crashes in Thailand (13 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); hypothermia in Spain (16 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); storms in Ireland (19 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).

20 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 17; 18 the day before
21 in 10016 in 1008 Nov15 Nov22 Nov29 Nov7 Dec8 Nov: 16 in 1009 Nov: 17 in 10010 Nov: 18 in 10011 Nov: 17 in 10012 Nov: 17 in 10013 Nov: 17 in 10014 Nov: 17 in 10015 Nov: 17 in 10016 Nov: 18 in 10017 Nov: 18 in 10018 Nov: 17 in 10019 Nov: 17 in 10020 Nov: 16 in 10021 Nov: 16 in 10022 Nov: 16 in 10023 Nov: 17 in 10024 Nov: 19 in 10025 Nov: 17 in 10026 Nov: 18 in 10027 Nov: 18 in 10028 Nov: 18 in 10029 Nov: 17 in 10030 Nov: 20 in 1001 Dec: 21 in 1002 Dec: 18 in 1003 Dec: 17 in 1004 Dec: 16 in 1005 Dec: 17 in 1006 Dec: 18 in 1007 Dec: 20 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 7 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 12,837 stories about harm among 65,295 counted on 7 Dec.

Read the day's briefing

Slovakia's news was 70% about people being harmed, against a usual 23%. For the second day running, the news turned to Slovakia. Stories about people being harmed made up 20 in every 100 of the day's 65,295 stories, above the usual 17. On 7 December 2018, a year earlier, the share was 18 in every 100, against 20 today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Iraq85 in 100 of its 218 stories · usually 65 · mostly rights & justice Samoa85 in 100 of its 65 stories · usually 73 · mostly health Syria60 in 100 of its 87 stories · usually 61 · mostly conflict & violence Afghanistan56 in 100 of its 172 stories · usually 56 · mostly conflict & violence Saudi Arabia51 in 100 of its 512 stories · usually 17 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Baghdad Iraq125 stories about protests or strikes, of its 131 Unnao India84 stories about protests or strikes, of its 264 Abuja Nigeria68 stories about protests or strikes, of its 82 Hyderabad India59 stories about protests or strikes, of its 217 Washington US51 stories about protests or strikes, of its 365

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'sVenezuela: feelings about like the world'sVanuatu: feelings about like the world'sUzbekistan: too little coverage to readUruguay: too little coverage to readMicronesia: too little coverage to readU.S. Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readGuam: 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 readTurkmenistan: feelings about like the world'sTunisia: feelings about like the world'sTonga: too little coverage to readTogo: too little coverage to readTimor-Leste: too little coverage to readThailand: feelings about like the world'sTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: too little coverage to readTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sSweden: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: too little coverage to readSuriname: feelings about like the world'sSouth Sudan: feelings about like the world'sSudan: feelings about like the world'sSri Lanka: feelings about like the world'sSpain: 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: too little coverage to readSlovenia: 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: too little coverage to readSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSt Vincent: too little coverage to readSt. Lucia: too little coverage to readRwanda: feelings about like the world'sRussia: 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 readOman: feelings about like the world'sNorway: feelings about like the world'sNorth Korea: feelings about like the world'sNigeria: feelings about like the world'sNiger: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: feelings about like the world'sNew Zealand: 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'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'sMalaysia: feelings about like the world'sMalawi: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: feelings about like the world'sNorth Macedonia: feelings about like the world'sLuxembourg: too little coverage to readLithuania: too little coverage to readLiberia: feelings about like the world'sLesotho: feelings about like the world'sLatvia: feelings about like the world'sLaos: 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 readKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sJordan: feelings about like the world'sItaly: feelings about like the world'sPalestine: feelings about like the world'sIreland: feelings about like the world'sIran: feelings about like the world'sIndonesia: feelings about like the world'sIceland: feelings about like the world'sHungary: feelings about like the world'sHaiti: feelings about like the world'sGuyana: feelings about like the world'sGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGuinea: feelings about like the world'sGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: too little coverage to readGhana: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGabon: too little coverage to readFrance: 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'sFiji: feelings about like the world'sEstonia: feelings about like the world'sEritrea: too little coverage to readEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEl Salvador: too little coverage to readEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: feelings about like the world'sGreenland: feelings about like the world'sFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readDenmark: 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: too little coverage to readCosta Rica: feelings about like the world'sDR Congo: feelings about like the world'sComoros: too little coverage to readColombia: feelings about like the world'sHong Kong: 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'sCameroon: 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: too little coverage to readBotswana: feelings about like the world'sBosnia and Herzegovina: 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'sBelgium: feelings about like the world'sBelarus: feelings about like the world'sBarbados: feelings about like the world'sBangladesh: feelings about like the world'sBahrain: feelings about like the world'sBahamas: feelings about like the world'sAzerbaijan: 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'sAngola: 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): feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Free Zone): feelings about like the world'sEast Jerusalem: feelings about like the world'sVatican City: too little coverage to readMarshall Islands: feelings about like the world'sNorthern Mariana Islands: feelings about like the world'sAmerican 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: too little coverage to readTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: too little coverage to readJersey: feelings about like the world'sGuernsey: too little coverage to readSan 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: too little coverage to readMaldives: 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: 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 readYemen: coverage a little angrier than the world'sUK: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sUnited Arab Emirates: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sUkraine: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUganda: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sTürkiye: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSyria: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sSouth Africa: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSlovakia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSamoa: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPoland: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPakistan: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sMexico: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sMauritania: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMalta: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMali: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sLibya: coverage a little angrier than the world'sLebanon: coverage a little angrier than the world'sKenya: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sJapan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sJamaica: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sIsrael: coverage a little angrier than the world'sIraq: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sIndia: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sHonduras: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGreece: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sGermany: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sGambia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sEthiopia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sEgypt: coverage a little warmer than the world'sCongo: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sChina: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sChile: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBrazil: coverage a little warmer than the world'sAustria: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAustralia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sArmenia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sKashmir: coverage a little warmer than the world'sChina: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage a little warmer than the world'sKashmir: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUkraine: coverage a little warmer than the world'sKashmir: 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

● Mexico about twice as fearful as the world's · 95 stories about harm ● India about twice as angry as the world's · 1,386 stories about harm ● Iraq about twice as angry as the world's · 185 stories about harm ● Pakistan about twice as fearful as the world's · 195 stories about harm ● Syria about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 52 stories about harm ● Türkiye few stories about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 37 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Rights & justice35% 4,471 stories · more than usual (usually 31%) Health18% 2,292 stories · much less than usual (usually 23%) Conflict & violence16% 2,078 stories · more than usual (usually 14%) Disasters & accidents16% 2,063 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given6% 779 stories · about as usual Shelter & services4% 454 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood2% 302 stories · about as usual Displacement2% 200 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 killed4,374 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting arrests1,788 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about India and the US Stories reporting people injured1,229 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and Saudi Arabia Stories reporting people affected1,181 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions165 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about India and the US Stories reporting refugees105 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced101 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations52 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and Australia Stories reporting people falling ill20 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and the UK

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 one and a half times 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 · 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.