← 30 Dec Tuesday 31 December 2019 · to 23:59 UTC 1 Jan →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
16,667 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 protests in Ayia Napa (Cyprus), violence in Mogadishu and people killed in Romania. Somalia's coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Taken together, the world's news read about as usual.

Help and hope: reports of people freed or reunited ran at about twice the usual rate →
Part of lifeRights & justice 28 in 100 of the stories about harm · less than usual Country that rose mostCyprus 75 in 100 of its 81 stories, usually 25
RegionOceania 41 in 100 of its stories, usually 27
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 →
Protests & strikes

Cyprus

61 of its 81 stories (75%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Ayia Napa accounted for 50 of Cyprus' 61 stories about harm, carried by 175 outlets. 26 of Ayia Napa's 50 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (31 stories). Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.

Cyprus over 30 days → its stories → Ayia Napa stories →
Conflict & violence

Somalia

105 of its 120 stories (88%) were about people being harmed, usually 69%. Mogadishu accounted for 92 of Somalia's 105 stories about harm, carried by 191 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at about twice the usual rate (6 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

Somalia over 30 days → its stories → Mogadishu stories →
Health

Romania

28 of its 54 stories (52%) were about people being harmed, usually 14%. Reports of people killed ran at about 4 times the usual rate (18 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Romania over 30 days → its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Australia

870 of its 1,954 stories (45%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. Reports of people affected ran at about 4 times the usual rate (245 stories). Tornadoes were named in 102 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with power cuts.

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

Iraq

634 of its 819 stories (77%) were about people being harmed, usually 62%. Baghdad accounted for 517 of Iraq's 634 stories about harm, carried by 1,350 outlets. 456 of Baghdad's 517 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about three times as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Sudan

63 of its 86 stories (73%) were about people being harmed, usually 60%. 20 of Khartoum's 29 stories were about protests or strikes. Poisoning was named in 14 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Hong Kong

85 of its 177 stories (48%) were about people being harmed, usually 38%. Victoria Harbour accounted for 63 of Hong Kong's 85 stories about harm, carried by 96 outlets. 61 of Victoria Harbour's 63 stories were about protests or strikes. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Iran

124 of its 251 stories (49%) were about people being harmed, usually 42%. 46 of Tehran's 82 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of abductions ran at about 8 times the usual rate (6 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Nicaragua

11 of its 14 stories (79%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. 5 of Managua's 5 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (10 stories).

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Libya

39 of its 74 stories (53%) were about people being harmed, usually 37%. Tripoli accounted for 36 of Libya's 39 stories about harm, carried by 191 outlets. Hunger was named in 15 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with tuberculosis.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: cyclone in Tonga (16 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); measles in New Zealand (26 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); hunger in Libya (15 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); poisoning in Sudan (14 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); road crashes in Uganda (11 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).

20 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 18; 21 the day before
22 in 10016 in 1002 Dec9 Dec16 Dec23 Dec31 Dec2 Dec: 18 in 1003 Dec: 17 in 1004 Dec: 16 in 1005 Dec: 17 in 1006 Dec: 18 in 1007 Dec: 20 in 1008 Dec: 19 in 1009 Dec: 18 in 10010 Dec: 18 in 10011 Dec: 18 in 10012 Dec: 17 in 10013 Dec: 16 in 10014 Dec: 18 in 10015 Dec: 19 in 10016 Dec: 17 in 10017 Dec: 17 in 10018 Dec: 17 in 10019 Dec: 17 in 10020 Dec: 17 in 10021 Dec: 19 in 10022 Dec: 20 in 10023 Dec: 19 in 10024 Dec: 18 in 10025 Dec: 19 in 10026 Dec: 19 in 10027 Dec: 20 in 10028 Dec: 21 in 10029 Dec: 22 in 10030 Dec: 21 in 10031 Dec: 20 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 31 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 16,667 stories about harm among 82,211 counted on 31 Dec.

Read the day's briefing

Help and hope: reports of people freed or reunited ran at about twice the usual rate. In Cyprus, 75% of the news was about people being harmed, where 25% is usual. the news turned to Cyprus for the second day running. 20 in every 100 of the day's 82,211 news stories were about people being harmed, above the usual 18.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Somalia88 in 100 of its 120 stories · usually 69 · mostly conflict & violence Iraq77 in 100 of its 819 stories · usually 62 · mostly conflict & violence Cyprus75 in 100 of its 81 stories · usually 25 · mostly rights & justice Sudan73 in 100 of its 86 stories · usually 60 · mostly rights & justice Syria61 in 100 of its 89 stories · usually 63 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Baghdad Iraq456 stories about protests or strikes, of its 517 Washington US113 stories about protests or strikes, of its 420 Delhi India102 stories about protests or strikes, of its 254 Victoria Harbour Hong Kong61 stories about protests or strikes, of its 63 Beijing China58 stories about protests or strikes, of its 104

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'sYemen: 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: feelings about like the world'sMicronesia: feelings about like the world'sU.S. Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readPuerto 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'sTurkmenistan: too little coverage to readTunisia: feelings about like the world'sTonga: feelings about like the world'sTogo: 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: too little coverage to readSouth Sudan: feelings about like the world'sSouth Korea: feelings about like the world'sSouth Africa: 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 readSt. Lucia: feelings about like the world'sRwanda: feelings about like the world'sQatar: feelings about like the world'sPortugal: feelings about like the world'sPhilippines: 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'sNigeria: feelings about like the world'sNiger: 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: too little coverage to readMontenegro: too little coverage to readMoldova: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: too little coverage to readMalta: feelings about like the world'sMali: feelings about like the world'sMalaysia: 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 readLibya: feelings about like the world'sLiberia: 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'sKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: feelings about like the world'sKenya: feelings about like the world'sKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sJordan: feelings about like the world'sJamaica: feelings about like the world'sItaly: 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'sGuyana: feelings about like the world'sGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGuinea: too little coverage to readGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: feelings about like the world'sGreece: feelings about like the world'sGhana: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGambia: feelings about like the world'sGabon: feelings about like the world'sFrance: 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 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: feelings about like the world'sEgypt: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: feelings about like the world'sDjibouti: too little coverage to readGreenland: 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 readCroatia: feelings about like the world'sCôte d'Ivoire: feelings about like the world'sCosta Rica: feelings about like the world'sComoros: too little coverage to readColombia: feelings about like the world'sChina: feelings about like the world'sChile: feelings about like the world'sCentral African Republic: too little coverage to readCape 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 readBrazil: feelings about like the world'sBotswana: feelings about like the world'sBolivia: feelings about like the world'sBhutan: feelings about like the world'sBenin: too little coverage to readBelgium: feelings about like the world'sBelarus: feelings about like the world'sBarbados: feelings about like the world'sBangladesh: 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 readArmenia: feelings about like the world'sArgentina: 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'sAksai Chin: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readVatican City: feelings about like the world'sMarshall Islands: feelings about like the world'sNorthern Mariana Islands: too little coverage to readAmerican Samoa: feelings about like the world'sChagos 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: feelings about like the world'sSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: feelings about like the world'sCook Islands: too little coverage to readAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: too little coverage to readMonaco: 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: too little coverage to readMayotte: too little coverage to readGuam: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sUK: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUkraine: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUganda: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sTürkiye: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSyria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSudan: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sSri Lanka: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSpain: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSomalia: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSamoa: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSt Vincent: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sRussia: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sRomania: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPoland: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPeru: coverage a little more fearful than 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'sNicaragua: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNew Zealand: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMongolia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMexico: coverage a little angrier than the world'sMalawi: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sKuwait: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sJapan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sIsrael: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sIreland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sIraq: coverage about three times as angry as the world'sIran: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sHonduras: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGermany: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sEthiopia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sEcuador: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCyprus: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sCuba: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sDR Congo: coverage a little angrier than the world'sCongo: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sHong Kong: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sChad: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBosnia: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sBelize: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBahrain: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sAustralia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than 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'sUkraine: coverage a little warmer than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little more grief-stricken than 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

● Iraq about three times as angry as the world's · 634 stories about harm ● Somalia about twice as angry as the world's · 105 stories about harm ● Sudan about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 63 stories about harm ● Türkiye about twice as fearful as the world's · 79 stories about harm ● Russia about twice as fearful as the world's · 176 stories about harm ● Cyprus about twice as fearful as the world's · 61 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Rights & justice28% 4,525 stories · less than usual (usually 30%) Health21% 3,497 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents20% 3,341 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence16% 2,550 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given6% 1,047 stories · about as usual Shelter & services4% 692 stories · about as usual Displacement2% 370 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood2% 318 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 killed5,444 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and Iraq Stories reporting arrests2,226 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected1,998 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,411 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees176 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions172 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations146 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Australia and Bangladesh Stories reporting people displaced138 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill26 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.

● Angerabout as 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.