← 17 Feb Tuesday 18 February 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 19 Feb →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
22,925 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 →

Most of the day's attention went to illness in Phnom Penh, people displaced in Diffa and protests in Istanbul (Türkiye). Burkina Faso's coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Taken together, the world's news read much softer than usual.

Part of lifeHealth 41 in 100 of the stories about harm · more than usual Country that rose mostUkraine 33 in 100 of its 331 stories, usually 11
RegionEurope 20 in 100 of its stories, usually 17
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 →
Health

Cambodia

73 of its 120 stories (61%) were about people being harmed, usually 36%. Phnom Penh accounted for 57 of Cambodia's 73 stories about harm, carried by 129 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (31 stories). Respiratory illness was named in 11 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual.

Cambodia over 30 days → its stories → Phnom Penh stories →
Displacement

Niger

34 of its 42 stories (81%) were about people being harmed, usually 43%. Diffa accounted for 30 of Niger's 34 stories about harm, carried by 65 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about 5 times the usual rate (18 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Niger over 30 days → its stories → Diffa stories →
Protests & strikes

Türkiye

173 of its 351 stories (49%) were about people being harmed, usually 39%. 19 of Istanbul's 35 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about 5 times the usual rate (65 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

Türkiye over 30 days → its stories → Istanbul stories →
Conflict & violence

Burkina Faso

31 of its 36 stories (86%) were about people being harmed, usually 73%. Sebba accounted for 26 of Burkina Faso's 31 stories about harm, carried by 30 outlets. Reports of abductions ran at about three times the usual rate (11 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

Burkina Faso over 30 days → its stories → Sebba stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Conflict & violence

Ukraine

108 of its 331 stories (33%) were about people being harmed, usually 11%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (61 stories). Its coverage was about three times as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Rights & justice

Cameroon

49 of its 83 stories (59%) were about people being harmed, usually 37%. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (5 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Lesotho

26 of its 70 stories (37%) were about people being harmed, usually 22%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (14 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Sweden

53 of its 189 stories (28%) were about people being harmed, usually 17%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (18 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Japan

387 of its 1,282 stories (30%) were about people being harmed, usually 21%. Reports of evacuations ran at about 5 times the usual rate (84 stories). HIV was named in 21 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Pakistan

355 of its 904 stories (39%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. Reports of people falling ill ran at more than ten times the usual rate (11 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: extreme cold in Syria (48 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); natural hazards in South Sudan (12 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); covid in Israel (39 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); covid in Chile (11 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); respiratory illness in New Zealand (26 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).

20 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 21; 21 the day before
23 in 10018 in 10020 Jan27 Jan3 Feb10 Feb18 Feb20 Jan: 18 in 10021 Jan: 19 in 10022 Jan: 18 in 10023 Jan: 19 in 10024 Jan: 20 in 10025 Jan: 21 in 10026 Jan: 22 in 10027 Jan: 20 in 10028 Jan: 20 in 10029 Jan: 20 in 10030 Jan: 20 in 10031 Jan: 21 in 1001 Feb: 21 in 1002 Feb: 23 in 1003 Feb: 21 in 1004 Feb: 21 in 1005 Feb: 20 in 1006 Feb: 21 in 1007 Feb: 21 in 1008 Feb: 22 in 1009 Feb: 23 in 10010 Feb: 21 in 10011 Feb: 20 in 10012 Feb: 20 in 10013 Feb: 20 in 10014 Feb: 20 in 10015 Feb: 22 in 10016 Feb: 23 in 10017 Feb: 21 in 10018 Feb: 20 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 18 Feb. 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 22,925 stories about harm among 113,117 counted on 18 Feb.

Read the day's briefing

Of the day's 113,117 news stories, 20 in every 100 were about people being harmed, as usual. A year earlier, on 18 February 2019, 19 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 20 today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Syria70 in 100 of its 308 stories · usually 72 · mostly conflict & violence China64 in 100 of its 4,784 stories · usually 66 · mostly health Cambodia61 in 100 of its 120 stories · usually 36 · mostly health Yemen61 in 100 of its 56 stories · usually 69 · mostly conflict & violence Cameroon59 in 100 of its 83 stories · usually 37 · mostly rights & justice

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US106 stories about protests or strikes, of its 440 Delhi India84 stories about protests or strikes, of its 218 London UK58 stories about protests or strikes, of its 499 Wuhan China35 stories about protests or strikes, of its 940 Beijing China35 stories about protests or strikes, of its 418

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'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 readUnited Arab Emirates: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: feelings about like the world'sTonga: feelings about like the world'sTimor-Leste: feelings about like the world'sTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: feelings about like the world'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: too little coverage to readSudan: feelings about like the world'sSpain: feelings about like the world'sSouth Korea: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: feelings about like the world'sSlovakia: feelings about like the world'sSingapore: feelings about like the world'sSierra Leone: feelings about like the world'sSeychelles: too little coverage to readSerbia: too little coverage to readSenegal: feelings about like the world'sSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSt. Lucia: feelings about like the world'sQatar: feelings about like the world'sPoland: feelings about like the world'sPhilippines: feelings about like the world'sPeru: feelings about like the world'sParaguay: feelings about like the world'sPapua New Guinea: feelings about like the world'sPanama: feelings about like the world'sPalau: too little coverage to readOman: feelings about like the world'sNorth Korea: 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: too little coverage to readMontenegro: feelings about like the world'sMongolia: feelings about like the world'sMoldova: too little coverage to readMauritania: 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: feelings about like the world'sLithuania: feelings about like the world'sLiberia: 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: feelings about like the world'sJordan: feelings about like the world'sItaly: feelings about like the world'sIreland: feelings about like the world'sIndonesia: feelings about like the world'sIceland: feelings about like the world'sHonduras: 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: feelings about like the world'sGreece: feelings about like the world'sGhana: 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: 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'sFiji: feelings about like the world'sEstonia: feelings about like the world'sEritrea: feelings about like the world'sEquatorial Guinea: feelings about like the world'sEl Salvador: feelings about like the world'sEcuador: 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 readCyprus: 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 readChile: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: too little coverage to readCanada: 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: feelings about like the world'sBolivia: feelings about like the world'sBhutan: feelings about like the world'sBelgium: 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'sAustria: feelings about like the world'sAustralia: 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 readAlbania: 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: too little coverage to readNorthern 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: feelings about like the world'sBermuda: 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 readAruba: too little coverage to readNauru: too little coverage to readMonaco: too little coverage to readMaldives: 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: feelings about like the world'sMayotte: too little coverage to readYemen: coverage a little warmer than the world'sVietnam: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sVenezuela: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sUK: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUkraine: coverage about three times 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'sTunisia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sTogo: coverage a little warmer than the world'sThailand: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sTaiwan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSyria: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sSweden: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSouth Sudan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSri Lanka: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSouth Africa: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSomalia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSlovenia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSamoa: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSt Vincent: coverage about twice as grief-stricken 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'sRomania: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPortugal: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sNorway: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sNigeria: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sNiger: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMexico: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sMauritius: coverage a little warmer than the world'sMalta: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sMali: coverage a little angrier than the world'sLibya: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sLesotho: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sLatvia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sKenya: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sKazakhstan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sJapan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sJamaica: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIsrael: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sIraq: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIran: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sIndia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sHungary: coverage a little angrier than the world'sHaiti: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGermany: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sGeorgia: 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'sCuba: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCongo: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sColombia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sChina: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sHong Kong: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sChad: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCentral African Republic: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCameroon: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sCambodia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMyanmar: coverage a little warmer than the world'sBurundi: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sBrazil: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBenin: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBelize: 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'sAzerbaijan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sArmenia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAngola: coverage a little warmer than the world'sAlgeria: coverage a little angrier than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sChina: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier 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 about three times as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sCook Islands: coverage a little more fearful 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

● Afghanistan about one and a half times as warm as the world's · 162 stories about harm ● Ukraine about three times as angry as the world's · 108 stories about harm ● Burkina Faso few stories about twice as angry as the world's · 31 stories about harm ● Sweden about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 53 stories about harm ● Syria about twice as angry as the world's · 216 stories about harm ● Pakistan about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 355 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health41% 9,347 stories · more than usual (usually 39%) Rights & justice23% 5,304 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents14% 3,054 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence9% 2,094 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given4% 998 stories · about as usual Shelter & services3% 733 stories · about as usual Displacement3% 675 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood2% 374 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 killed5,966 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected2,546 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests2,120 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured971 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations523 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about China and the US Stories reporting refugees285 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced185 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions156 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill136 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about China 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 much softer than 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 · 19 Oct – 25 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.