← 18 Feb Wednesday 19 February 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 20 Feb →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
23,699 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 →

Illness in Tokyo, abductions in Yemen and the hunger in Niger drew the news. Yemen's coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's. Language across the world's news ran softer than usual.

Part of lifeHealth 40 in 100 of the stories about harm · about as usual Country that rose mostJapan 38 in 100 of its 1,411 stories, usually 22
RegionCentral Asia 23 in 100 of its stories, usually 20
Tone of the words Softer than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Health

Japan

534 of its 1,411 stories (38%) were about people being harmed, usually 22%. Tokyo accounted for 344 of Japan's 534 stories about harm, carried by 879 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at about 6 times the usual rate (128 stories). Ebola was named in 33 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with cholera.

Japan over 30 days → its stories → Tokyo stories →
Conflict & violence

Yemen

66 of its 80 stories (82%) were about people being harmed, usually 67%. Reports of abductions ran at more than ten times the usual rate (17 stories). Cholera was named in 17 of its stories about harm, about 8 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

Yemen over 30 days → its stories →
Displacement

Niger

21 of its 29 stories (72%) were about people being harmed, usually 47%. Hunger was named in 11 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

Niger over 30 days → its stories →
Disasters & accidents

South Sudan

33 of its 59 stories (56%) were about people being harmed, usually 45%. Outbreaks were named in 19 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

South Sudan over 30 days → its stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Conflict & violence

Ukraine

76 of its 331 stories (23%) were about people being harmed, usually 11%. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (8 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Iran

Tehran accounted for 106 of Iran's 195 stories about harm, carried by 364 outlets. Covid was named in 59 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual, with outbreaks, flu and respiratory illness. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Displacement

Libya

Tripoli accounted for 70 of Libya's 78 stories about harm, carried by 156 outlets. Reports of people displaced ran at about twice the usual rate (25 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Protests & strikes

Türkiye

25 of Istanbul's 34 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (34 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Syria

Idlib accounted for 200 of Syria's 282 stories about harm, carried by 344 outlets. Extreme cold was named in 51 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual, with flooding and storms. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

North Korea

31 of its 49 stories (63%) were about people being harmed, usually 36%. Reports of arrests ran at more than ten times the usual rate (7 stories).

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: covid in Iran (59 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); volcanic eruption in Ecuador (10 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); extreme cold in Syria (51 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); flooding in Latvia (10 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); covid in Egypt (14 of its stories, about three times its usual).

20 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 21; 20 the day before
23 in 10018 in 10021 Jan28 Jan4 Feb11 Feb19 Feb21 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 10019 Feb: 20 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 19 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 23,699 stories about harm among 120,858 counted on 19 Feb.

Read the day's briefing

Iran's news mentioned Covid about 7 times as often as usual. 20 in every 100 of the day's 120,858 news stories were about people being harmed, below the usual 21. In Japan, 38% of the news was about people being harmed, where 22% is usual. On 19 February 2019, a year earlier, the share was 19 in every 100, against 20 today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Yemen82 in 100 of its 80 stories · usually 67 · mostly conflict & violence Somalia68 in 100 of its 63 stories · usually 55 · mostly conflict & violence Syria67 in 100 of its 420 stories · usually 72 · mostly conflict & violence China62 in 100 of its 4,435 stories · usually 66 · mostly health Hong Kong59 in 100 of its 156 stories · usually 47 · mostly health

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US102 stories about protests or strikes, of its 458 Beijing China49 stories about protests or strikes, of its 416 Delhi India44 stories about protests or strikes, of its 154 London UK35 stories about protests or strikes, of its 461 Wuhan China30 stories about protests or strikes, of its 787

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: too little coverage to readMicronesia: too little coverage to readU.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'sUganda: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: feelings about like the world'sTunisia: feelings about like the world'sTonga: feelings about like the world'sTogo: feelings about like the world'sTimor-Leste: too little coverage to readTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: feelings about like the world'sTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: too little coverage to readSuriname: feelings about like the world'sSudan: 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'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 Vincent: feelings about like the world'sSt. Lucia: 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'sPalau: too little coverage to readOman: feelings about like the world'sNorway: 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 readNamibia: 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: too little coverage to readMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: feelings about like the world'sMalta: feelings about like the world'sMali: feelings about like the world'sMalaysia: feelings about like the world'sMalawi: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: 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'sLatvia: 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'sKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sJordan: feelings about like the world'sJapan: feelings about like the world'sJamaica: feelings about like the world'sItaly: feelings about like the world'sIsrael: feelings about like the world'sIreland: feelings about like the world'sIndonesia: 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'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'sGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGambia: feelings about like the world'sGabon: too little coverage to readSt 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 readEstonia: 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'sEgypt: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: feelings about like the world'sDjibouti: feelings about like the world'sGreenland: feelings about like the world'sFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readCzech 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'sCongo: 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'sBenin: feelings about like the world'sBelize: feelings about like the world'sBelgium: 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'sAngola: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readVatican 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: 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: feelings about like the world'sAruba: 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 readMayotte: too little coverage to readYemen: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sVenezuela: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sUK: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUkraine: coverage about twice as angry as 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'sThailand: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as 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 about one and a half times as fearful as 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 about twice as angry as the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSamoa: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sRwanda: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sRussia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sRomania: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sQatar: coverage a little warmer than the world'sPoland: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPeru: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPanama: coverage a little angrier than the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sNigeria: coverage a little warmer than the world'sNiger: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sNepal: coverage a little angrier than the world'sMozambique: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMexico: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sNorth Macedonia: coverage a little more grief-stricken 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'sKenya: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little warmer 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 grief-stricken as the world'sIndia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sGreece: coverage a little warmer than the world'sGhana: coverage a little warmer than the world'sGermany: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sFrance: coverage a little warmer than the world'sFinland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sFiji: 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'sDenmark: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCosta Rica: coverage a little angrier than the world'sDR Congo: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sColombia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sChina: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sHong Kong: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sChad: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCentral African Republic: coverage a little angrier than the world'sCameroon: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sCambodia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMyanmar: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBurundi: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBrazil: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBelarus: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBangladesh: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAzerbaijan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sArmenia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAntigua & Barbuda: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAlgeria: coverage a little angrier than the world'sAlbania: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sChina: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little warmer than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little warmer than the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sUkraine: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little warmer than the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sCook Islands: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sGibraltar: coverage a little more grief-stricken 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

● Kashmir about twice as fearful as the world's · 71 stories about harm ● Syria about twice as angry as the world's · 282 stories about harm ● Afghanistan about one and a half times as warm as the world's · 106 stories about harm ● Somalia few stories about twice as angry as the world's · 43 stories about harm ● Yemen about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 66 stories about harm ● Niger few stories about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 21 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health40% 9,241 stories · about as usual Rights & justice25% 5,782 stories · more than usual (usually 23%) Disasters & accidents13% 3,140 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence9% 2,136 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given5% 1,164 stories · about as usual Shelter & services3% 741 stories · about as usual Displacement3% 644 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood2% 455 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 killed5,922 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and China Stories reporting people affected2,621 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests2,414 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured860 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting evacuations498 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees242 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced238 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Syria and Libya Stories reporting abductions187 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill119 at about half 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 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

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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.