← 19 Mar Friday 20 March 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 21 Mar →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
50,022 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 illness in Tehran, people affected in Afghanistan and protests in Algiers (Algeria). Afghanistan's coverage was about three times as angry as the world's. In the world's news as a whole, the wording was much softer than usual.

Help and hope: reports of volunteers ran at about one and a half times the usual rate →
Part of lifeHealth 86 in 100 of the stories about harm · much more than usual Country that rose mostGhana 59 in 100 of its 529 stories, usually 26
RegionSouth Asia 52 in 100 of its stories, usually 34
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

Iran

261 of its 361 stories (72%) were about people being harmed, usually 65%. Tehran accounted for 118 of Iran's 261 stories about harm, carried by 247 outlets. Flooding was named in 17 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

Iran over 30 days → its stories → Tehran stories →
Conflict & violence

Afghanistan

104 of its 147 stories (71%) were about people being harmed, usually 57%. Reports of people affected ran at about 4 times the usual rate (16 stories). Its coverage was about three times as angry as the world's.

Afghanistan over 30 days → its stories →
6 more places the news pointed at
Health

Spain

333 of its 740 stories (45%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (31 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Italy

874 of its 1,458 stories (60%) were about people being harmed, usually 49%. Reports of evacuations ran at about 4 times the usual rate (10 stories). Its coverage was about 4 times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Libya

24 of its 33 stories (73%) were about people being harmed, usually 46%. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (7 stories). Its coverage was about three times as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Mali

19 of its 30 stories (63%) were about people being harmed, usually 49%. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (7 stories). Its coverage was about three times as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Peru

77 of its 149 stories (52%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (17 stories).

its stories →
Health

India

3,042 of its 5,940 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Tsunami was named in 31 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: flooding in Saudi Arabia (16 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); respiratory illness in Russia (21 of its stories, about three times its usual); plague in Nigeria (24 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); hiv in France (13 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); tsunami in India (31 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).

40 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 28; 40 the day before
40 in 10020 in 10020 Feb27 Feb5 Mar12 Mar20 Mar20 Feb: 20 in 10021 Feb: 20 in 10022 Feb: 21 in 10023 Feb: 21 in 10024 Feb: 21 in 10025 Feb: 22 in 10026 Feb: 22 in 10027 Feb: 23 in 10028 Feb: 24 in 10029 Feb: 26 in 1001 Mar: 25 in 1002 Mar: 24 in 1003 Mar: 25 in 1004 Mar: 25 in 1005 Mar: 25 in 1006 Mar: 26 in 1007 Mar: 27 in 1008 Mar: 28 in 1009 Mar: 27 in 10010 Mar: 28 in 10011 Mar: 29 in 10012 Mar: 31 in 10013 Mar: 33 in 10014 Mar: 36 in 10015 Mar: 37 in 10016 Mar: 37 in 10017 Mar: 38 in 10018 Mar: 39 in 10019 Mar: 40 in 10020 Mar: 40 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 20 Mar. 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 50,022 stories about harm among 123,792 counted on 20 Mar.

Read the day's briefing

Stories about people being harmed made up 40 in every 100 of the day's 123,792 stories, above the usual 28. It was the highest share of stories about people being harmed in all 1541 days held. On the side of help, reports of volunteers ran at about one and a half times the usual rate. Saudi Arabia's news mentioned flooding about 5 times as often as usual.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Puerto Rico74 in 100 of its 61 stories · usually 46 · mostly disasters & accidents Iran72 in 100 of its 361 stories · usually 65 · mostly health Afghanistan71 in 100 of its 147 stories · usually 57 · mostly conflict & violence Syria69 in 100 of its 117 stories · usually 73 · mostly conflict & violence Philippines67 in 100 of its 716 stories · usually 46 · mostly health

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US157 stories about protests or strikes, of its 2747 Delhi India139 stories about protests or strikes, of its 912 London UK45 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1032 Wuhan China41 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1002 Jerusalem Israel30 stories about protests or strikes, of its 135

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Vietnam: feelings about like the world'sVenezuela: 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: feelings about like the world'sUnited Arab Emirates: feelings about like the world'sUganda: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: feelings about like the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: feelings about like the world'sTonga: feelings about like the world'sTogo: feelings about like the world'sTimor-Leste: feelings about like the world'sThailand: feelings about like the world'sTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: too little coverage to readSri Lanka: 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'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'sRwanda: feelings about like the world'sRomania: feelings about like the world'sPortugal: feelings about like the world'sPhilippines: 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'sNicaragua: feelings about like the world'sNew Zealand: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readCuraçao: too little coverage to readNamibia: 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 readMongolia: feelings about like the world'sMoldova: feelings about like the world'sMexico: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: feelings about like the world'sMalta: 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'sLesotho: 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: too little coverage to readKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sJordan: 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'sGhana: feelings about like the world'sGambia: 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 readFiji: feelings about like the world'sEstonia: feelings about like the world'sEritrea: feelings about like the world'sEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEl Salvador: 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: feelings about like the world'sDenmark: feelings about like the world'sN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: feelings about like the world'sCuba: feelings about like the world'sCôte d'Ivoire: feelings about like the world'sCosta 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'sChile: feelings about like the world'sChad: feelings about like the world'sCentral African Republic: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: feelings about like the world'sCanada: feelings about like the world'sCambodia: feelings about like the world'sMyanmar: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: 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'sBarbados: 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 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 readAlbania: feelings about like the world'sJammu & Kashmir: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readAzad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: feelings about like the world'sSiachen Glacier: feelings about like the world'sAzad Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: feelings about like the world'sVatican 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: feelings about like the world'sAnguilla: feelings about like the world'sBritish Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: too little coverage to readGuernsey: feelings about like the world'sSan Marino: too little coverage to readSt Kitts & Nevis: feelings about like the world'sCook Islands: feelings about like the world'sAruba: feelings about like the world'sNauru: feelings about like the world'sMonaco: feelings about like the world'sMaldives: feelings about like the world'sLiechtenstein: too little coverage to readWallis & Futuna: too little coverage to readSt. Martin: feelings about like the world'sSt. 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 readZimbabwe: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sZambia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sYemen: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sUK: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sUkraine: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sTürkiye: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sTunisia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sTajikistan: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSyria: coverage about three times 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 angry as the world'sSudan: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSpain: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sSomalia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSlovenia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSingapore: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sRussia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sQatar: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPoland: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPeru: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sNorway: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNorth Korea: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sNigeria: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNiger: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sNetherlands: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sNepal: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMali: coverage about three times as angry as the world'sMalaysia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sLibya: coverage about three times as angry as the world'sLiberia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sLebanon: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKenya: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sJapan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sJamaica: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sItaly: coverage about 4 times as grief-stricken as the world'sIsrael: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sIreland: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sIraq: coverage about three times as angry as the world'sIran: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sIndonesia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIndia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIceland: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sHungary: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sGrenada: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGreece: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGermany: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGeorgia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sGabon: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sFinland: coverage about one and a half times as warm as the world'sEthiopia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sEgypt: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sEcuador: coverage a little angrier than the world'sCzechia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCroatia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCongo: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sChina: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sCameroon: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBrazil: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBelgium: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBelarus: 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'sAustria: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAustralia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sAlgeria: coverage a little angrier than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about three times as angry 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'sUkraine: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBermuda: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sJersey: 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

● Italy about 4 times as grief-stricken as the world's · 874 stories about harm ● Afghanistan about three times as angry as the world's · 104 stories about harm ● Syria about three times as angry as the world's · 81 stories about harm ● Mali few stories about three times as angry as the world's · 19 stories about harm ● Libya few stories about three times as angry as the world's · 24 stories about harm ● Iraq about three times as angry as the world's · 69 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health86% 42,911 stories · much more than usual (usually 60%) Rights & justice5% 2,557 stories · much less than usual (usually 16%) Disasters & accidents3% 1,419 stories · much less than usual (usually 9%) Conflict & violence2% 917 stories · much less than usual (usually 7%) Shelter & services2% 902 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given1% 500 stories · less than usual (usually 3%) Food & livelihood1% 349 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 251 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 killed9,616 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected3,006 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests1,640 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting people injured999 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill162 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees160 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and Syria Stories reporting people displaced119 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and Syria Stories reporting evacuations109 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting abductions84 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and India

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 two-thirds of usual
● Warmtha little more than usual
● Griefabout two-thirds of 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.