← 20 Mar Saturday 21 March 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 22 Mar →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
29,884 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 people killed in Singapore, protests in Gothenburg (Sweden) and people affected in Afghanistan. Afghanistan's coverage was about 4 times as angry as the world's. Everywhere we counted, the words were much softer than usual.

Part of lifeHealth 86 in 100 of the stories about harm · much more than usual Country that rose mostSingapore 67 in 100 of its 160 stories, usually 36
RegionCentral Asia 46 in 100 of its stories, usually 25
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

Singapore

107 of its 160 stories (67%) were about people being harmed, usually 36%. Reports of people killed ran at about 6 times the usual rate (61 stories). Its coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Singapore over 30 days → its stories →
Conflict & violence

Afghanistan

71 of its 108 stories (66%) were about people being harmed, usually 58%. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (9 stories). Its coverage was about 4 times as angry as the world's.

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

UK

1,983 of its 4,223 stories (47%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Tsunami was named in 17 of its stories about harm, about 7 times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Spain

228 of its 486 stories (47%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (118 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Health

North Korea

90 of its 127 stories (71%) were about people being harmed, usually 47%. Pyongyang accounted for 79 of North Korea's 90 stories about harm, carried by 270 outlets. Hunger was named in 12 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual.

its stories →
Health

South Africa

201 of its 420 stories (48%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Reports of people injured ran at about 4 times the usual rate (16 stories). Tuberculosis was named in 13 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual.

its stories →
Health

Sri Lanka

87 of its 190 stories (46%) were about people being harmed, usually 29%. Reports of people injured ran at about 9 times the usual rate (22 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Malaysia

187 of its 474 stories (39%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Reports of people killed ran at about 5 times the usual rate (91 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: earthquake in Greece (15 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); hunger in North Korea (12 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); flu in Russia (14 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); tuberculosis in South Africa (13 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); poisoning in Nigeria (19 of its stories, more than ten times its usual).

41 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 28; 40 the day before
41 in 10020 in 10021 Feb28 Feb6 Mar13 Mar21 Mar21 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 10021 Mar: 41 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 21 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 29,884 stories about harm among 72,019 counted on 21 Mar.

Read the day's briefing

41 in every 100 of the day's 72,019 news stories were about people being harmed, above the usual 28. No day had a higher share of stories about people being harmed in all 1542 days held. Greece's news mentioned the earthquake more than ten times as often as usual. A year earlier, on 22 March 2019, 20 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 41 today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Palestine76 in 100 of its 58 stories · usually 52 · mostly health Iran72 in 100 of its 320 stories · usually 66 · mostly health Syria72 in 100 of its 53 stories · usually 73 · mostly health North Korea71 in 100 of its 127 stories · usually 47 · mostly health Iraq71 in 100 of its 78 stories · usually 61 · mostly health

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US106 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1524 Delhi India52 stories about protests or strikes, of its 562 Wuhan China29 stories about protests or strikes, of its 620 Johannesburg South Africa21 stories about protests or strikes, of its 65 London UK20 stories about protests or strikes, of its 551

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zimbabwe: feelings about like the world'sVietnam: 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: too little coverage to readUganda: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: feelings about like the world'sTunisia: 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: too little coverage to readThailand: feelings about like the world'sTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: feelings about like the world'sTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: feelings about like the world'sSuriname: too little coverage to readSouth Sudan: feelings about like the world'sSudan: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: too little coverage to readSlovakia: feelings about like the world'sSlovenia: 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'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'sNigeria: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readCuraçao: too little coverage to readMozambique: 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: feelings about like the world'sMexico: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: feelings about like the world'sMalta: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: too little coverage to readNorth Macedonia: feelings about like the world'sLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLiberia: 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'sKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: too little coverage to readKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sIreland: feelings about like the world'sIndia: 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'sGrenada: too little coverage to readGhana: feelings about like the world'sGambia: 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: feelings about like the world'sEl Salvador: feelings about like the world'sEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominica: feelings about like the world'sDjibouti: too little coverage to readFaroe 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: 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: too little coverage to readCape Verde: feelings about like the world'sMyanmar: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: too little coverage to readBrunei: feelings about like the world'sBrazil: feelings about like the world'sBotswana: 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'sBelarus: feelings about like the world'sBahrain: 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: feelings about like the world'sAlbania: 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: 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: feelings about like the world'sTurks & 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: feelings about like the world'sMayotte: feelings about like the world'sZambia: coverage a little angrier 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'sUnited Arab Emirates: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sUkraine: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sTürkiye: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sSyria: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sSwitzerland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSweden: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSri Lanka: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sSpain: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sSouth Korea: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sSouth Africa: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSomalia: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sSingapore: coverage about three times as grief-stricken as 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'sPoland: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNorth Korea: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNiger: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sNew Zealand: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sNetherlands: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sNepal: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sNamibia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sMauritius: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMali: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sMalaysia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMalawi: coverage a little warmer than the world'sLithuania: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sLibya: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sLebanon: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKuwait: coverage a little angrier than the world'sKenya: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sJordan: coverage a little angrier than the world'sJapan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sJamaica: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sItaly: coverage about three 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'sIraq: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sIran: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sIndonesia: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sIceland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sHungary: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sGuatemala: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sGreece: coverage a little angrier than the world'sGermany: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sGeorgia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGabon: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sFrance: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sEthiopia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sEgypt: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sDominican Republic: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGreenland: coverage a little angrier 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 grief-stricken as the world'sCanada: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCameroon: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sCambodia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBulgaria: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBelize: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBelgium: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBarbados: coverage a little warmer than the world'sBangladesh: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBahamas: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sAzerbaijan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sAustralia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sAlgeria: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about 4 times as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage a little more fearful than 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 a little more fearful than the world'sKashmir: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sUkraine: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sKashmir: 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 4 times as angry as the world's · 71 stories about harm ● Italy about three times as grief-stricken as the world's · 533 stories about harm ● Iraq about twice as angry as the world's · 55 stories about harm ● Singapore about three times as grief-stricken as the world's · 107 stories about harm ● Sweden few stories about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 23 stories about harm ● Libya few stories about twice as angry as the world's · 17 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health86% 25,608 stories · much more than usual (usually 62%) Rights & justice4% 1,308 stories · much less than usual (usually 15%) Disasters & accidents3% 957 stories · much less than usual (usually 8%) Deaths & injuries, cause not given2% 527 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence2% 522 stories · much less than usual (usually 7%) Shelter & services2% 518 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 182 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 151 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 killed6,953 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and the UK Stories reporting people affected1,775 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests973 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured764 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill130 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees85 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and Syria Stories reporting evacuations71 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting people displaced69 at about half the usual rate · most about Nigeria and Syria Stories reporting abductions40 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and Nigeria

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
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefa little less 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 →

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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.