← 21 May Friday 22 May 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 23 May →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
34,388 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 day's news pointed at rights and justice in Riyadh, the cyclone in Bangladesh and protests in Hong Kong. Saudi Arabia's coverage was about 4 times as grief-stricken as the world's. In the world's news as a whole, the wording was about as usual.

Part of lifeHealth 71 in 100 of the stories about harm · much less than usual Country that rose mostSaudi Arabia 60 in 100 of its 335 stories, usually 46
RegionCentral Asia 42 in 100 of its stories, usually 39
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 →
Rights & justice

Saudi Arabia

200 of its 335 stories (60%) were about people being harmed, usually 46%. Riyadh accounted for 86 of Saudi Arabia's 200 stories about harm, carried by 281 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about 8 times the usual rate (60 stories). Its coverage was about 4 times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Saudi Arabia over 30 days → its stories → Riyadh stories →
Health

Bangladesh

181 of its 269 stories (67%) were about people being harmed, usually 58%. Reports of evacuations ran at about three times the usual rate (25 stories). Cyclone was named in 83 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual, with flooding, heavy rain and typhoon.

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

Pakistan

Karachi accounted for 331 of Pakistan's 607 stories about harm, carried by 530 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about 6 times the usual rate (110 stories). Plane crash was named in 170 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual.

its stories →
Health

Chile

26 of its 60 stories (43%) were about people being harmed, usually 23%. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (5 stories).

its stories →
Health

Georgia

24 of its 34 stories (71%) were about people being harmed, usually 48%. Reports of people injured ran at about 4 times the usual rate (8 stories).

its stories →
Rights & justice

Nicaragua

12 of its 16 stories (75%) were about people being harmed, usually 44%. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Sudan

Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (15 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Brazil

Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (8 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: plane crash in Pakistan (170 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); cyclone in India (401 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); storms in Ireland (17 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); hurricane in Canada (13 of its stories, about 9 times its usual); meningitis in UK (32 of its stories, about three times its usual).

32 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 35; 32 the day before
39 in 10032 in 10023 Apr30 Apr7 May14 May22 May23 Apr: 37 in 10024 Apr: 36 in 10025 Apr: 37 in 10026 Apr: 39 in 10027 Apr: 37 in 10028 Apr: 37 in 10029 Apr: 36 in 10030 Apr: 35 in 1001 May: 35 in 1002 May: 37 in 1003 May: 38 in 1004 May: 36 in 1005 May: 35 in 1006 May: 35 in 1007 May: 34 in 1008 May: 33 in 1009 May: 36 in 10010 May: 38 in 10011 May: 34 in 10012 May: 34 in 10013 May: 34 in 10014 May: 33 in 10015 May: 33 in 10016 May: 36 in 10017 May: 37 in 10018 May: 34 in 10019 May: 33 in 10020 May: 33 in 10021 May: 32 in 10022 May: 32 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 22 May. 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 34,388 stories about harm among 107,783 counted on 22 May.

Read the day's briefing

The share of stories about people being harmed was the lowest since 12 March 2020. 32 in every 100 of the day's 107,783 news stories were about people being harmed, below the usual 35. In Bangladesh's news, mentions of the cyclone ran about 4 times their usual. A year earlier, on 23 May 2019, 19 in every 100 stories were about people being harmed, against 32 today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Yemen75 in 100 of its 89 stories · usually 74 · mostly health Rwanda71 in 100 of its 65 stories · usually 62 · mostly conflict & violence Bangladesh67 in 100 of its 269 stories · usually 58 · mostly health Saudi Arabia60 in 100 of its 335 stories · usually 46 · mostly rights & justice Afghanistan56 in 100 of its 163 stories · usually 73 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Beijing China214 stories about protests or strikes, of its 753 Washington US133 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1484 London UK43 stories about protests or strikes, of its 585 Delhi India38 stories about protests or strikes, of its 435 New York US36 stories about protests or strikes, of its 435

Stories, not people.

Where harm was most of the news

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zambia: near the world's share or lessVietnam: near the world's share or lessVenezuela: near the world's share or lessVanuatu: near the world's share or lessUzbekistan: near the world's share or lessUruguay: near the world's share or lessMicronesia: near the world's share or lessU.S. Virgin Islands: near the world's share or lessGuam: near the world's share or lessPuerto Rico: near the world's share or lessUnited States: near the world's share or lessSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands: no storiesFalkland Islands: no storiesCayman Islands: near the world's share or lessIsle of Man: near the world's share or lessUnited Kingdom: near the world's share or lessUnited Arab Emirates: near the world's share or lessUkraine: near the world's share or lessTurkmenistan: near the world's share or lessTunisia: near the world's share or lessTrinidad & Tobago: near the world's share or lessTonga: near the world's share or lessTogo: near the world's share or lessTimor-Leste: near the world's share or lessThailand: near the world's share or lessTajikistan: near the world's share or lessTaiwan: near the world's share or lessSwitzerland: near the world's share or lessSweden: near the world's share or lessEswatini: near the world's share or lessSuriname: near the world's share or lessSpain: near the world's share or lessSouth Korea: near the world's share or lessSomaliland: no storiesSolomon Islands: near the world's share or lessSlovakia: near the world's share or lessSlovenia: near the world's share or lessSingapore: near the world's share or lessSierra Leone: near the world's share or lessSerbia: no storiesSão Tomé: no storiesSamoa: near the world's share or lessSt Vincent: near the world's share or lessSt. Lucia: near the world's share or lessRussia: near the world's share or lessRomania: near the world's share or lessQatar: near the world's share or lessPortugal: near the world's share or lessPoland: near the world's share or lessPeru: near the world's share or lessParaguay: near the world's share or lessPapua New Guinea: near the world's share or lessPanama: near the world's share or lessPalau: near the world's share or lessOman: near the world's share or lessNorway: near the world's share or lessNorth Korea: near the world's share or lessNiger: near the world's share or lessNew Zealand: near the world's share or lessNiue: near the world's share or lessNetherlands: near the world's share or lessCuraçao: no storiesNepal: near the world's share or lessNamibia: near the world's share or lessMozambique: near the world's share or lessMorocco: near the world's share or lessWestern Sahara: no storiesMontenegro: near the world's share or lessMongolia: near the world's share or lessMoldova: near the world's share or lessMexico: near the world's share or lessMauritius: near the world's share or lessMauritania: near the world's share or lessMalta: near the world's share or lessMali: near the world's share or lessMalaysia: near the world's share or lessMalawi: near the world's share or lessNorth Macedonia: near the world's share or lessLuxembourg: near the world's share or lessLithuania: near the world's share or lessLibya: near the world's share or lessLesotho: near the world's share or lessLatvia: near the world's share or lessLaos: near the world's share or lessKyrgyzstan: near the world's share or lessKosovo: no storiesKiribati: near the world's share or lessKazakhstan: near the world's share or lessJordan: near the world's share or lessJapan: near the world's share or lessJamaica: near the world's share or lessItaly: near the world's share or lessIsrael: near the world's share or lessIreland: near the world's share or lessIraq: near the world's share or lessIndia: near the world's share or lessIceland: near the world's share or lessHungary: near the world's share or lessHonduras: near the world's share or lessGuyana: near the world's share or lessGuinea-Bissau: near the world's share or lessGuinea: near the world's share or lessGrenada: near the world's share or lessGreece: near the world's share or lessGhana: near the world's share or lessGermany: near the world's share or lessGambia: near the world's share or lessGabon: near the world's share or lessFrance: near the world's share or lessSt Pierre & Miquelon: no storiesFrench Polynesia: near the world's share or lessNew Caledonia: near the world's share or lessFrench Southern Territories: no storiesÅland Islands: no storiesFinland: near the world's share or lessFiji: near the world's share or lessEstonia: near the world's share or lessEritrea: near the world's share or lessEquatorial Guinea: near the world's share or lessEl Salvador: near the world's share or lessEcuador: near the world's share or lessDominican Republic: near the world's share or lessDominica: near the world's share or lessDjibouti: near the world's share or lessGreenland: near the world's share or lessFaroe Islands: no storiesDenmark: near the world's share or lessCzech Republic: near the world's share or lessN. Cyprus: no storiesCyprus: near the world's share or lessCuba: near the world's share or lessCroatia: near the world's share or lessCôte d'Ivoire: near the world's share or lessCosta Rica: near the world's share or lessDR Congo: near the world's share or lessComoros: no storiesColombia: near the world's share or lessHong Kong: near the world's share or lessChile: near the world's share or lessChad: near the world's share or lessCentral African Republic: near the world's share or lessCape Verde: near the world's share or lessCanada: near the world's share or lessCambodia: near the world's share or lessMyanmar: near the world's share or lessBurundi: near the world's share or lessBurkina Faso: near the world's share or lessBulgaria: near the world's share or lessBrunei: no storiesBotswana: near the world's share or lessBosnia and Herzegovina: near the world's share or lessBolivia: near the world's share or lessBhutan: near the world's share or lessBenin: near the world's share or lessBelize: near the world's share or lessBelgium: near the world's share or lessBelarus: near the world's share or lessBarbados: near the world's share or lessBahrain: near the world's share or lessBahamas: near the world's share or lessAzerbaijan: near the world's share or lessAustria: near the world's share or lessAustralia: near the world's share or lessHeard & McDonald Islands: no storiesArmenia: near the world's share or lessArgentina: near the world's share or lessAntigua & Barbuda: near the world's share or lessAngola: near the world's share or lessAndorra: no storiesAlgeria: near the world's share or lessAlbania: near the world's share or lessWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): no storiesWestern Sahara (Free Zone): no storiesCrimea: near the world's share or lessVatican City: near the world's share or lessMarshall Islands: near the world's share or lessNorthern Mariana Islands: near the world's share or lessAmerican Samoa: near the world's share or lessChagos Islands: no storiesSt. Helena: no storiesPitcairn: no storiesAnguilla: near the world's share or lessBermuda: near the world's share or lessBritish Virgin Islands: near the world's share or lessTurks & Caicos Islands: near the world's share or lessMontserrat: near the world's share or lessJersey: near the world's share or lessGuernsey: near the world's share or lessSan Marino: no storiesSt Kitts & Nevis: near the world's share or lessCook Islands: near the world's share or lessAruba: near the world's share or lessNauru: no storiesMonaco: near the world's share or lessLiechtenstein: near the world's share or lessWallis & Futuna: no storiesSt. Martin: no storiesSt. Barthélemy: no storiesMacao: near the world's share or lessNorfolk Island: near the world's share or lessSint Maarten: no storiesChristmas Island: no storiesGibraltar: near the world's share or lessMayotte: no storiesZimbabwe: 44 in 100 of its 282 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Yemen: 75 in 100 of its 89 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Uganda: 50 in 100 of its 121 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Türkiye: 47 in 100 of its 270 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Tanzania: 55 in 100 of its 100 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Syria: 55 in 100 of its 82 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)South Sudan: 71 in 100 of its 41 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Sudan: 72 in 100 of its 43 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Sri Lanka: 42 in 100 of its 185 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)South Africa: 41 in 100 of its 810 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Somalia: 63 in 100 of its 41 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Seychelles: 61 in 100 of its 23 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Senegal: 64 in 100 of its 25 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Saudi Arabia: 60 in 100 of its 335 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Rwanda: 71 in 100 of its 65 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Philippines: 54 in 100 of its 672 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Pakistan: 51 in 100 of its 1,197 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Nigeria: 42 in 100 of its 1,266 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Nicaragua: 75 in 100 of its 16 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Madagascar: 62 in 100 of its 24 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Liberia: 50 in 100 of its 68 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Lebanon: 49 in 100 of its 119 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Kuwait: 66 in 100 of its 35 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Kenya: 49 in 100 of its 231 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Palestine: 47 in 100 of its 132 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Iran: 46 in 100 of its 248 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Indonesia: 51 in 100 of its 214 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Haiti: 67 in 100 of its 33 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Guatemala: 75 in 100 of its 12 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Georgia: 71 in 100 of its 34 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Ethiopia: 47 in 100 of its 78 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Egypt: 45 in 100 of its 164 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Congo: 62 in 100 of its 24 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)China: 45 in 100 of its 3,434 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Cameroon: 53 in 100 of its 30 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Brazil: 50 in 100 of its 310 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Bangladesh: 67 in 100 of its 269 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Afghanistan: 56 in 100 of its 163 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Kashmir: 50 in 100 of its 107 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)China: 45 in 100 of its 3,434 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Palestine: 47 in 100 of its 132 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Palestine: 47 in 100 of its 132 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Kashmir: 50 in 100 of its 107 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Kashmir: 50 in 100 of its 107 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Palestine: 47 in 100 of its 132 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Kashmir: 50 in 100 of its 107 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)Maldives: 61 in 100 of its 28 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 32)
A quarter or more above the world's share Near the world's or lessNo stories

Each country shaded by how much of its news was about people being harmed, against the world's 32 in 100 that day. Stronger colour: further above. A country with few stories is drawn closer to the world's. Click a country.

Most of its news about harm

● Bangladesh 67 in 100 of its 269 stories · mostly health ● Yemen 75 in 100 of its 89 stories · mostly health ● Saudi Arabia 60 in 100 of its 335 stories · mostly rights & justice ● Rwanda 71 in 100 of its 65 stories · mostly conflict & violence ● Philippines 54 in 100 of its 672 stories · mostly health ● Afghanistan 56 in 100 of its 163 stories · mostly conflict & violence

Stories, not people. Countries with at least 50 stories.

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health71% 24,262 stories · much less than usual (usually 77%) Rights & justice10% 3,372 stories · more than usual (usually 8%) Disasters & accidents8% 2,674 stories · more than usual (usually 5%) Conflict & violence4% 1,284 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given3% 1,050 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 763 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 410 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 301 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 killed9,340 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected2,438 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests1,869 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,266 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations279 at about the usual rate Stories reporting refugees195 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced191 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting abductions141 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and Nigeria Stories reporting people falling ill82 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Canada

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 · 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.