← 12 Dec Sunday 13 December 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 14 Dec →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
12,257 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 protests in Minsk (Belarus), rights and justice in Tehran and people injured in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan's coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Across the world, the tone of the words was much harsher than usual.

Reports of abductions ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about Nigeria and the US → Help and hope: reports of people freed or reunited ran at about twice the usual rate →
Part of lifeHealth 56 in 100 of the stories about harm · less than usual Country that rose mostFiji 50 in 100 of its 50 stories, usually 25
RegionCentral Asia 43 in 100 of its stories, usually 34
Tone of the words Much harsher than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Protests & strikes

Belarus

22 of its 32 stories (69%) were about people being harmed, usually 39%. Minsk accounted for 22 of Belarus' 22 stories about harm, carried by 101 outlets. 22 of Minsk's 22 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (20 stories).

Belarus over 30 days → its stories → Minsk stories →
Rights & justice

Iran

125 of its 205 stories (61%) were about people being harmed, usually 51%. Tehran accounted for 82 of Iran's 125 stories about harm, carried by 143 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about three times the usual rate (35 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

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

Azerbaijan

32 of its 44 stories (73%) were about people being harmed, usually 39%. Reports of people injured ran at about 8 times the usual rate (29 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

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

Armenia

20 of its 32 stories (62%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (18 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Nigeria

376 of its 911 stories (41%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. Reports of abductions ran at about 4 times the usual rate (85 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Italy

79 of its 244 stories (32%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (40 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Fiji

25 of its 50 stories (50%) were about people being harmed, usually 25%. Cyclone was named in 13 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual.

its stories →
Health

South Korea

75 of its 169 stories (44%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Seoul accounted for 58 of South Korea's 75 stories about harm, carried by 58 outlets.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Niger

10 of its 13 stories (77%) were about people being harmed, usually 37%. Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: flooding in Australia (59 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); cyclone in Fiji (13 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); wildfires in France (19 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); poisoning in Russia (10 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); snowstorms in US (43 of its stories, about 4 times its usual).

27 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 26; 27 the day before
30 in 10024 in 10011 Nov21 Nov28 Nov5 Dec13 Dec11 Nov: 25 in 10012 Nov: 26 in 10013 Nov: 27 in 10015 Nov: 30 in 10018 Nov: 26 in 10019 Nov: 26 in 10020 Nov: 26 in 10021 Nov: 26 in 10022 Nov: 28 in 10023 Nov: 26 in 10024 Nov: 25 in 10025 Nov: 25 in 10026 Nov: 25 in 10027 Nov: 25 in 10028 Nov: 26 in 10029 Nov: 26 in 10030 Nov: 25 in 1001 Dec: 25 in 1002 Dec: 25 in 1003 Dec: 25 in 1004 Dec: 25 in 1005 Dec: 27 in 1006 Dec: 26 in 1007 Dec: 25 in 1008 Dec: 25 in 1009 Dec: 25 in 10010 Dec: 24 in 10011 Dec: 25 in 10012 Dec: 27 in 10013 Dec: 27 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 13 Dec. 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 12,257 stories about harm among 44,691 counted on 13 Dec.

Read the day's briefing

Help and hope: reports of people freed or reunited ran at about twice the usual rate. of the day's 44,691 news stories, 27 in every 100 were about people being harmed, above the usual 26. Reports of abductions ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about Nigeria and the US. On 14 December 2019, a year earlier, the share was 18 in every 100, against 27 today. In Belarus, 69% of the news was about people being harmed, where 39% is usual. This week the news turned most often to Ethiopia, on 3 of 7 days; help rose on 3 of them.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Ethiopia69 in 100 of its 78 stories · usually 61 · mostly displacement Afghanistan66 in 100 of its 130 stories · usually 59 · mostly conflict & violence Indonesia64 in 100 of its 113 stories · usually 46 · mostly health Iran61 in 100 of its 205 stories · usually 51 · mostly rights & justice Syria52 in 100 of its 50 stories · usually 54 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US171 stories about protests or strikes, of its 610 Delhi India102 stories about protests or strikes, of its 258 Tehran Iran37 stories about protests or strikes, of its 82 Paris France32 stories about protests or strikes, of its 83 Manhattan US32 stories about protests or strikes, of its 103

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'sVenezuela: feelings about like the world'sVanuatu: too little coverage to readUzbekistan: feelings about like the world'sUruguay: too little coverage to readMicronesia: too little coverage to readU.S. Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readGuam: feelings about like the world'sPuerto Rico: too little coverage to readUnited 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'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: too little coverage to readTimor-Leste: too little coverage to readThailand: feelings about like the world'sTanzania: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: too little coverage to readTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: too little coverage to readSuriname: feelings about like the world'sSouth Sudan: too little coverage to readSudan: feelings about like the world'sSouth Korea: feelings about like the world'sSouth Africa: feelings about like the world'sSomalia: 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'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'sSaudi Arabia: feelings about like the world'sSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: too little coverage to readSt Vincent: too little coverage to readSt. Lucia: too little coverage to readRussia: feelings about like the world'sRomania: feelings about like the world'sQatar: 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: feelings about like the world'sOman: feelings about like the world'sNorth Korea: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: too little coverage to readNew 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: too little coverage to readMoldova: too little coverage to readMexico: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: feelings about like the world'sMalawi: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: feelings about like the world'sNorth Macedonia: too little coverage to readLuxembourg: feelings about like the world'sLithuania: feelings about like the world'sLibya: feelings about like the world'sLiberia: too little coverage to readLesotho: too little coverage to readLatvia: 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 readKenya: feelings about like the world'sJordan: feelings about like the world'sJapan: feelings about like the world'sPalestine: feelings about like the world'sIreland: feelings about like the world'sHungary: feelings about like the world'sGuyana: feelings about like the world'sGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: too little coverage to readGreece: feelings about like the world'sGhana: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGambia: too little coverage to readGabon: too little coverage to readFrance: 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: too little coverage to readEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: 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'sCuba: feelings about like the world'sCroatia: feelings about like the world'sCôte d'Ivoire: feelings about like the world'sCosta Rica: too little coverage to readDR Congo: feelings about like the world'sCongo: too little coverage to readComoros: too little coverage to readColombia: feelings about like the world'sChina: 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: too little coverage to readCanada: feelings about like the world'sCameroon: feelings about like the world'sCambodia: feelings about like the world'sMyanmar: feelings about like the world'sBurundi: too little coverage to readBurkina Faso: feelings about like the world'sBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: feelings about like the world'sBotswana: too little coverage to readBolivia: too little coverage to readBhutan: 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'sHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readAntigua & Barbuda: feelings about like the world'sAngola: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: too little coverage to readAlgeria: feelings about like the world'sAksai Chin: feelings about like the world'sGaza: feelings about like the world'sWest Bank: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readEast Jerusalem: 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: 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: too little coverage to readBritish 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 readCook Islands: 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: feelings about like the world'sSt. Barthélemy: too little coverage to readMacao: too little coverage to readNorfolk Island: too little coverage to readSint Maarten: too little coverage to readChristmas Island: too little coverage to readGibraltar: too little coverage to readMayotte: too little coverage to readYemen: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sUK: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUnited Arab Emirates: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUkraine: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sUganda: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sTürkiye: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSyria: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSweden: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSri Lanka: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sSpain: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sRwanda: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPortugal: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPoland: coverage a little angrier than the world'sPakistan: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sNorway: coverage a little warmer than the world'sNigeria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNiger: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNepal: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMozambique: coverage a little angrier than the world'sMalta: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMali: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMalaysia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sLebanon: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKazakhstan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sJamaica: coverage a little warmer than the world'sItaly: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIsrael: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sIraq: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sIran: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sIndonesia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sIndia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sIceland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sHonduras: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sHaiti: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sGuinea: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sGermany: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sEthiopia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sEl Salvador: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sEgypt: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBrazil: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBosnia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBelarus: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBangladesh: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAzerbaijan: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sAustralia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sArmenia: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sArgentina: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sAlbania: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about three times as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sUkraine: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about twice as fearful as 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 · 55 stories about harm ● Afghanistan about three times as angry as the world's · 86 stories about harm ● Sri Lanka few stories about twice as grief-stricken as the world's · 39 stories about harm ● Azerbaijan few stories about twice as angry as the world's · 32 stories about harm ● Armenia few stories about twice as angry as the world's · 20 stories about harm ● Iran about twice as angry as the world's · 125 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health56% 6,802 stories · less than usual (usually 60%) Rights & justice17% 2,078 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents9% 1,077 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence9% 1,073 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given5% 614 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 240 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 161 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 105 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 killed3,818 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests1,015 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and India Stories reporting people affected864 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured806 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and Afghanistan Stories reporting abductions142 at about twice the usual rate · most about Nigeria and the US Stories reporting refugees76 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced44 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about Ethiopia and the US Stories reporting evacuations30 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about Australia and New Zealand Stories reporting people falling ill30 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and Russia

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 harsher than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.

● Angera little more than usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefa little more 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 · 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.