← 19 Dec Sunday 20 December 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 21 Dec →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
12,559 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 protests in Minsk (Belarus), illness in Bangkok and violence in Kabul. Afghanistan's coverage was about 4 times as angry as the world's. Across the world, the tone of the words was harsher than usual.

Reports of abductions ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about Nigeria and the US →
Part of lifeHealth 63 in 100 of the stories about harm · more than usual Country that rose mostFiji 76 in 100 of its 71 stories, usually 41
RegionCentral Asia 45 in 100 of its stories, usually 34
Tone of the words 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

24 of its 28 stories (86%) were about people being harmed, usually 39%. Minsk accounted for 23 of Belarus' 24 stories about harm, carried by 61 outlets. 21 of Minsk's 23 stories were about protests or strikes. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (17 stories).

Belarus over 30 days → its stories → Minsk stories →
Health

Thailand

85 of its 158 stories (54%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Bangkok accounted for 62 of Thailand's 85 stories about harm, carried by 184 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (31 stories). Outbreaks were named in 43 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual.

Thailand over 30 days → its stories → Bangkok stories →
Conflict & violence

Afghanistan

139 of its 179 stories (78%) were about people being harmed, usually 61%. Kabul accounted for 100 of Afghanistan's 139 stories about harm, carried by 279 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (87 stories). Its coverage was about 4 times as angry as the world's.

Afghanistan over 30 days → its stories → Kabul stories →
Disasters & accidents

Fiji

54 of its 71 stories (76%) were about people being harmed, usually 41%. Reports of evacuations ran at about three times the usual rate (11 stories). Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

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

Switzerland

31 of its 101 stories (31%) were about people being harmed, usually 12%. Reports of people killed ran at about three times the usual rate (10 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Ethiopia

42 of its 51 stories (82%) were about people being harmed, usually 60%. Tigray accounted for 22 of Ethiopia's 42 stories about harm, carried by 33 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about 6 times the usual rate (15 stories).

its stories →
Health

South Korea

67 of its 141 stories (48%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Seoul accounted for 46 of South Korea's 67 stories about harm, carried by 113 outlets. Reports of people affected ran at about three times the usual rate (7 stories).

its stories →
Health

Austria

22 of its 52 stories (42%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. Reports of arrests ran at about 6 times the usual rate (11 stories). Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Health

UK

1,648 of its 4,196 stories (39%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of abductions ran at about twice the usual rate (5 stories). Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Israel

175 of its 341 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 34%. Jerusalem accounted for 93 of Israel's 175 stories about harm, carried by 115 outlets.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: outbreaks in Australia (160 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); flu in Brazil (16 of its stories, about 8 times its usual); earthquake in Japan (17 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); measles in Indonesia (12 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); flooding in Malaysia (12 of its stories, about 6 times its usual).

28 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 26; 28 the day before
28 in 10024 in 10021 Nov28 Nov5 Dec12 Dec20 Dec21 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 10014 Dec: 26 in 10015 Dec: 25 in 10016 Dec: 25 in 10017 Dec: 25 in 10018 Dec: 25 in 10019 Dec: 28 in 10020 Dec: 28 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 20 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 12,559 stories about harm among 44,733 counted on 20 Dec.

Read the day's briefing

No day had a higher share of stories about people being harmed since 15 November 2020. Stories about people being harmed made up 28 in every 100 of the day's 44,733 stories, above the usual 26. Abductions were reported at about twice the usual rate, most often about Nigeria and the US. In Belarus, 86% of the news was about people being harmed, where 39% is usual. On 21 December 2019, a year earlier, the share was 19 in every 100, against 28 today. This week the news turned most often to Fiji, on 5 of 7 days; help rose on 2 of them.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Ethiopia82 in 100 of its 51 stories · usually 60 · mostly conflict & violence Afghanistan78 in 100 of its 179 stories · usually 61 · mostly conflict & violence Fiji76 in 100 of its 71 stories · usually 41 · mostly disasters & accidents Syria66 in 100 of its 53 stories · usually 54 · mostly conflict & violence Thailand54 in 100 of its 158 stories · usually 33 · mostly health

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Delhi India63 stories about protests or strikes, of its 206 Washington US53 stories about protests or strikes, of its 545 London UK27 stories about protests or strikes, of its 811 Jerusalem Israel24 stories about protests or strikes, of its 93 Minsk Belarus21 stories about protests or strikes, of its 23

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: 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: too little coverage to readGuam: 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 readUkraine: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: too little coverage to readTrinidad & 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: 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'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: too little coverage to readSlovenia: feelings about like the world'sSingapore: feelings about like the world'sSierra Leone: feelings about like the world'sSeychelles: too little coverage to readSerbia: too little coverage to readSenegal: feelings about like the world'sSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: feelings about like the world'sSt Vincent: too little coverage to readSt. Lucia: too little coverage to readRwanda: 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: 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'sNorway: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readCuraçao: too little coverage to readNamibia: 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: too little coverage to readMalta: feelings about like the world'sMali: feelings about like the world'sMalaysia: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: feelings about like the world'sNorth Macedonia: too little coverage to readLuxembourg: 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'sKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: too little coverage to readKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sJordan: feelings about like the world'sJapan: 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: too little coverage to readGuatemala: 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 readFinland: feelings about like the world'sFiji: feelings about like the world'sEstonia: feelings about like the world'sEritrea: feelings about like the world'sEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEgypt: feelings about like the world'sEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: feelings about like the world'sGreenland: too little coverage to readFaroe 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: too little coverage to readCosta Rica: feelings about like the world'sCongo: feelings about like the world'sComoros: too little coverage to readColombia: feelings about like the world'sChina: feelings about like the world'sChad: 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: feelings about like the world'sBurkina Faso: feelings about like the world'sBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: too little coverage to readBotswana: feelings about like the world'sBolivia: feelings about like the world'sBhutan: feelings about like the world'sBenin: feelings about like the world'sBelize: too little coverage to readBahrain: feelings about like the world'sBahamas: feelings about like the world'sAzerbaijan: feelings about like the world'sAustralia: feelings about like the world'sHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readArgentina: feelings about like the world'sAntigua & Barbuda: too little coverage to readAngola: too little coverage to readAndorra: too little coverage to readAlgeria: feelings about like the world'sAksai Chin: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): too little coverage to readCrimea: feelings about like the world'sVatican City: too little coverage to readMarshall 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: 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: too little coverage to readCook Islands: too little coverage to readAruba: feelings about like the world'sNauru: 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: too little coverage to readNorfolk 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 readYemen: coverage a little angrier than the world'sUK: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sUnited Arab Emirates: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUganda: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sTürkiye: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sTunisia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSyria: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSwitzerland: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSweden: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSudan: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSri Lanka: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSouth Africa: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSomalia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sRussia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sRomania: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPoland: coverage a little angrier than the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNorth Korea: coverage a little more fearful 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 grief-stricken as the world'sNew Zealand: coverage a little warmer than the world'sNetherlands: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sNepal: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sMozambique: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMorocco: coverage a little angrier than the world'sMexico: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMalawi: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sLithuania: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sLibya: 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'sKuwait: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sKenya: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sJamaica: coverage a little warmer than the world'sItaly: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sIsrael: coverage a little angrier than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sIreland: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sIraq: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sIran: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIndia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sGreece: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGhana: coverage a little warmer than the world'sGermany: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sFrance: coverage about one and a half times as angry as 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'sDenmark: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sDR Congo: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sHong Kong: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sChile: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sCentral African Republic: 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'sBosnia: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBelgium: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBelarus: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBarbados: coverage a little more fearful than 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 angry as the world'sArmenia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAlbania: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about 4 times as angry as the world'sKashmir: coverage a little warmer than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sKashmir: coverage a little warmer than the world'sKashmir: coverage a little warmer than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sKashmir: 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

● Afghanistan about 4 times as angry as the world's · 139 stories about harm ● UK about twice as fearful as the world's · 1,648 stories about harm ● Iraq few stories about twice as angry as the world's · 40 stories about harm ● Brazil few stories about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's · 41 stories about harm ● Armenia few stories about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's · 10 stories about harm ● United Arab Emirates few stories a little warmer than the world's · 48 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health63% 7,828 stories · more than usual (usually 61%) Rights & justice13% 1,619 stories · less than usual (usually 16%) Disasters & accidents9% 1,062 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence7% 878 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given4% 526 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 228 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 157 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 143 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 killed3,895 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the US and the UK Stories reporting people affected875 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests820 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured713 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions189 at about twice the usual rate · most about Nigeria and the US Stories reporting people displaced66 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations56 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about the Philippines and Fiji Stories reporting refugees51 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about Palestine and Ethiopia Stories reporting people falling ill13 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Bahrain

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

● Angerabout as usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefabout as usual
● Feara little more than 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.