← 20 Dec Monday 21 December 2020 · to 23:59 UTC 22 Dec →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
21,637 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 violence in Tripoli, people killed in Denmark and people affected in Fiji. Libya's coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Worldwide, the words used were about as usual.

Part of lifeHealth 66 in 100 of the stories about harm · much more than usual Country that rose mostLibya 74 in 100 of its 125 stories, usually 36
RegionCentral Asia 47 in 100 of its stories, usually 34
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 →
Conflict & violence

Libya

92 of its 125 stories (74%) were about people being harmed, usually 36%. Tripoli accounted for 54 of Libya's 92 stories about harm, carried by 189 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (31 stories). Illness was named in 62 of its stories about harm, about three times usual. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

Libya over 30 days → its stories → Tripoli stories →
Health

Denmark

47 of its 84 stories (56%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (25 stories). Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.

Denmark over 30 days → its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Fiji

57 of its 88 stories (65%) were about people being harmed, usually 43%. Reports of people affected ran at about twice the usual rate (12 stories).

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

Tunisia

31 of its 49 stories (63%) were about people being harmed, usually 41%. Tunis accounted for 24 of Tunisia's 31 stories about harm, carried by 20 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about 5 times the usual rate (5 stories). Fear in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Health

UK

3,480 of its 8,184 stories (43%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Train derailment was named in 15 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual, with hurricane. Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Central African Republic

28 of its 40 stories (70%) were about people being harmed, usually 48%. Bangui accounted for 24 of the Central African Republic's 28 stories about harm, carried by 36 outlets. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Jamaica

62 of its 143 stories (43%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. Reports of people affected ran at about twice the usual rate (14 stories). Its coverage was about twice as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Afghanistan

118 of its 160 stories (74%) were about people being harmed, usually 62%. Hunger was named in 26 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about three times as grief-stricken as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Thailand

92 of its 217 stories (42%) were about people being harmed, usually 34%. Bangkok accounted for 69 of Thailand's 92 stories about harm, carried by 66 outlets. Outbreaks were named in 58 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: outbreaks in Thailand (58 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); outbreaks in Australia (208 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); hurricane in Puerto Rico (14 of its stories, about 4 times its usual); hunger in Afghanistan (26 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); poisoning in Russia (44 of its stories, about three times its usual).

27 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 26; 28 the day before
28 in 10024 in 10022 Nov29 Nov6 Dec13 Dec21 Dec22 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 10021 Dec: 27 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 21 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 21,637 stories about harm among 79,516 counted on 21 Dec.

Read the day's briefing

Libya stood out: 74% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 36%. On 22 December 2019, a year earlier, the share was 20 in every 100, against 27 today. of the day's 79,516 news stories, 27 in every 100 were about people being harmed, above the usual 26.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Afghanistan74 in 100 of its 160 stories · usually 62 · mostly conflict & violence Libya74 in 100 of its 125 stories · usually 36 · mostly conflict & violence Fiji65 in 100 of its 88 stories · usually 43 · mostly disasters & accidents Syria58 in 100 of its 65 stories · usually 54 · mostly conflict & violence Denmark56 in 100 of its 84 stories · usually 32 · mostly health

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Washington US121 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1042 Delhi India54 stories about protests or strikes, of its 231 London UK41 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1331 Beijing China30 stories about protests or strikes, of its 111 Chicago US19 stories about protests or strikes, of its 139

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Vanuatu: feelings about like the world'sUruguay: feelings about like the world'sMicronesia: 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'sSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands: too little coverage to readFalkland Islands: too little coverage to readIsle of Man: feelings about like the world'sUganda: feelings about like the world'sTurkmenistan: 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'sTajikistan: feelings about like the world'sTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: too little coverage to readSuriname: too little coverage to readSouth Sudan: feelings about like the world'sSpain: feelings about like the world'sSomaliland: too little coverage to readSolomon Islands: feelings about like the world'sSlovakia: 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'sSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: feelings about like the world'sSt Vincent: feelings about like the world'sSt. Lucia: too little coverage to readRomania: feelings about like the world'sQatar: feelings about like the world'sPortugal: 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'sNorway: feelings about like the world'sNiue: too little coverage to readNetherlands: feelings about like the world'sCuraçao: too little coverage to readNepal: 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'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMauritania: too little coverage to readMalta: feelings about like the world'sMalaysia: feelings about like the world'sMadagascar: feelings about like the world'sNorth Macedonia: feelings about like the world'sLithuania: 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'sKuwait: feelings about like the world'sKosovo: too little coverage to readKiribati: feelings about like the world'sKenya: feelings about like the world'sKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sJordan: feelings about like the world'sJapan: feelings about like the world'sItaly: feelings about like the world'sIreland: 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'sGuinea-Bissau: too little coverage to readGuinea: feelings about like the world'sGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: feelings about like the world'sGambia: feelings about like the world'sGabon: 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'sEritrea: feelings about like the world'sEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEl Salvador: too little coverage to readEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: too little coverage to readDjibouti: feelings about like the world'sGreenland: feelings about like the world'sFaroe Islands: too little coverage to readCzech Republic: feelings about like the world'sN. Cyprus: too little coverage to readCyprus: too little coverage to readCroatia: 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'sCongo: feelings about like the world'sComoros: too little coverage to readChina: feelings about like the world'sChile: feelings about like the world'sChad: feelings about like the world'sCape Verde: too little coverage to readCameroon: 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'sBrunei: 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'sAustria: feelings about like the world'sAustralia: 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 readAksai Chin: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): too little coverage to readWestern Sahara (Free Zone): 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: 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: 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: too little coverage to readSt. Barthélemy: too little coverage to readMacao: feelings about like the world'sNorfolk Island: feelings about like the world'sSint 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 angrier than the world'sZambia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sYemen: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sVietnam: coverage a little warmer than the world'sVenezuela: coverage a little angrier than the world'sUzbekistan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sUS: coverage a little warmer than the world'sCayman Islands: 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'sUkraine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sTürkiye: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sTunisia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sTrinidad & Tobago: coverage a little angrier than the world'sSyria: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSweden: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSudan: coverage a little warmer than the world'sSri Lanka: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSouth Korea: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSouth Africa: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSomalia: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sSaudi Arabia: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sRwanda: coverage a little warmer than 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'sPhilippines: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sPakistan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sOman: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sNorth Korea: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNigeria: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNiger: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sNicaragua: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sNew Zealand: coverage a little angrier than the world'sNamibia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMozambique: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMexico: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sMali: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sMalawi: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sLuxembourg: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sLibya: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sLebanon: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKyrgyzstan: coverage a little angrier than the world'sJamaica: coverage about twice 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 angry as the world'sIndia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sGuyana: coverage a little angrier than the world'sGreece: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sGhana: coverage a little warmer than the world'sGermany: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sGeorgia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than 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'sEstonia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sEgypt: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sDenmark: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sCuba: coverage a little angrier than the world'sColombia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sHong Kong: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sCentral African Republic: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sCanada: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBulgaria: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBrazil: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBotswana: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sBelgium: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sBelarus: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBangladesh: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAzerbaijan: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sArmenia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sArgentina: coverage a little angrier than the world'sAlgeria: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAlbania: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about three times as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: 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 about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sUkraine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sKashmir: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sVatican City: 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 three times as grief-stricken as the world's · 118 stories about harm ● UK about twice as fearful as the world's · 3,480 stories about harm ● Iraq about twice as angry as the world's · 53 stories about harm ● Libya about twice as angry as the world's · 92 stories about harm ● Denmark few stories about twice as fearful as the world's · 47 stories about harm ● Germany about twice as angry as the world's · 193 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health66% 14,204 stories · much more than usual (usually 61%) Rights & justice13% 2,727 stories · less than usual (usually 16%) Disasters & accidents8% 1,699 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence6% 1,219 stories · about as usual Deaths & injuries, cause not given4% 769 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 388 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood1% 259 stories · about as usual Displacement1% 214 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 killed5,590 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected1,409 at about the usual rate Stories reporting arrests1,190 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured963 at about the usual rate Stories reporting abductions200 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Nigeria and the US Stories reporting refugees120 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced104 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations72 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill23 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and the UK

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.

● Angera little less than usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefa little less than usual
● Fearabout one and a half times 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.