← 14 Aug Friday 20 August 2021 · to 23:59 UTC 21 Aug →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
19,437 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 →

Illness in Colombo, the heatwave in Guinea and the earthquake in Haiti drew the news. Burkina Faso's coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. In the world's news as a whole, the wording was about as usual.

Reports of evacuations ran at about 4 times the usual rate, most often about Afghanistan and the US → Reports of refugees ran at about twice the usual rate, most often about Afghanistan and the US → Help and hope: reports of people freed or reunited ran at about twice the usual rate →
Part of lifeHealth 46 in 100 of the stories about harm · less than usual Country that rose mostMexico 41 in 100 of its 326 stories, usually 27
RegionSouth Asia 45 in 100 of its stories, usually 33
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 →
Health

Sri Lanka

55 of its 107 stories (51%) were about people being harmed, usually 33%. Colombo accounted for 32 of Sri Lanka's 55 stories about harm, carried by 31 outlets. Reports of people killed ran at about twice the usual rate (37 stories). Outbreaks were named in 14 of its stories about harm, about three times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world's.

Sri Lanka over 30 days → its stories → Colombo stories →
Shelter & services

Guinea

24 of its 31 stories (77%) were about people being harmed, usually 35%. Reports of people affected ran at about 4 times the usual rate (5 stories). Heatwave was named in 12 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.

Guinea over 30 days → its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Haiti

130 of its 172 stories (76%) were about people being harmed, usually 60%. les Cayes accounted for 66 of Haiti's 130 stories about harm, carried by 132 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at more than ten times the usual rate (62 stories). Earthquake was named in 128 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual, with heavy rain, storms and drought.

Haiti over 30 days → its stories → Les Cayes stories →
Conflict & violence

Burkina Faso

22 of its 27 stories (81%) were about people being harmed, usually 52%. Reports of people injured ran at about 4 times the usual rate (6 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's. Grief in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

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

Mali

12 of its 14 stories (86%) were about people being harmed, usually 41%. Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (5 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Kashmir

55 of its 101 stories (54%) were about people being harmed, usually 42%. Pulwama accounted for 30 of Kashmir's 55 stories about harm, carried by 21 outlets. Its coverage was about three times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Pakistan

161 of its 333 stories (48%) were about people being harmed, usually 41%. Reports of people injured ran at about three times the usual rate (36 stories). Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Displacement

Afghanistan

Kabul accounted for 1,714 of Afghanistan's 2,211 stories about harm, carried by 1,352 outlets. Reports of evacuations ran at about 6 times the usual rate (502 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Disasters & accidents

Mexico

133 of its 326 stories (41%) were about people being harmed, usually 27%. Hurricane was named in 59 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual, with storms, storm surge and heavy rain.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Guinea-Bissau

9 of its 9 stories (100%) were about people being harmed, usually 26%. Reports of arrests ran at about 7 times the usual rate (8 stories).

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: outbreaks in New Zealand (105 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); hurricane in Mexico (59 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); poisoning in Russia (57 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); wildfires in France (10 of its stories, more than ten times its usual); respiratory illness in Japan (12 of its stories, about 7 times its usual).

25 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 24; 27 the day before
27 in 10021 in 10013 Jul20 Jul27 Jul3 Aug20 Aug13 Jul: 23 in 10014 Jul: 22 in 10015 Jul: 23 in 10016 Jul: 24 in 10017 Jul: 26 in 10018 Jul: 25 in 10019 Jul: 23 in 10020 Jul: 23 in 10021 Jul: 23 in 10022 Jul: 23 in 10023 Jul: 24 in 10024 Jul: 25 in 10025 Jul: 25 in 10026 Jul: 24 in 10027 Jul: 23 in 10028 Jul: 23 in 10029 Jul: 23 in 10030 Jul: 24 in 10031 Jul: 25 in 1001 Aug: 25 in 1002 Aug: 24 in 1003 Aug: 23 in 1004 Aug: 21 in 1005 Aug: 24 in 1006 Aug: 24 in 10011 Aug: 24 in 10012 Aug: 24 in 10013 Aug: 25 in 10014 Aug: 27 in 10020 Aug: 25 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 20 Aug. 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 19,437 stories about harm among 77,443 counted on 20 Aug.

Read the day's briefing

Reports of evacuations ran at about 4 times the usual rate, most often about Afghanistan and the US. Stories about people being harmed made up 25 in every 100 of the day's 77,443 stories, above the usual 24. Help and hope: reports of people freed or reunited ran at about twice the usual rate. On 20 August 2020, a year earlier, the share was 27 in every 100, against 25 today. Sri Lanka stood out: 51% of its news was about people being harmed, usually 33%.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Haiti76 in 100 of its 172 stories · usually 60 · mostly disasters & accidents Afghanistan62 in 100 of its 3,579 stories · usually 64 · mostly displacement Syria59 in 100 of its 75 stories · usually 53 · mostly conflict & violence Kashmir54 in 100 of its 101 stories · usually 42 · mostly conflict & violence Sri Lanka51 in 100 of its 107 stories · usually 33 · mostly health

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Kabul Afghanistan335 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1714 Washington US142 stories about protests or strikes, of its 704 Sydney Australia28 stories about protests or strikes, of its 215 Moscow Russia27 stories about protests or strikes, of its 111 London UK25 stories about protests or strikes, of its 205

Stories, not people.

The emotional weather

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zambia: 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: 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: too little coverage to readIsle of Man: too little coverage to readUnited Arab Emirates: feelings about like the world'sUkraine: 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: feelings about like the world'sTajikistan: feelings about like the world'sTaiwan: feelings about like the world'sSwitzerland: feelings about like the world'sSweden: feelings about like the world'sEswatini: too little coverage to readSuriname: too little coverage to readSouth Korea: 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 readSaudi Arabia: feelings about like the world'sSão Tomé: too little coverage to readSamoa: too little coverage to readSt Vincent: feelings about like the world'sSt. Lucia: 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'sNorth Korea: feelings about like the world'sNicaragua: feelings about like the world'sNew Zealand: 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'sNamibia: feelings about like the world'sMozambique: feelings about like the world'sWestern Sahara: too little coverage to readMontenegro: too little coverage to readMoldova: feelings about like the world'sMauritius: feelings about like the world'sMalta: feelings about like the world'sMalaysia: 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: feelings about like the world'sLatvia: 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 readKazakhstan: feelings about like the world'sJamaica: feelings about like the world'sItaly: feelings about like the world'sIndia: feelings about like the world'sIceland: feelings about like the world'sHungary: feelings about like the world'sHonduras: too little coverage to readGuyana: feelings about like the world'sGuatemala: feelings about like the world'sGrenada: too little coverage to readGreece: feelings about like the world'sGermany: feelings about like the world'sGeorgia: feelings about like the world'sGambia: feelings about like the world'sGabon: feelings about like the world'sFrance: feelings about like the world'sSt 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'sEstonia: feelings about like the world'sEquatorial Guinea: too little coverage to readEl Salvador: feelings about like the world'sEcuador: feelings about like the world'sDominican Republic: feelings about like the world'sDominica: feelings about like the world'sDjibouti: too little coverage to readGreenland: 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: 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 readColombia: 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'sBurundi: too little coverage to readBulgaria: feelings about like the world'sBrunei: feelings about like the world'sBotswana: feelings about like the world'sBhutan: too little coverage to readBenin: feelings about like the world'sBelize: feelings about like the world'sBelgium: feelings about like the world'sBahrain: feelings about like the world'sBahamas: feelings about like the world'sAustralia: feelings about like the world'sHeard & McDonald Islands: too little coverage to readAntigua & Barbuda: too little coverage to readAngola: feelings about like the world'sAndorra: too little coverage to readAlbania: 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: 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: feelings about like the world'sAnguilla: feelings about like the world'sBermuda: feelings about like the world'sBritish Virgin Islands: too little coverage to readTurks & Caicos Islands: too little coverage to readMontserrat: feelings about like the world'sGuernsey: too little coverage to readSan 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: 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: 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 readZimbabwe: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sYemen: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sVietnam: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sUK: coverage a little warmer than the world'sUganda: coverage a little angrier than the world'sTürkiye: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sTunisia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sThailand: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sTanzania: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sSyria: coverage about three times as angry as the world'sSouth Sudan: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSudan: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sSri Lanka: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sSpain: 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 grief-stricken as the world'sSenegal: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sRwanda: coverage a little more fearful 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'sPakistan: coverage about twice as angry as 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'sMorocco: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMongolia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMexico: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMauritania: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMali: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sLesotho: coverage a little warmer than the world'sLebanon: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sKenya: coverage a little angrier than the world'sJordan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sJapan: coverage a little angrier than the world'sIsrael: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sIreland: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIraq: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sIran: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sIndonesia: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sHaiti: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sGuinea-Bissau: coverage a little angrier than the world'sGuinea: coverage about twice as fearful as the world'sGhana: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sFiji: coverage about twice as grief-stricken as the world'sEthiopia: coverage about one and a half times as angry as the world'sEritrea: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sEgypt: coverage a little warmer than the world'sDenmark: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCuba: coverage a little angrier than the world'sCroatia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sChina: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sHong Kong: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sCameroon: coverage a little angrier than the world'sCambodia: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sMyanmar: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBurkina Faso: coverage about twice as angry as the world'sBrazil: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sBosnia: coverage a little warmer than the world'sBolivia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sBelarus: coverage a little angrier than the world'sBarbados: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as 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'sAustria: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sArmenia: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sArgentina: coverage about one and a half times as grief-stricken as the world'sAlgeria: coverage a little more grief-stricken than the world'sAfghanistan: coverage about one and a half times as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about three times as fearful as the world'sChina: coverage a little more fearful than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sKashmir: coverage about three times as fearful as the world'sKashmir: coverage about three times as fearful as the world'sPalestine: coverage a little angrier than the world'sKashmir: coverage about three times as fearful as the world'sJersey: 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

● Kashmir about three times as fearful as the world's · 55 stories about harm ● Syria few stories about three times as angry as the world's · 44 stories about harm ● Burkina Faso few stories about twice as angry as the world's · 22 stories about harm ● Guinea few stories about twice as fearful as the world's · 24 stories about harm ● Pakistan about twice as angry as the world's · 161 stories about harm ● Afghanistan about one and a half times as fearful as the world's · 2,211 stories about harm

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health46% 8,779 stories · less than usual (usually 49%) Rights & justice15% 2,821 stories · less than usual (usually 18%) Disasters & accidents13% 2,408 stories · about as usual Conflict & violence11% 2,167 stories · more than usual (usually 8%) Displacement9% 1,715 stories · much more than usual (usually 2%) Deaths & injuries, cause not given3% 611 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 452 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood2% 293 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 killed4,627 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected2,028 at about one and a half times the usual rate · most about Afghanistan and the US Stories reporting arrests1,319 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people injured1,081 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations797 at about 4 times the usual rate · most about Afghanistan and the US Stories reporting refugees323 at about twice the usual rate · most about Afghanistan and the US Stories reporting abductions155 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people displaced141 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people falling ill18 at about the usual rate

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.