← 20 Sep Tuesday 21 September 2021 · to 23:59 UTC 22 Sep →
What the world's news said happened to people.
Counts of coverage, not of suffering
22,907 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 →

Helicopter crash in Kashmir, volcanic eruption in Spain and abductions in Germany drew the news. Kashmir's coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's. Taken together, the world's news read much softer than usual.

Part of lifeHealth 62 in 100 of the stories about harm · much more than usual Country that rose mostRwanda 70 in 100 of its 81 stories, usually 49
RegionSoutheast Asia 47 in 100 of its stories, usually 45
Tone of the words Much softer than usual across the world's stories about harm

What the world's news was about today

how these are picked →
Conflict & violence

Kashmir

85 of its 158 stories (54%) were about people being harmed, usually 39%. Jammu accounted for 63 of Kashmir's 85 stories about harm, carried by 36 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about 4 times the usual rate (17 stories). Helicopter crash was named in 13 of its stories about harm, more than ten times usual. Its coverage was about one and a half times as fearful as the world's.

Kashmir over 30 days → its stories → Jammu stories →
Disasters & accidents

Spain

201 of its 555 stories (36%) were about people being harmed, usually 22%. Reports of evacuations ran at about three times the usual rate (51 stories). Volcanic eruption was named in 107 of its stories about harm, about 4 times usual, with earthquake.

Spain over 30 days → its stories →
Health

Germany

172 of its 571 stories (30%) were about people being harmed, usually 24%. Reports of abductions ran at about 9 times the usual rate (5 stories). Grief in its coverage rose to about twice its own usual.

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

Burundi

13 of its 13 stories (100%) were about people being harmed, usually 46%. Bujumbura accounted for 11 of Burundi's 13 stories about harm, carried by 27 outlets. Reports of people injured ran at about 9 times the usual rate (9 stories). Its coverage was about one and a half times as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Afghanistan

Kabul accounted for 227 of Afghanistan's 445 stories about harm, carried by 385 outlets. Reports of arrests ran at about twice the usual rate (18 stories). Covid was named in 68 of its stories about harm, about three times usual, with outbreaks. Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Conflict & violence

Rwanda

57 of its 81 stories (70%) were about people being harmed, usually 49%. Kigali accounted for 35 of Rwanda's 57 stories about harm, carried by 46 outlets. Its coverage was about twice as fearful as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Russia

Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (33 stories). Poisoning was named in 54 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual. Its coverage was about twice as angry as the world's.

its stories →
Health

Ireland

Reports of people injured ran at about twice the usual rate (9 stories). Flu was named in 11 of its stories about harm, about 6 times usual. Anger in its coverage rose to about one and a half times its own usual.

its stories →
Health

Cuba

64 of its 111 stories (58%) were about people being harmed, usually 49%. Havana accounted for 47 of Cuba's 64 stories about harm, carried by 61 outlets.

its stories →

Also named far more than usual: poisoning in Russia (54 of its stories, about 5 times its usual); covid in Afghanistan (68 of its stories, about three times its usual); polio in Pakistan (18 of its stories, about 7 times its usual); flu in Ireland (11 of its stories, about 6 times its usual); road crashes in South Africa (10 of its stories, about 5 times its usual).

27 in 100 stories were about harm

usually 29; 28 the day before
34 in 10025 in 10023 Aug30 Aug6 Sep13 Sep21 Sep23 Aug: 26 in 10024 Aug: 25 in 10025 Aug: 25 in 10026 Aug: 26 in 10027 Aug: 29 in 10028 Aug: 33 in 10029 Aug: 34 in 10030 Aug: 32 in 10031 Aug: 31 in 1001 Sep: 30 in 1002 Sep: 30 in 1003 Sep: 30 in 1004 Sep: 30 in 1005 Sep: 30 in 1006 Sep: 28 in 1007 Sep: 28 in 1008 Sep: 29 in 1009 Sep: 29 in 10010 Sep: 29 in 10011 Sep: 32 in 10012 Sep: 29 in 10013 Sep: 28 in 10014 Sep: 28 in 10015 Sep: 27 in 10016 Sep: 27 in 10017 Sep: 27 in 10018 Sep: 28 in 10019 Sep: 28 in 10020 Sep: 28 in 10021 Sep: 27 in 100 · this day

Stories about people being harmed, in every 100 stories, the 30 days to 21 Sep. 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 22,907 stories about harm among 85,158 counted on 21 Sep.

Read the day's briefing

27 in every 100 of the day's 85,158 news stories were about people being harmed, below the usual 29. On 21 September 2020, a year earlier, the share was 26 in every 100, against 27 today.

Written by code from the day's numbers.

Where harm was most of the news all →

Rwanda70 in 100 of its 81 stories · usually 49 · mostly conflict & violence Cuba58 in 100 of its 111 stories · usually 49 · mostly health Vietnam57 in 100 of its 161 stories · usually 53 · mostly health Ethiopia57 in 100 of its 65 stories · usually 53 · mostly health Afghanistan56 in 100 of its 791 stories · usually 67 · mostly conflict & violence

Countries with at least 50 stories that day.

Where people protested

Melbourne Australia138 stories about protests or strikes, of its 194 Washington US136 stories about protests or strikes, of its 1097 London UK31 stories about protests or strikes, of its 311 Kabul Afghanistan28 stories about protests or strikes, of its 227 Boston US27 stories about protests or strikes, of its 167

Stories, not people.

Where harm was most of the news

feelings in full →
Feelings Events Harm Warmth
Zambia: near the world's share or lessVenezuela: near the world's share or lessVanuatu: no storiesUzbekistan: 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 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 lessTanzania: 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 lessSouth Korea: near the world's share or lessSomalia: 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 storiesSenegal: near the world's share or lessSaudi Arabia: near the world's share or lessSão Tomé: near the world's share or lessSamoa: 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 lessPakistan: 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 lessNigeria: near the world's share or lessNiger: near the world's share or lessNicaragua: near the world's share or lessNew Zealand: near the world's share or lessNiue: no storiesNetherlands: near the world's share or lessCuraçao: no storiesNamibia: 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 lessMalawi: near the world's share or lessMadagascar: 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 lessLiberia: near the world's share or lessLebanon: 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 lessKuwait: near the world's share or lessKosovo: no storiesKiribati: near the world's share or lessKenya: 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 lessItaly: near the world's share or lessIreland: near the world's share or lessIran: near the world's share or lessIndia: 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: no storiesGuinea: near the world's share or lessGuatemala: near the world's share or lessGrenada: near the world's share or lessGhana: near the world's share or lessGermany: near the world's share or lessGeorgia: 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: no storiesFrench Southern Territories: no storiesÅland Islands: no storiesFinland: 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 lessEgypt: 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: near the world's share or lessDenmark: near the world's share or lessCzech Republic: near the world's share or lessN. Cyprus: no storiesCyprus: 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 lessCongo: near the world's share or lessComoros: no storiesColombia: near the world's share or lessChina: 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: no storiesCape Verde: near the world's share or lessCameroon: near the world's share or lessBurkina Faso: near the world's share or lessBulgaria: near the world's share or lessBrunei: near the world's share or lessBotswana: 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 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: near the world's share or lessAlgeria: near the world's share or lessAlbania: near the world's share or lessAksai Chin: near the world's share or lessWestern Sahara (Moroccan-controlled): no storiesWestern Sahara (Free Zone): no storiesCrimea: near the world's share or lessMarshall Islands: near the world's share or lessNorthern Mariana Islands: no storiesAmerican Samoa: near the world's share or lessChagos Islands: no storiesSt. Helena: no storiesPitcairn: no storiesAnguilla: near the world's share or lessBritish Virgin Islands: near the world's share or lessTurks & Caicos Islands: no storiesMontserrat: near the world's share or lessJersey: near the world's share or lessGuernsey: near the world's share or lessSan Marino: near the world's share or lessSt 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 lessMaldives: near the world's share or lessLiechtenstein: no storiesWallis & Futuna: no storiesSt. Martin: no storiesSt. Barthélemy: no storiesMacao: near the world's share or lessNorfolk Island: no storiesSint Maarten: no storiesChristmas Island: no storiesGibraltar: near the world's share or lessMayotte: no storiesZimbabwe: 37 in 100 of its 205 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Yemen: 78 in 100 of its 45 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Vietnam: 57 in 100 of its 161 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Uganda: 54 in 100 of its 84 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Türkiye: 36 in 100 of its 180 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Tunisia: 50 in 100 of its 56 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Thailand: 45 in 100 of its 136 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Syria: 55 in 100 of its 44 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)South Sudan: 64 in 100 of its 22 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Sudan: 38 in 100 of its 178 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Sri Lanka: 38 in 100 of its 107 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Spain: 36 in 100 of its 555 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)South Africa: 35 in 100 of its 804 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Seychelles: 55 in 100 of its 22 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)St Vincent: 69 in 100 of its 16 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Rwanda: 70 in 100 of its 81 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Philippines: 50 in 100 of its 662 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Nepal: 49 in 100 of its 37 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Mozambique: 54 in 100 of its 24 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Mali: 57 in 100 of its 30 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Malaysia: 46 in 100 of its 327 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Lesotho: 45 in 100 of its 60 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Jamaica: 38 in 100 of its 125 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Israel: 46 in 100 of its 206 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Palestine: 46 in 100 of its 48 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Iraq: 41 in 100 of its 54 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Indonesia: 40 in 100 of its 168 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Iceland: 58 in 100 of its 26 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Haiti: 48 in 100 of its 211 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Greece: 40 in 100 of its 172 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Fiji: 41 in 100 of its 63 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Ethiopia: 57 in 100 of its 65 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Cuba: 58 in 100 of its 111 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Canada: 34 in 100 of its 2,939 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Cambodia: 48 in 100 of its 54 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Myanmar: 69 in 100 of its 35 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Burundi: 100 in 100 of its 13 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Brazil: 37 in 100 of its 177 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Bangladesh: 46 in 100 of its 127 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Bahamas: 51 in 100 of its 47 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Afghanistan: 56 in 100 of its 791 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Kashmir: 54 in 100 of its 158 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Palestine: 46 in 100 of its 48 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Palestine: 46 in 100 of its 48 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Kashmir: 54 in 100 of its 158 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Kashmir: 54 in 100 of its 158 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Palestine: 46 in 100 of its 48 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Kashmir: 54 in 100 of its 158 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Vatican City: 89 in 100 of its 9 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)Bermuda: 52 in 100 of its 23 stories were about people being harmed (the world's: 27)
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 27 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

● Afghanistan 56 in 100 of its 791 stories · mostly conflict & violence ● Rwanda 70 in 100 of its 81 stories · mostly conflict & violence ● Vietnam 57 in 100 of its 161 stories · mostly health ● Philippines 50 in 100 of its 662 stories · mostly health ● Cuba 58 in 100 of its 111 stories · mostly health ● Kashmir 54 in 100 of its 158 stories · mostly conflict & violence

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

The day in three measures

Parts of life 30 days →

Health62% 13,988 stories · much more than usual (usually 53%) Rights & justice14% 3,101 stories · about as usual Disasters & accidents9% 2,045 stories · less than usual (usually 11%) Conflict & violence6% 1,440 stories · less than usual (usually 11%) Deaths & injuries, cause not given3% 652 stories · about as usual Food & livelihood2% 552 stories · about as usual Shelter & services2% 467 stories · about as usual Displacement2% 464 stories · less than usual (usually 5%)

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 killed4,357 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and the UK Stories reporting arrests1,600 at about the usual rate Stories reporting people affected1,568 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and the UK Stories reporting people injured914 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Canada Stories reporting refugees257 at about the usual rate Stories reporting evacuations176 at about a third of the usual rate · most about Spain and the US Stories reporting people displaced93 at about two-thirds of the usual rate · most about the US and Nigeria Stories reporting abductions90 at about half the usual rate · most about the US and Nigeria Stories reporting people falling ill20 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 much softer than usual. Filled dot: today. Ring: usual.

● Angera little less than usual
● Warmthabout as usual
● Griefa little less 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 →

Unlock a year of trends, free. Follow up to 5 countries, with a bell when their news changes, and 👍 vote for Pro — ten years of the archive, any period, daily alerts.

Create a free account

Sign in · a username, an email and a password.

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.