This is a chart about the world through the eyes of the US. There is always that one country on our collective conscious, and I wanted to know how that has changed over time. So I turned to the newspaper, since headlines have long been the catalyst for daily conversations about what is going on in the world. Most of that content is still preserved thanks to the New York Times archive. After looking at 741,576 section front headlines, I found out which countries around the world have preoccupied Americans the most each month since 1900.
Headlines from 1900
A sample of the three months with the most country mentions.
1900
- Jan
United Kingdom
- Feb
United Kingdom
+1South Africa
- Mar
United Kingdom
- Apr
United Kingdom
- May
United Kingdom
- Jun
China
- Jul
China
- Aug
China
- Sep
Germany
- Oct
United Kingdom
- Nov
United Kingdom
- Dec
United Kingdom
1901
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Russia
Russia
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
1902
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
France
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
+1Venezuela
1903
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
+1Germany
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Turkey
United Kingdom
Russia
Colombia
Panama
1904
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
1905
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Japan
Russia
Russia
Russia
1906
United Kingdom
France
Germany
Italy
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Cuba
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Japan
1907
United Kingdom
Japan
France
+1Italy
France
+1United Kingdom
United Kingdom
France
Japan
France
France
+1United Kingdom
United Kingdom
France
France
1908
France
France
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
France
France
Germany
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
France
1909
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
France
United Kingdom
France
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
+1France
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Denmark
1910
France
+1Germany
France
France
+1United Kingdom
France
United Kingdom
Canada
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
France
France
Mexico
United Kingdom
1911
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Mexico
Mexico
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
France
Italy
Italy
+1United Kingdom
Russia
1912
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
France
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Turkey
Turkey
United Kingdom
1913
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
+1Mexico
United Kingdom
+1Cuba
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Mexico
Mexico
United Kingdom
Mexico
Mexico
United Kingdom
1914
Mexico
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Mexico
Mexico
Mexico
Mexico
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
1915
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
1916
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
1917
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
1918
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
1919
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
France
Germany
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Germany
Germany
1920
Germany
United Kingdom
Germany
Germany
France
Ireland
Germany
Poland
Italy
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
1921
Germany
United Kingdom
Germany
Germany
Germany
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Russia
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
1922
France
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Russia
Russia
United Kingdom
Germany
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
1923
France
France
Germany
United Kingdom
France
United Kingdom
France
Germany
+1United Kingdom
Italy
Germany
United Kingdom
Germany
1924
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
+1France
Germany
France
France
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
+1France
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
France
1925
France
France
France
+1United Kingdom
United Kingdom
France
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
France
France
France
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
1926
United Kingdom
France
France
France
United Kingdom
France
France
Mexico
France
France
United Kingdom
France
1927
Mexico
United Kingdom
China
China
France
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
France
France
United Kingdom
Mexico
1928
Nicaragua
Cuba
France
+1United Kingdom
Germany
Japan
+1United Kingdom
France
France
France
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
1929
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Mexico
France
France
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
1930
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
France
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
1931
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Germany
Germany
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Japan
United Kingdom
1932
Japan
Japan
Japan
United Kingdom
Japan
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
1933
Japan
Japan
+1United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Cuba
Cuba
Germany
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
1934
United Kingdom
France
France
+1United Kingdom
United Kingdom
France
United Kingdom
Germany
Germany
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
1935
Germany
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Germany
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Germany
Italy
Italy
Italy
Italy
United Kingdom
1936
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
+1Japan
United Kingdom
Italy
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Spain
Spain
Spain
Spain
Spain
United Kingdom
1937
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Spain
United Kingdom
Spain
Japan
China
China
+1United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Japan
1938
Japan
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Japan
Czechia
Germany
United Kingdom
Germany
1939
Spain
France
Germany
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Germany
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Russia
1940
Russia
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Germany
France
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
1941
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
United Kingdom
Japan
1942
Japan
Japan
Japan
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Russia
Japan
Russia
Japan
United Kingdom
Japan
1943
Russia
+1Germany
Russia
Germany
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Italy
Italy
Germany
Italy
Italy
+1Russia
Germany
Germany
1944
Germany
Russia
Germany
Russia
United Kingdom
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Japan
Japan
1945
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Russia
Japan
Japan
Japan
Japan
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Russia
1946
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
1947
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Russia
Russia
Russia
1948
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Israel
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
China
Russia
1949
Israel
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
+1Germany
Russia
Russia
United Kingdom
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
+1United Kingdom
1950
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Germany
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
China
China
1951
China
Russia
Russia
United Kingdom
China
Russia
United Kingdom
Russia
Japan
United Kingdom
Russia
United Kingdom
1952
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Russia
Russia
Germany
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
United Kingdom
Russia
1953
United Kingdom
Russia
Russia
Russia
United Kingdom
South Korea
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
1954
Russia
Russia
Russia
France
France
Guatemala
France
France
Germany
France
France
+1Russia
France
1955
China
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
1956
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Egypt
Egypt
Russia
Russia
Hungary
1957
Russia
Israel
Egypt
Egypt
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
1958
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Taiwan
Russia
Russia
Germany
1959
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Germany
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
1960
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
DR Congo
Russia
1961
Russia
Russia
DR Congo
Cuba
Laos
Russia
Russia
Germany
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
1962
Russia
Russia
Russia
+1Algeria
Russia
Russia
France
Algeria
Russia
Russia
Cuba
Russia
Russia
1963
United Kingdom
Russia
Russia
Russia
United Kingdom
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
1964
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1965
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Dominican Republic
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
India
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
1966
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
1967
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Israel
Israel
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
1968
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Russia
Russia
Russia
Vietnam
France
Vietnam
1969
Vietnam
Germany
Russia
Russia
Vietnam
Vietnam
Russia
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Israel
+1Vietnam
1970
Israel
Israel
Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia
Israel
Israel
Jordan
Russia
Russia
Russia
1971
Russia
+1Vietnam
Laos
Vietnam
Vietnam
Russia
Vietnam
Vietnam
Russia
Russia
Russia
Pakistan
Pakistan
1972
Vietnam
China
Russia
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Russia
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
1973
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Cambodia
Russia
Cambodia
Cambodia
Russia
Israel
Israel
Israel
1974
Israel
Russia
United Kingdom
Israel
Israel
Russia
Cyprus
+1Greece
Cyprus
France
Russia
Israel
Russia
1975
Russia
Israel
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam
Israel
Israel
+1Russia
Portugal
Israel
Russia
Spain
Russia
1976
Angola
Russia
Lebanon
Lebanon
Russia
Lebanon
Lebanon
Uganda
+2Israel
South Africa
Zimbabwe
Lebanon
+1China
Lebanon
+1Israel
China
1977
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Israel
Israel
Russia
Israel
Israel
1978
Israel
Russia
Israel
Russia
Russia
N/A
United Kingdom
N/A
N/A
N/A
Russia
Iran
1979
China
Iran
China
N/A
N/A
Nicaragua
+1Russia
N/A
Israel
Cuba
South Korea
Iran
Iran
1980
Russia
Russia
Iran
Iran
Cuba
Israel
Iran
Poland
Iraq
Iran
Iran
Iran
1981
Iran
Poland
Poland
Poland
+1Russia
Syria
Israel
Israel
Poland
Poland
Egypt
Russia
Poland
1982
Poland
Brazil
+1Poland
Brazil
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Israel
Israel
Lebanon
Israel
Israel
+1Russia
Russia
Russia
1983
Russia
Israel
Israel
+1Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Lebanon
Russia
Lebanon
1984
Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon
Nicaragua
Russia
Russia
Russia
Brazil
Russia
Brazil
Russia
Russia
1985
Israel
Israel
Russia
Japan
Russia
Lebanon
Lebanon
+1Russia
South Africa
South Africa
+1Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
1986
Libya
Russia
Russia
Libya
Russia
South Africa
South Africa
+1Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Iran
Iran
1987
Iran
Iran
Russia
Russia
Russia
South Korea
Russia
Iran
Iran
+1Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
1988
Israel
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
1989
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
China
China
Russia
Russia
Russia
Germany
Germany
Germany
1990
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Iraq
Iraq
Russia
Iraq
Russia
1991
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
1992
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Iraq
Japan
Germany
Japan
France
Somalia
1993
Iraq
Japan
Russia
Russia
Serbia
China
+2Russia
China
Japan
Israel
Israel
Somalia
Japan
Russia
1994
Japan
Japan
Israel
Japan
Palestine
Japan
Rwanda
Cuba
Haiti
Haiti
China
Russia
1995
Russia
Mexico
Japan
Japan
Japan
Japan
China
China
China
+1Japan
Japan
Israel
Russia
1996
Russia
+1Japan
Cuba
+1China
Israel
Israel
Russia
Russia
Russia
Russia
Iraq
Japan
Russia
Peru
+1Serbia
1997
Israel
+1Russia
China
China
China
United Kingdom
+2Peru
DR Congo
Hong Kong
Mexico
Israel
Israel
+1United Kingdom
India
Iraq
Japan
1998
Indonesia
Iraq
China
China
Indonesia
China
Russia
Russia
Russia
Kosovo
Iraq
Iraq
1999
Brazil
Kosovo
Kosovo
+1China
Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo
United Kingdom
Russia
Russia
Russia
China
Russia
2000
Russia
Russia
China
+1United Kingdom
Cuba
China
France
China
Russia
China
China
United Kingdom
China
+1Russia
2001
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
China
China
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
+1China
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
2002
Japan
United Kingdom
Israel
Japan
Japan
United Kingdom
Japan
Japan
Iraq
Japan
Japan
Iraq
2003
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
United Kingdom
Iraq
+1United Kingdom
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Japan
Japan
2004
Iraq
Iraq
Japan
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
China
2005
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
United Kingdom
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
2006
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Israel
Israel
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
2007
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq
China
2008
Iraq
+1France
Iraq
+1China
Iraq
Iraq
+1China
China
China
+1Iraq
China
China
N/A
Iraq
+1China
India
+1United Kingdom
India
2009
Palestine
Iraq
China
China
Pakistan
Iran
China
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
China
2010
Haiti
Haiti
China
Greece
United Kingdom
China
China
China
China
China
China
China
2011
China
Egypt
Japan
Japan
+1Libya
China
Greece
United Kingdom
Libya
China
+1Greece
China
Egypt
China
2012
Iran
Iran
China
China
China
Spain
Syria
+1China
Syria
Libya
+1United Kingdom
China
Palestine
Syria
2013
China
China
Syria
China
China
+1Syria
China
China
Syria
+1Egypt
Syria
N/A
Iran
China
2014
Iran
+1Syria
Ukraine
Russia
China
+1Ukraine
China
Iraq
Israel
Iraq
China
Liberia
China
Cuba
2015
France
China
Iran
China
China
Greece
Greece
China
China
Syria
France
China
2016
China
+1Iran
China
China
China
Brazil
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Syria
China
China
China
Russia
2017
Russia
China
Russia
Russia
Russia
China
+1United Kingdom
China
China
North Korea
China
Russia
China
2018
China
Russia
China
China
Iran
China
China
China
China
China
N/A
China
Want to go deeper on what we found in NYT headlines? Go check out a brief history of the past 100 years.
Data and Method
Headlines for every month were collected from the New York Times Archive API. They were then filtered down to only entries of type “article” that were a page one (front page or section front) story. The appearance of a country was flagged by looking for the common English country name, commonly used acronym, demonym, large cities, previously used country names, and a handful of colloquial references. The country of Jersey was excluded from this analysis because of too many references to New Jersey. Results were manually reviewed for false positives, and the scripts were re-run to see if a new top country emerged. Due to an issue with the API, there is no data available for 1964, and Sep and Oct of 1978. Months with less than five results for a single country were excluded. Flags images from here.