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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
      South Africa
      +1
    • 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
      Venezuela
      +1

    1903

    • United Kingdom
    • United Kingdom
      Germany
      +1
    • 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
      Italy
      +1
    • France
      United Kingdom
      +1
    • United Kingdom
    • France
    • Japan
    • France
    • France
      United Kingdom
      +1
    • 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
      France
      +1
    • United Kingdom
    • United Kingdom
    • United Kingdom
    • Denmark

    1910

    • France
      Germany
      +1
    • France
    • France
      United Kingdom
      +1
    • 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
      United Kingdom
      +1
    • 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
      Mexico
      +1
    • United Kingdom
      Cuba
      +1
    • 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
      United Kingdom
      +1
    • Italy
    • Germany
    • United Kingdom
    • Germany

    1924

    • United Kingdom
    • United Kingdom
    • United Kingdom
      France
      +1
    • Germany
    • France
    • France
    • United Kingdom
    • United Kingdom
    • United Kingdom
      France
      +1
    • United Kingdom
    • United Kingdom
    • France

    1925

    • France
    • France
    • France
      United Kingdom
      +1
    • 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
      United Kingdom
      +1
    • Germany
    • Japan
      United Kingdom
      +1
    • 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
      United Kingdom
      +1
    • United Kingdom
    • United Kingdom
    • United Kingdom
    • United Kingdom
    • United Kingdom
    • Cuba
    • Cuba
    • Germany
    • United Kingdom
    • United Kingdom

    1934

    • United Kingdom
    • France
    • France
      United Kingdom
      +1
    • 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
      Japan
      +1
    • 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
      United Kingdom
      +1
    • 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
      Germany
      +1
    • Russia
    • Germany
    • United Kingdom
    • United Kingdom
    • Italy
    • Italy
    • Germany
    • Italy
    • Italy
      Russia
      +1
    • 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
      Germany
      +1
    • Russia
    • Russia
    • United Kingdom
    • Russia
    • Russia
    • Russia
    • Russia
      United Kingdom
      +1

    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
      Russia
      +1
    • 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
      Algeria
      +1
    • 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
      Vietnam
      +1

    1970

    • Israel
    • Israel
    • Cambodia
    • Cambodia
    • Cambodia
    • Cambodia
    • Israel
    • Israel
    • Jordan
    • Russia
    • Russia
    • Russia

    1971

    • Russia
      Vietnam
      +1
    • 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
      Greece
      +1
    • Cyprus
    • France
    • Russia
    • Israel
    • Russia

    1975

    • Russia
    • Israel
    • Vietnam
    • Vietnam
    • Vietnam
    • Israel
    • Israel
      Russia
      +1
    • Portugal
    • Israel
    • Russia
    • Spain
    • Russia

    1976

    • Angola
    • Russia
    • Lebanon
    • Lebanon
    • Russia
    • Lebanon
    • Lebanon
      Uganda
      Israel
      +2
    • South Africa
    • Zimbabwe
    • Lebanon
      China
      +1
    • Lebanon
      Israel
      +1
    • 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
      Russia
      +1
    • 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
      Russia
      +1
    • Syria
    • Israel
    • Israel
    • Poland
    • Poland
    • Egypt
    • Russia
    • Poland

    1982

    • Poland
    • Brazil
      Poland
      +1
    • Brazil
    • United Kingdom
    • United Kingdom
    • Israel
    • Israel
    • Lebanon
    • Israel
    • Israel
      Russia
      +1
    • Russia
    • Russia

    1983

    • Russia
    • Israel
    • Israel
      Russia
      +1
    • 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
      Russia
      +1
    • South Africa
    • South Africa
      Russia
      +1
    • Russia
    • Russia
    • Russia

    1986

    • Libya
    • Russia
    • Russia
    • Libya
    • Russia
    • South Africa
    • South Africa
      Russia
      +1
    • Russia
    • Russia
    • Russia
    • Iran
    • Iran

    1987

    • Iran
    • Iran
    • Russia
    • Russia
    • Russia
    • South Korea
    • Russia
    • Iran
    • Iran
      Russia
      +1
    • 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
      Russia
      +2
    • 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
      Japan
      +1
    • Japan
    • Israel
    • Russia

    1996

    • Russia
      Japan
      +1
    • Cuba
      China
      +1
    • Israel
    • Israel
    • Russia
    • Russia
    • Russia
    • Russia
    • Iraq
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • Peru
      Serbia
      +1

    1997

    • Israel
      Russia
      +1
    • China
    • China
    • China
      United Kingdom
      Peru
      +2
    • DR Congo
    • Hong Kong
    • Mexico
    • Israel
    • Israel
      United Kingdom
      +1
    • India
    • Iraq
    • Japan

    1998

    • Indonesia
    • Iraq
    • China
    • China
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • Russia
    • Russia
    • Russia
    • Kosovo
    • Iraq
    • Iraq

    1999

    • Brazil
    • Kosovo
    • Kosovo
      China
      +1
    • Kosovo
    • Kosovo
    • Kosovo
    • United Kingdom
    • Russia
    • Russia
    • Russia
    • China
    • Russia

    2000

    • Russia
    • Russia
    • China
      United Kingdom
      +1
    • Cuba
    • China
    • France
    • China
    • Russia
    • China
    • China
    • United Kingdom
    • China
      Russia
      +1

    2001

    • United Kingdom
    • United Kingdom
    • China
    • China
    • United Kingdom
    • United Kingdom
    • United Kingdom
      China
      +1
    • 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
      United Kingdom
      +1
    • 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
      France
      +1
    • Iraq
      China
      +1
    • Iraq
    • Iraq
      China
      +1
    • China
    • China
      Iraq
      +1
    • China
    • China
    • N/A
    • Iraq
      China
      +1
    • India
      United Kingdom
      +1
    • 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
      Libya
      +1
    • China
    • Greece
    • United Kingdom
    • Libya
    • China
      Greece
      +1
    • China
    • Egypt
    • China

    2012

    • Iran
    • Iran
    • China
    • China
    • China
    • Spain
    • Syria
      China
      +1
    • Syria
    • Libya
      United Kingdom
      +1
    • China
    • Palestine
    • Syria

    2013

    • China
    • China
    • Syria
    • China
    • China
      Syria
      +1
    • China
    • China
    • Syria
      Egypt
      +1
    • Syria
    • N/A
    • Iran
    • China

    2014

    • Iran
      Syria
      +1
    • Ukraine
    • Russia
    • China
      Ukraine
      +1
    • China
    • Iraq
    • Israel
    • Iraq
    • China
    • Liberia
    • China
    • Cuba

    2015

    • France
    • China
    • Iran
    • China
    • China
    • Greece
    • Greece
    • China
    • China
    • Syria
    • France
    • China

    2016

    • China
      Iran
      +1
    • China
    • China
    • China
    • Brazil
    • United Kingdom
    • United Kingdom
    • Syria
    • China
    • China
    • China
    • Russia

    2017

    • Russia
    • China
    • Russia
    • Russia
    • Russia
    • China
      United Kingdom
      +1
    • China
    • China
    • North Korea
    • China
    • Russia
    • China

    2018

    • China
    • Russia
    • China
    • China
    • Iran
    • China
    • China
    • China
    • China
    • China
    • N/A
    • China
    The Russo-Japanese War beganFebruary 8, 1904 and lasted untilSeptember 5, 1905. PresidentTheodore Roosevelt mediated theTreaty of Portsmouth, which endedthe conflict.1904Germany declared war on theRussian Empire August 1, 1914. Theconflict caused the New York StockExchange to close since nearly allthe European stock exchanges werealready closed. At these earlystages in the Great War, the UnitedStates declared neutrality.1914Conflict broke out at the Church ofOur Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico onAugust 3 when 400 Catholicsexchanged gunfire with federaltroops. Later that month, federalfiring squad executed 20 peoplebecause of the riots.1926September 1, 1939 is recognized asthe start of the second World War,beginning with the German invasionof Poland. Based on the headlines,World War I seemed to be muchmore focused on Germany whilemore focus was placed on GreatBritain and Russia during World WarII.1939Two years after the end of WorldWar II, the Cold War consumedAmerican attention, with Russia asthe most-talked about countryuntil the Vietnam War tookprecedence.1947After the assassination of PresidentKennedy in 1963, Lyndon B.Johnson assumed the presidencyand set his focus on the VietnamWar. Marked by fervent oppositionstateside, Vietnam was the singularfocus in New York Times headlinesfor almost a decade.1965Another Geneva Conference tookplace in Switzerland at the end of1976 during the Rhodesian BushWar with the goal of agreeing on anew constitution for Rhodesia andtherefore ending conflict in theregion. It was indefinitely adjournedin December and never reconvened.1976South Korea appears suddenly inJune 1987, the same time as the“June Struggle,” during which massprotests forced the rulinggovernment to integrate democraticreforms. This led to theestablishment of the SixthRepublic, South Korea’s currentgovernment today.1987By the start of 2003, attentionshifted to Iraq. The 2003 invasion ofIraq occurred March 20, initiatingthe first stage of the Iraq War. Thecountry overshadowed headlinesfor almost five years straight. Thewar ended a few years later onDecember 18, 2011.2003Haiti was hit with disaster inJanuary 2010 when a magnitude 7.0earthquake ravaged the Caribbeannation. In the earthquake’saftermath, the country was at theforefront of American headlines,especially in the wake of a series ofpowerful aftershocks throughoutthe month.2010Since the Cold War concluded in1991, Russia dissipated fromAmerican headlines, until themost-recent presidential cycle,when collusion became a notablefocus in the news.2017

    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.