How to get a count even if there are no results corresponding mysql?

In order to do this, you could create a 'month' table and then use a left outer join between that table and the reports table.

I've never used mysql so apologies if the syntax is slightly off, but this would be the query:

SELECT months.monthNumber,    count(reports.id) AS `count`FROM `months` left outer join `reports` on months.monthNumber = month(reports.date_lm) WHERE (status = 'submitted') AND (date_lm > 2012-08) GROUP BY monthNumberORDER BY monthNumber ASC

Importantly, the count should be of a column in the reports table, not the months table, or else you would never get a zero.

count(col_name) AS count will give you count 0

For reference you can visit http://www.mysqlperformanceblog.com/2007/04/10/count-vs-countcol/

You should LEFT JOIN this table with 1..12 table.Something like this:

SELECT  Months.id AS `month` ,COUNT(`reports`.date_lm) AS `count`FROM (  SELECT 1 as ID UNION SELECT 2 as ID UNION  SELECT 3 as ID UNION SELECT 4 as ID   UNION    SELECT 5 as ID UNION SELECT 6 as ID UNION SELECT 7 as ID UNION SELECT 8 as ID   UNION    SELECT 9 as ID UNION SELECT 10 as ID UNION SELECT 11 as ID UNION SELECT 12 as ID) as MonthsLEFT JOIN `reports` on Months.id=month(`reports`.date_lm)                       AND                        (status = 'submitted')                        AND (date_lm > 2012-08)GROUP BY Months.id ORDER BY Months.id ASC

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