year_list = ['2019', '2018', '2017', '2016', '2015', '2014']
month_list = ['January', 'February', 'March', 'April', 'May', 'June', 'July',
             'August', 'September', 'October', 'November', 'December']
freq = {"2019":0, "2018":0, "2017":0, "2016":0, "2015":0, "2014":0}
date_list = ['27 April, 2018', '17 December', '12 May, 2017', '17 January',
            '16 June, 2018', '16 April', '16 April', '11 May, 2016', '17 June, 2018',
             '11 May, 2016', '27 April, 2015']

blank_list = []
for date in date_list:
    if ',' in date:
        y = date.split(',')[1]
        y = y.lstrip()
        freq[y] += 1
    else:
        freq["2019"] += 1

print(freq)