The report is entitled "The 2005 World Press Freedom Index". It ranks 167 countries according to criteria that includes every kind of violation affecting journalists - such as murders, imprisonment, physical assaults and threats - and news media - concerning censorship, confiscation of issues, searches and harassment - based on press freedom violations recorded by RSF between 1 September 2004 and 1 September 2005.

Of the 20 countries with the worst press freedom records, 11 are located in East Asia, Central Asia or the Middle East. For the fourth year running, North Korea led all countries with the worst press freedom record. Burma also ranks in the top of the list of the world's most repressive regimes.