Sixty-nine journalists were killed in their line of work this year. The overwhelming number of them were local reporters killed in Latin American and Middle Eastern countries, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Other reports suggest a much higher death toll, however.

Only five of the 69 were journalists working in a foreign country, according to CPJ's report.

Unsurprisingly, more journalists were killed in Syria than anywhere else — 16 in total, with 3 motives unconfirmed.

In Latin America, 11 journalists were killed with a motive, and five without apparent motive. Six of these motivated murders happened in Brazil — the third deadliest country for journalists this year —  and four in Mexico.

At least 28 percent of the reporters killed had received death threats prior to their deaths. Others happened while reporters were covering conflict zones. The overwhelming number of reporters who died were covering politics, war, human rights or corruption.

68% of them were murdered; 25% died in crossfire or in combat https://t.co/LTVhu7yn1W

— Ian Gordon (@id_gordon) December 29, 2015

Only three European countries reported any slain journalists. There was one murder in Poland, and one in the Ukraine. But France was by far the deadliest for those in the media.

Nine journalists were killed there, the second largest after Syria. Eight of these murders happened in the January attack orchestrated by al-Qaida on the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Other countries where at least five reporters were killed include Yemen, Iraq, South Sudan and Bangladesh.

Fifteen of the journalists killed were freelancers.

The Committee to Protect Journalists launched an interactive map on their webpage with more statistical analysis of 2015’s journalism deaths. The New York-based organization has been recording fatalities in the field since 1992. In recent years, CPJ has struggled to trace deaths in war-torn regions such as Syria and Iraq, where reporters lives are increasingly at risk.

Now, other reports tallied a much higher figure than CPJ did. Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a Paris-based organization, counted 110 reporters killed in 2015. Their data shows that 67 journalists were killed in the line of duty, and 43 died in unclear circumstances. Their report also includes the deaths of 27 non-professional "citizen-journalists."

Regardless, the message from both watchdog organizations is similar: more protections are necessary.

"The creation of a specific mechanism for enforcing international law on the protection of journalists is absolutely essential," RSF Secretary General Christophe Deloire said, noting that at least 787 journalists have knowingly targeted or killed while working since 2005.

Alarming. 110 journalists killed in 2015, reports Reporters without Borders. https://t.co/1rdK3CdXqf… via @rsf_rwb pic.twitter.com/x7rey7UmjY

— Karel van Oosterom (@KvanOosterom) December 29, 2015