At the 2005 East Asian Games, the athletics events were held at the Estádio Campo Desportivo in Macau, People's Republic of China from 1–4 November.

During the four-day competition, a total of 11 East Asian Games records were broken.

Among these were Liu Xiang's 13.21 seconds run in the 110 metres hurdles and a 20.06 m throw in the shot put from Zhang Qi (who had set a Chinese record some weeks earlier).

The 2000 Olympic Champion Wang Liping brought her career to a close with a final gold in the 20 km race walk.

In the field events, Yuka Murofushi won bronze in both the discus and hammer throws.