| Last year | No 1 hits of the year 1981 | Next year |
| US | UK | |
| 3 Jan 1981 | (Just Like) Starting Over (John Lennon) |
There's No One Quite Like Grandma (St Winifred's School Choir) |
| 10 Jan 1981 | (Just Like) Starting Over John Lennon |
Imagine (John Lennon) |
| 17 Jan 1981 | (Just Like) Starting Over (John Lennon) |
Imagine (John Lennon) |
| 24 Jan 1981 | (Just Like) Starting Over (John Lennon) |
Imagine (John Lennon) |
| 31 Jan 1981 | The Tide Is High (Blondie) |
Imagine (John Lennon) |
| 7 Feb 1981 | Celebration (Kool And The Gang) |
Woman (John Lennon) |
| 14 Feb 1981 | Celebration (Kool And The Gang) |
Woman (John Lennon) |
| 21 Feb 1981 | 9 To 5 (Dolly Parton) |
Shaddup You Face (Joe Dolce Music Theatre) |
| 28 Feb 1981 | I Love A Rainy Day (Eddie Rabbit) |
Shaddup You Face (Joe Dolce Music Theatre) |
| 7 Mar 1981 | I Love A Rainy Day (Eddie Rabbit) |
Shaddup You Face (Joe Dolce Music Theatre) |
| 14 Mar 1981 | 9 To 5 (Dolly Parton) |
Jealous Guy (Roxy Music) |
| 21 Mar 1981 | Keep On Loving You (REO Speedwagon) |
Jealous Guy (Roxy Music) |
| 28 Mar 1981 | Rapture (Blondie) |
This Ole House (Shakin' Stevens) |
| 4 Apr 1981 | Rapture (Blondie) |
This Ole House (Shakin' Stevens) |
| 11 Apr 1981 | Kiss On My List (Daryl Hall & John Oates) |
This Ole House (Shakin' Stevens) |
| 18 Apr 1981 | Kiss On My List (Daryl Hall & John Oates) |
Making Your Mind Up (Bucks Fizz) |
| 25 Apr 1981 | Kiss On My List (Daryl Hall & John Oates) |
Making Your Mind Up (Bucks Fizz) |
| 2 May 1981 | Morning Train (9 To 5) (Sheena Easton) |
Making Your Mind Up (Bucks Fizz) |
| 9 May 1981 | Morning Train (9 To 5) (Sheena Easton) |
Stand And Deliver (Adam & the Ants) |
| 16 May 1981 | Bette Davis Eyes (Kim Karnes) |
Stand And Deliver (Adam & the Ants) |
| 23 May 1981 | Bette Davis Eyes (Kim Karnes) |
Stand And Deliver (Adam & the Ants) |
| 30 May 1981 | Bette Davis Eyes (Kim Karnes) |
Stand And Deliver (Adam & the Ants) |
| 06 Jun 1981 | Bette Davis Eyes (Kim Karnes) |
Stand And Deliver (Adam & the Ants) |
| 13 Jun 1981 | Bette Davis Eyes (Kim Karnes) |
Being With You (Smokey Robinson) |
| 20 Jun 1981 | Stars On 45 (Stars On 45) |
Being With You (Smokey Robinson) |
| 27 Jun 1981 | Bette Davis Eyes (Kim Carnes) |
One Day In Your Life (Michael Jackson) |
| 4 Jul 1981/td> | Bette Davis Eyes (Kim Carnes) |
One Day In Your Life (Michael Jackson) |
| 11 Jul 1981 | Bette Davis Eyes (Kim Carnes) |
Ghost Town (The Specials) |
| 18 Jul 1981 | Bette Davis Eyes (Kim Carnes) |
Ghost Town (The Specials) |
| 25 Jul 1981 | The One That You Love (Air Supply) |
Ghost Town (The Specials) |
| 1 Aug 1981 | Jessie's Girl (Rick Springfield) |
Green Door (Shakin' Stevens) |
| 8 Aug 1981 | Jessie's Girl (Rick Springfield) |
Green Door (Shakin' Stevens) |
| 15 Aug 1981 | Endless Love (Diana Ross & Lionel Richie) |
Green Door (Shakin' Stevens) |
| 22 Aug 1981 | Endless Love (Diana Ross & Lionel Richie) |
Green Door (Shakin' Stevens) |
| 29 Aug 1981 | Endless Love (Diana Ross & Lionel Richie) |
Japanese Boy (Aneka) |
| 5 Sep 1981 | Endless Love (Diana Ross & Lionel Richie) |
Tainted Love (Soft Cell) |
| 12 Sep 1981 | Endless Love (Diana Ross & Lionel Richie) |
Tainted Love (Soft Cell) |
| 19 Sep 1981 | Endless Love (Diana Ross & Lionel Richie) |
Prince Charming (Adam & the Ants) |
| 26 Sep 1981 | Endless Love (Diana Ross & Lionel Richie) |
Prince Charming (Adam & the Ants) |
| 3 Oct 1981 | Endless Love (Diana Ross & Lionel Richie) |
Prince Charming (Adam & the Ants) |
| 10 Oct 1981 | Endless Love (Diana Ross & Lionel Richie) |
Prince Charming (Adam & the Ants) |
| 17 Oct 1981 | Arthur's Theme (Christopher Cross) |
It's My Party (Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin) |
| 24 Oct 1981 | Arthur's Theme (Christopher Cross) |
It's My Party (Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin) |
| 31 Oct 1981 | Arthur's Theme (Christopher Cross) |
It's My Party (Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin) |
| 7 Nov 1981 | Private Eyes (Daryl Hall & John Oates) |
It's My Party (Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin) |
| 14 Nov 1981 | Private Eyes (Daryl Hall & John Oates) |
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (The Police) |
| 21 Nov 1981 | Physical (Olivia Newton-John) |
Under Pressure (Queen & David Bowie) |
| 28 Nov 1981 | Physical (Olivia Newton-John) |
Under Pressure (Queen & David Bowie) |
| 5 Dez 1981 | Physical (Olivia Newton-John) |
Begin The Beguine (Julio Iglesias) |
| 12 Dez 1981 | Physical (Olivia Newton-John) |
Don't You Want Me (The Human League) |
| 19 Dez 1981 | Physical (Olivia Newton-John) |
Don't You Want Me (The Human League) |
| 26 Dez 1981 | Physical (Olivia Newton-John) |
Don't You Want Me (The Human League) |