List of colonial governors in 1981

This is a list of the governors of colonies, protectorates, or other dependencies in 1981. Where applicable, native rulers are also listed.

Australia

• Christmas Island
  • Administrator – Rendle McNeilage Holten, Administrator of Christmas Island (1980–1982)
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands
  • Administrator – Charles Ivens Buffett, Administrator of Cocos (Keeling) Islands (1977–1981)
  • Council Chairman –
    1. Parson bin Yapat, Chairman of the Cocos Islands Council (1979–1981)
    2. Wahin bin Bynie, Chairman of the Cocos Islands Council (1981–1983)
• Norfolk Island
  • Administrator –
    1. Peter Coleman, Administrator of Norfolk Island (1979–1981)
    2. Ian Hutchinson, Acting Administrator of Norfolk Island (1981)
    3. Thomas Ferguson Paterson, Acting Administrator of Norfolk Island (1981–1982)
  • Chief Minister – David Buffett, Chief Minister of Norfolk Island (1979–1986)

Denmark

• Faroe Islands
  • High Commissioner –
    1. Leif Groth, High Commissioner in the Faroe Islands (1972–1981)
    2. Niels Bentsen, High Commissioner in the Faroe Islands (1981–1988)
  • Prime Minister –
    1. Atli Dam, Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands (1970–1981)
    2. Pauli Ellefsen, Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands (1981–1985)
• Greenland
  • High Commissioner – Torben Hede Pedersen, High Commissioner in Greenland (1979–1992)
  • Prime Minister – Jonathan Motzfeldt, Prime Minister of Greenland (1979–1991)

France

• French Polynesia
  • High Commissioner –
    1. Paul Cousseran, High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia (1977–1981)
    2. Paul Noirot-Cosson, High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia (1981–1983)
• Mayotte
  • Prefect –
    1. Philippe Jacques Nicolas Kessler, Prefect of Mayotte (1980–1981)
    2. Pierre Sevellec, Prefect of Mayotte (1981–1982)
  • President of the General Council – Younoussa Bamana, President of the General Council of Mayotte (1976–1991)
• New Caledonia
  • High Commissioner –
    1. Claude Charbonniaud, High Commissioner of New Caledonia (1978–1981)
    2. Christian Nucci, High Commissioner of New Caledonia (1981–1982)
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Prefect –
    1. Clément Bouhin, Prefect of Saint Pierre and Miquelon (1979–1981)
    2. Claude Guyon, Prefect of Saint Pierre and Miquelon (1981–1982)
  • President of the General Council – Albert Pen, President of the General Council of Saint Pierre and Miquelon (1968–1984)
• Wallis and Futuna
  • Administrator-Superior – Robert Thil, Administrator Superior of Wallis and Futuna (1980–1983)
  • President of the Territorial Assembly – Manuele Lisiahi, President of the Territorial Assembly of Wallis and Futuna (1978–1984)

New Zealand

• Cook Islands
  • Queen's Representative – Sir Gaven Donne, Queen's Representative of the Cook Islands (1975–1984)
  • Prime Minister – Tom Davis, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands (1978–1983)
• Niue
  • New Zealand Representative – Terry Baker, New Zealand Representative in Niue (1979–1982)
  • Premier – Robert Rex, Premier of Niue (1974–1992)
• Tokelau
  • Administrator – Frank Corner, Administrator of Tokelau (1975–1984)

Portugal

• Macau
  • Governor –
    1. Melo Egídio, Governor of Macau (1979–1981)
    2. José Carlos Moreira Campos, Acting Governor of Macau (1981)
    3. Vasco de Almeida e Costa, Governor of Macau (1981–1986)

South Africa

• South West Africa
  • Administrator-General – Danie Hough, Administrator-General of South West Africa (1980–1983)
  • Premier – Dirk Mudge, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of South West Africa (1980–1983)

United Kingdom

• Anguilla
  • Governor – Charles Harry Godden, Governor of Anguilla (1978–1983)
  • Chief Minister – Ronald Webster, Chief Minister of Anguilla (1980–1984)
• Antigua
  • gained independence as Antigua and Barbuda on 1 November 1981
  • Governor – Sir Wilfred Jacobs, Governor of Antigua (1967–1981)
  • Premier – Vere Bird, Premier of Antigua (1976–1994)
• Belize
  • gained independence on 21 September 1981
  • Governor – Sir James Patrick Ivan Hennessy, Governor of Belize (1980–1981)
  • Premier – George Cadle Price, Premier of Belize (1961–1984)
• Bermuda
  • Governor – Sir Richard Posnett, Governor of Bermuda (1980–1983)
  • Premier – David Gibbons, Premier of Bermuda (1977–1982)
• British Virgin Islands
  • Governor – James Alfred Davidson, Governor of the British Virgin Islands (1978–1982)
  • Chief Minister – Lavity Stoutt, Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands (1979–1983)
• Brunei
  • High Commissioner – Arthur Christopher Watson, British High Commissioner in Brunei (1978–1984)
  • Monarch – Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei (1967–present)
  • Chief Minister –
    1. Pengiran Dipa Negara Laila Diraja Pengiran Abdul Mumin, Chief Minister of Brunei (1972–1981)
    2. Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Wijaya Dato Haji Abdul Aziz Umar, Acting Chief Minister of Brunei (1981–1983)
• Cayman Islands
  • Governor – Thomas Russell, Governor of the Cayman Islands (1974–1982)
• Falkland Islands
  • Governor – Rex Hunt, Governor of the Falkland Islands (1980–1982)
• Gibraltar
  • Governor – Sir William Jackson, Governor of Gibraltar (1978–1982)
  • Chief Minister – Sir Joshua Hassan, Chief Minister of Gibraltar (1972–1987)
• Guernsey
  • Lieutenant-Governor – Sir Peter Le Cheminant, Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey (1980–1985)
  • Bailiff – Sir John Loveridge, Bailiff of Guernsey (1973–1982)
• Hong Kong
  • Governor – Sir Murray MacLehose, Governor of Hong Kong (1971–1982)
• Isle of Man
  • Lieutenant-Governor – Sir Nigel Cecil, Lieutenant-Governor of Man (1980–1985)
  • Head of Government –
    1. Clifford Irving, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Isle of Man (1977–1981)
    2. Percy Radcliffe, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Isle of Man (1981–1985)
• Jersey
  • Lieutenant-Governor – Sir Peter Whiteley, Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey (1979–1985)
  • Bailiff – Sir Frank Ereaut, Bailiff of Jersey (1975–1985)
• Montserrat
  • Governor – David Kenneth Hay Dale, Governor of Montserrat (1980–1984)
  • Chief Minister – John Osborne, Chief Minister of Montserrat (1978–1991)
• Pitcairn Islands
  • Governor – Sir Richard Stratton, Governor of the Pitcairn Islands (1980–1984)
  • Mayor – Ivan Christian, Magistrate of the Pitcairn Islands (1975–1984)
• Saint Christopher and Nevis
  • Governor –
    1. Sir Probyn Ellsworth-Innis, Governor of Saint Christopher and Nevis (1975–1981)
    2. Clement Arrindell, Governor of Saint Christopher and Nevis (1981–1995)
  • Premier – Kennedy Simmonds, Premier of Saint Christopher and Nevis (1980–1995)
• Saint Helena and Dependencies
  • Governor –
    1. Geoffrey Colin Guy, Governor of Saint Helena (1976–1981)
    2. Sir John Dudley Massingham, Governor of Saint Helena (1981–1984)
• Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Governor – John Clifford Strong, Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands (1978–1982)
  • Chief Minister – Norman Saunders, Chief Minister of Turks and Caicos Islands (1980–1985)

United States

• American Samoa
  • Governor – Peter Tali Coleman, Governor of American Samoa (1978–1985)
• Guam
  • Governor – Paul McDonald Calvo, Governor of Guam (1979–1983)
• Puerto Rico
  • Governor – Carlos Romero Barceló, Governor of Puerto Rico (1977–1985)
• Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
  • High Commissioner –
    1. Adrian P. Winkel, High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (1977–1981)
    2. Janet J. McCoy, High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (1981–1987)
  • Northern Mariana Islands (autonomous territory)
    • Governor – Carlos S. Camacho, Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands (1978–1982)
  • Marshall Islands (autonomous territory)
    • President – Amata Kabua, President of the Marshall Islands (1979–1996)
  • Federated States of Micronesia (autonomous territory)
    • President – Tosiwo Nakayama, President of the Federated States of Micronesia (1979–1987)
  • Palau (autonomous territory)
    • President – Haruo Remeliik, President of Palau (1981–1985)
• United States Virgin Islands
  • Governor – Juan Francisco Luis, Governor of US Virgin Islands (1978–1987)