List of state leaders in 981

980 state leaders – Events of 981 – 982 state leaders – State leaders by year

Africa

• Fatimid Caliphate – Abū Manṣūr Nizār al-'Azīz bi-llāh, Caliph (975–996)
  • Ifriqiya – Buluggin ibn Ziri, Zirid Viceroy (972–984)

Americas

Asia

• Byzantine Empire – Basil II Bulgaroktonus (976–1025)
• China (Northern Song Dynasty) – Taizong, Emperor of Song China (976–997)
  • Dingnan – Li Jipeng, Dingnan Jiedushi (980–982)
• Japan –
  • Monarch – Emperor En'yū, emperor of Japan (969–984)
  • Regent (Kampaku) – Fujiwara no Yoritada, Kampaku (977–986)
• Korea (Goryeo Dynasty) –
  1. Gyeongjong, King of Goryeo (975–981)
  2. Seongjong, King of Goryeo (981–997)
• Liao (Khitan Empire) – Jingzong, Emperor of Liao (969–982)

Europe

• Bulgaria -
  • Roman I, Tsar of Bulgaria (977–997)
  • Samuil, Tsar of Bulgaria (977–1014)
• Kingdom of Burgundy - Conrad the Peaceful (937–993)
  • County of Provence -
    • Rotbold II, Count of Provence (968–1008)
    • William I, Margrave of Provence (968–993)
• Byzantine Empire - Basil II the Bulgar-slayer (976–1025)
• Caucasus
  • Kingdom of Armenia - Smbat II (977–989)
  • Kingdom of Iberia - Bagrat II (958–994)
  • Principality of Kakheti - David, Prince of Kakheti (976–1010)
  • Klarjeti - Sumbat II, Prince of Klarjeti (943–988)
• Kingdom of Croatia - Stephen Držislav (969–997)
• Kingdom of Denmark - Harald I (958–985/986)
• Kingdom of England – Æthelred the Unready (978–1013)
• West Francia - Lothair, King of West Francia (954–986)
  • County of Angoulême - Arnaud Manzer (975–988)
  • County of Anjou - Geoffrey I (958–987)
  • Duchy of Aquitaine - William IV (963–995)
  • County of Blois - Odo I, Count of Blois (975–995)
  • Duchy of Brittany -
    1. Hoel I (c. 960–981)
    2. Guerech (981–988)
  • Duchy of Burgundy - Eudes-Henry, Duke of Burgundy (965–1002)
  • County of Flanders - Arnulf II (965–987)
  • County of Maine - Hugh II (950–992)
  • March of Neustria - Hugh Capet (956–987)
  • Duchy of Normandy - Richard I, Duke of Normandy (942–996)
  • County of Paris - Hugh Capet (956–996)
  • County of Toulouse - William III Taillefer (978–1037)
  • County of Vermandois - Adalbert I (943–987)
• Gascony - William II, Duke of Gascony (c. 961–996)
• Holy Roman Empire - Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor (973–983)
  • Bavaria - Otto I of Swabia, Duke of Bavaria (976–982)
    • March of Austria - Leopold I, Margrave of Austria (976–994)
  • Duchy of Bohemia - Boleslaus II (972–999)
  • Duchy of Carinthia - Otto I, Duke of Carinthia (978–985)
  • Lower Lorraine - Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine (977–993)
    • County of Frisia - Dirk II (c. 939–988)
    • County of Mons - Godfrey I (974–998)
    • County of Namur - Albert I, Count of Namur (c. 981–1011)
  • Upper Lorraine - Theodoric I, Duke of Upper Lorraine (978–1026/1027)
    • County of Bar - Theodoric I (978–1026/1027)
    • County of Luxembourg - Siegfried (963–998)
  • Duchy of Saxony - Bernard I, Duke of Saxony (973–1011)
    • Eastern March - Odo I, Margrave of the Eastern March (965–993)
    • Northern March - Dietrich of Haldensleben (965–983)
    • March of Meissen - Rikdag (979–985)
    • March of Merseburg - Gunther, Margrave of Merseburg (979–982)
    • March of Zeitz - Wigger I (965–981)
  • Duchy of Swabia - Otto I, Duke of Swabia (973–982)
• Hungarian tribal federation - Geza, Grand Prince of the Hungarians (c. 972–997)
• Ireland - Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill, High King of Ireland (980–1002)
  • Ailech - Fergal mac Domnaill meic Conaing, King of Ailech (980–989)
  • Connacht - Cathal mac Conchobar mac Taidg, King of Connacht (973–1010)
  • Uí Maine - Muirgus mac Domnaill, King of Uí Maine (973–985)
  • Leinster - Domnall Claen, King of Leinster (978–984)
  • Kingdom of Mide - Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill (c. 975–1022)
  • Munster - Brian Boru, King of Munster (978–1014)
• Italy - Otto II, King of Italy and Holy Roman Emperor (973–983)
  • Duchy of Amalfi - Manso I (966–1004)
  • Principality of Benevento -
    1. Pandulf I (961–981)
    2. Landulf IV (981)
    3. Pandulf II (981–1014)
  • Principality of Capua -
    1. Pandulf I (961–981)
    2. Landulf IV (981–982)
  • Catepanate of Italy - Romanos (c. 975–c. 982)
  • Duchy of Gaeta - Marinus II (978–984)
  • March of Ivrea - Conrad (965–989)
  • March of Montferrat - Otto I, Marquess of Montferrat (967–991)
  • Duchy of Naples - Marinus II (968–992)
  • Papal States - Pope Benedict VII (974–983)
  • Principality of Salerno -
    1. Pandulf I Ironhead (977–981)
    2. Pandulf II (981)
    3. Manso I of Amalfi (981–983)
  • Emirate of Sicily - Abū l-Qāsim ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥasan (969–982)
  • Duchy of Spoleto -
    1. Pandulf I (967–981)
    2. Landulf (981)
    3. Thrasimund IV, Duke of Spoleto (981–989)
  • March of Tuscany - Hugh (961–1001)
  • Republic of Venice - Tribuno Memmo, Doge of Venice (979–991)
• Kievan Rus' - Vladimir I, Prince of Kiev (980–1015)
• Norway - Haakon Sigurdsson, King of Norway (970–995)
• Poland - Mieszko I, Duke of the Polans (c. 960–992)
• Kingdom of Alba (Scotland) - Kenneth II (971–995)
• Spain -
  • County of Barcelona - Borrell II, Count of Barcelona (947–993)
  • County of Castile - García Fernández (970–995)
  • Caliphate of Córdoba - Hisham II (976–1009)
  • Kingdom of León - Ramiro III (966–984)
    • County of Portugal - Gonçalo I Mendes (c. 950–997)
  • Kingdom of Pamplona - Sancho II Abarca (970–994)
    • Kingdom of Viguera - Ramiro Garcés (970–c. 991)
• Sweden - Eric the Victorious, King of Sweden (970–995)
• Wales -
  • Deheubarth - Owain ap Hywel, Prince of Deheubarth (950–987)
  • Kingdom of Gwynedd - Hywel ab Ieuaf (979–985)
  • Kingdom of Powys - Owain ap Hywel (950–987)

Middle East

• Abbasid Caliphate – At-Ta'i, Caliph (974–991)
• Byzantine Empire – Basil II, Byzantine Emperor (976–1025)
• Persia
  • Fars (Buwayhids) – 'Adud al-Daula, Emir (976–983)
  • Hamadan (Buwayhids) – Mu'ayyad al-Daula, Emir (943–983)
  • Samanids – Nuh II (976–997)
  • Seistan (Saffarids) – Wali-ud-Dawlah Khalaf I (963–1003)