These are the Canadian number-one albums of 1981. The chart is compiled by Nielsen Soundscan and published by Jam! Canoe, issued every Sunday. The chart also appears in Billboard magazine as Top Canadian Albums.
| Issue date | Album | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| January 3 | The River | Bruce Springsteen |
| January 10 | ||
| January 17 | Double Fantasy | John Lennon and Yoko Ono |
| January 24 | ||
| January 31 | ||
| February 7 | ||
| February 14 | ||
| February 21 | ||
| February 28 | ||
| March 7 | ||
| March 14 | ||
| March 21 | ||
| March 28 | Paradise Theater | Styx |
| April 4 | ||
| April 11 | Hi Infidelity | REO Speedwagon |
| April 18 | Arc of a Diver | Steve Winwood |
| April 25 | ||
| May 2 | Hi Infidelity | REO Speedwagon |
| May 9 | Face Dances | The Who |
| May 16 | Arc of a Diver | Steve Winwood |
| May 23 | Face Value | Phil Collins |
| May 30 | ||
| June 6 | ||
| June 13 | Arc of a Diver | Steve Winwood |
| June 20 | Mistaken Identity | Kim Carnes |
| June 27 | ||
| July 4 | ||
| July 11 | ||
| July 18 | ||
| July 25 | Long Distance Voyager | The Moody Blues |
| August 1 | ||
| August 8 | ||
| August 15 | ||
| August 22 | ||
| August 29 | ||
| September 5 | ||
| September 12 | ||
| September 19 | ||
| September 26 | ||
| October 3 | Tattoo You | The Rolling Stones |
| October 10 | ||
| October 17 | ||
| October 24 | ||
| October 31 | ||
| November 7 | ||
| November 14 | ||
| November 21 | Ghost in the Machine | The Police |
| November 28 | ||
| December 5 | ||
| December 12 | ||
| December 19 | ||
| December 26 | The Great White North | Bob and Doug McKenzie |