List of colonial governors in 1980

This is a list of the governors of colonies, protectorates, or other dependencies in 1980. Where applicable, native rulers are also listed.

Australia

• Christmas Island
  • Administrator –
    1. F. C. Boyle, Administrator of Christmas Island (1977–1980)
    2. 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 – Parson bin Yapat, Chairman of the Cocos Islands Council (1979–1981)
• Norfolk Island
  • Administrator – Peter Coleman, Administrator of Norfolk Island (1979–1981)
  • Chief Minister – David Buffett, Chief Minister of Norfolk Island (1979–1986)

Denmark

• Faroe Islands
  • High Commissioner – Leif Groth, High Commissioner in the Faroe Islands (1972–1981)
  • Prime Minister – Atli Dam, Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands (1970–1981)
• 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 – Paul Cousseran, High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia (1977–1981)
• Mayotte
  • Prefect –
    1. Jean Rigotard, Prefect of Mayotte (1978–1980)
    2. Philippe Jacques Nicolas Kessler, Prefect of Mayotte (1980–1981)
  • President of the General Council – Younoussa Bamana, President of the General Council of Mayotte (1976–1991)
• New Caledonia
  • High Commissioner – Claude Charbonniaud, High Commissioner of New Caledonia (1978–1981)
• New Hebrides – condominium together with the United Kingdom
  • gained independence as Vanuatu on 30 July 1980
  • British Resident Commissioner – Andrew Stuart (1978–1980)
  • French Resident Commissioner – Jean-Jacques Robert (1978–1980)
  • Chief Minister – Walter Lini, Chief Minister of New Hebrides (1979–1991)
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Prefect – Clément Bouhin, Prefect of Saint Pierre and Miquelon (1979–1981)
  • President of the General Council – Albert Pen, President of the General Council of Saint Pierre and Miquelon (1968–1984)
• Wallis and Futuna
  • Administrator-Superior –
    1. Pierre Isaac, Administrator Superior of Wallis and Futuna (1979–1980)
    2. 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
  • Premier – Robert Rex, Premier of Niue (1974–1992)
• Tokelau
  • Administrator – Frank Corner, Administrator of Tokelau (1975–1984)

Portugal

• Macau
  • Governor – Melo Egídio, Governor of Macau (1979–1981)

South Africa

• South West Africa
  • Administrator-General –
    1. Gerrit Viljoen, Administrator-General of South West Africa (1979–1980)
    2. 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 / British Crown

• Anguilla
  • seceded from Saint Christopher and Nevis on 19 December 1980
  • Governor – Charles Harry Godden, Governor of Anguilla (1978–1983)
  • Chief Minister –
    1. Emile Gumbs, Chief Minister of Anguilla (1977–1980)
    2. Ronald Webster, Chief Minister of Anguilla (1980–1984)
• Antigua
  • Governor – Sir Wilfred Jacobs, Governor of Antigua (1967–1993)
  • Premier – Vere Bird, Premier of Antigua (1976–1994)
• Belize
  • Governor –
    1. Peter Donovan McEntee, Governor of Belize (1976–1980)
    2. Sir James Patrick Ivan Hennessy, Governor of Belize (1980–1981)
  • Premier – George Cadle Price, Premier of Belize (1961–1984)
• Bermuda
  • Governor –
    1. Sir Peter Ramsbotham, Governor of Bermuda (1977–1980)
    2. 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)
  • Sultan – Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei (1967–present)
  • Chief Minister – Pengiran Dipa Negara Laila Diraja Pengiran Abdul Mumin, Chief Minister of Brunei (1972–1981)
• Cayman Islands
  • Governor – Thomas Russell, Governor of the Cayman Islands (1974–1982)
• Falkland Islands
  • Governor –
    1. Sir James Roland Walter Parker, Governor of the Falkland Islands (1977–1980)
    2. 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 –
    1. Sir John Edward Ludgate Martin, Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey (1974–1980)
    2. 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 –
    1. Sir John Warburton Paul, Lieutenant-Governor of Man (1974–1980)
    2. Sir Nigel Cecil, Lieutenant-Governor of Man (1980–1985)
  • Head of Government – Clifford Irving, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Isle of Man (1977–1981)
• Jersey
  • Lieutenant-Governor – Sir Peter Whiteley, Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey (1979–1985)
  • Bailiff – Sir Frank Ereaut, Bailiff of Jersey (1975–1985)
• Montserrat
  • Governor –
    1. Gwilyum Wyn Jones, Governor of Montserrat (1977–1980)
    2. David Kenneth Hay Dale, Governor of Montserrat (1980–1984)
  • Chief Minister – John Osborne, Chief Minister of Montserrat (1978–1991)
• New Hebrides – condominium together with France
  • gained independence as Vanuatu on 30 July 1980
  • British Resident Commissioner – Andrew Stuart (1978–1980)
  • French Resident Commissioner – Jean-Jacques Robert (1978–1980)
  • Chief Minister – Walter Lini, Chief Minister of New Hebrides (1979–1991)
• Pitcairn Islands
  • Governor –
    1. Sir Harold Smedley, Governor of the Pitcairn Islands (1976–1980)
    2. Sir Richard Stratton, Governor of the Pitcairn Islands (1980–1984)
  • Magistrate – Ivan Christian, Magistrate of the Pitcairn Islands (1975–1984)
• Saint Christopher and Nevis
  • Governor – Sir Probyn Ellsworth-Innis, Governor of Saint Christopher and Nevis (1975–1981)
  • Premier –
    1. Lee Moore, Premier of Saint Christopher and Nevis (1979–1980)
    2. Kennedy Simmonds, Premier of Saint Christopher and Nevis (1980–1995)
• Saint Helena and Dependencies
  • Governor – Geoffrey Colin Guy, Governor of Saint Helena (1976–1981)
• Southern Rhodesia
  • gained independence as Zimbabwe on 18 April 1980
  • Governor – Christopher Soames, Baron Soames, Governor of Southern Rhodesia (1979–1980)
• Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Governor – John Clifford Strong, Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands (1978–1982)
  • Chief Minister –
    1. James Alexander George Smith McCartney, Chief Minister of Turks and Caicos Islands (1976–1980)
    2. Oswald Skippings, Chief Minister of Turks and Caicos Islands (1980)
    3. Norman Saunders, Chief Minister of Turks and Caicos Islands (1980–1985)

United States of America

• 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 – Adrian P. Winkel, High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (1977–1981)
  • 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)
• United States Virgin Islands
  • Governor – Juan Francisco Luis, Governor of US Virgin Islands (1978–1987)