1981 in Norway

← 1980 1979 1978 1981 in Norway → 1982 1983 1984
Centuries:	18th 19th 20th 21st
Decades:	1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s
See also:	List of years in Norway

Events in the year 1981 in Norway.

Incumbents

• Monarch – Olav V
• Prime Minister – Odvar Nordli (Labour Party) until 4 February, Gro Harlem Brundtland (Labour Party) until 14 October, Kåre Willoch (Conservative Party)

Events

Gro Harlem Brundtland becomes the first female Prime Minister of Norway

• Norway becomes the first country in the world to enact a law to prevent discrimination against homosexuals.
• The Hessdalen light UFO phenomenon emerged in December and occurred with high frequency for the next several years.
• Norwegian Supreme Court denies the Saami claims to the pastoral lands the Alta Dam was built on. ^[1]

January

• Tor Røste Fossen coaches the Norwegian association football team. ^[2]

February

• 4 February – Gro Harlem Brundtland's First Cabinet was appointed. Gro Harlem Brundtland becomes the first female Prime Minister of Norway. ^[3]

September

• 1 September - The Act of Ombudsperson was entered into force. (First in the world) ^[4]
• 13 - 14 September - The Storting election results in a swing for the political "right". ^[5]

October

• 12 October – The government of Gro Harlem Brundtland resigns ^[6]
• 13 October – Permission to leave was granted by King Olav V
• 14 October – Willoch's First Cabinet was appointed.

November

• 5 November – Five people are killed when a seaplane crashes in the Forsand municipality.

December

• 6 December – The 1981 Parliamentary election takes place.

Popular culture

Music

Main article: 1981 in Norwegian music

Film

Main article: Norwegian films of the 1980s § 1981

Notable births

January

Ole Erevik

Solveig Gulbrandsen

Maria Parr

• 8 January – Kristin Mürer Stemland, cross-country skier. ^[7]
• 9 January – Ole Erevik, handball player. ^[8]
• 9 January – Christian Møllerop, LGBT rights activist
• 12 January – Solveig Gulbrandsen, footballer
• 18 January – Maria Parr, children's writer. ^[9]
• 18 January – Martin Taxt, jazz musician
• 19 January – Bjørn Arve Lund, footballer
• 27 January – Thomas Løvold, curler
• 28 January – Erlend Hanstveit, footballer

February

Guri Melby

• 3 February – Guri Melby, politician
• 13 February – Ingrid Lønningdal, artist
• 19 February – Thomas Holm, footballer
• 25 February – Anne Solsvik, politician
• 28 February – Tjostolv Moland, army officer and security contractor (died 2013)

March

Tora Berger

• 5 March – Mazyar Keshvari, politician
• 7 March – Mona Fastvold, filmmaker and actress
• 8 March – Jonas Solberg Andersen, ice hockey player
• 17 March – Simen Brenne, footballer
• 18 March – Tora Berger, biathlete. ^[10]
• 18 March – Ingrid Olava, singer and musician
• 21 March – Leni Larsen Kaurin, footballer
• 21 March – Arcane Station, musician, producer and songwriter
• 23 March – Ragnhild Kvarberg, middle distance and long-distance runner
• 25 March – Cato Sundberg, musician
• 25 March – Roy Hegreberg, road bicycle racer
• 28 March – Jan Grue, writer and linguist. ^[11]

April

Kristin Størmer Steira

• 1 April – Helene Bøksle, singer and actress
• 1 April – Bjørn Einar Romøren, ski jumper
• 2 April – Patrick Holtet, footballer
• 7 April – Amund Maarud, blues/rock musician and composer
• 8 April – Nils Bech, singer
• 8 April – Mari Hagen, politician
• 9 April – Charlotte Frogner, actress
• 15 April – Jon Reidar Øyan, gay rights activist and politician
• 18 April – Hedvig Bjelkevik, speed skater
• 19 April – Lise Klaveness, lawyer and footballer. ^[12]
• 19 April – Jan Gunnar Solli, footballer
• 23 April – Lars-Henrik Paarup Michelsen, politician
• 27 April – Hilde Marie Kjersem, artist, musician and songwriter
• 30 April – Kristin Størmer Steira, cross-country skier

May

Iselin Nybø

• 14 May – Iselin Nybø, politician
• 19 May – Janicke Gunvaldsen, racing cyclist
• 25 May – Anette Trettebergstuen, politician
• 27 May – Hanne Blåfjelldal, politician

June

• 3 June – Kristoffer Paulsen Vatshaug, footballer
• 4 June – Linn Nyrønning, footballer
• 4 June – Jan Trygve Røyneland, television and film writer
• 12 June – Afua Hirsch, writer, broadcaster, and former barrister
• 16 June – Ola Kvernberg, jazz violinist and composer.
• 16 June – Richard Skog, strongman competitor
• 16 June – Knut Walde, footballer
• 20 June – Brede Hangeland, footballer
• 20 June – Lene Storløkken, footballer. ^[13]

July

Kirsti Bergstø

Lisa Aisato

• 1 July – Kirsti Bergstø, politician
• 13 July – Sigurd Hole, jazz musician
• 16 July – Vigdis Hårsaker, handball player
• 18 July – Sturla Torkildsen, fencer
• 19 July – Anne Lise Frøkedal, singer-songwriter
• 23 July – Lisa Aisato, illustrator and visual artist. ^[14]
• 27 July – Sverre Krogh Sundbø, poker player
• 28 July – Lars Fredrik Frøislie, musician
• 28 July – Frank Kjosås, actor
• 29 July – Gjermund Larsen, traditional folk musician and composer

August

• 1 August – Pia Haraldsen, TV personality
• 3 August – Ingvild Stensland, footballer
• 3 August – Erlend Tvinnereim, operatic tenor
• 7 August – Ingvill Måkestad Bovim, track and field athlete
• 7 August – Ann Iren Mørkved, footballer
• 9 August – Azar Karadaş, soccer player
• 21 August – Jon Engen-Helgheim, politician
• 28 August – Marius Johnsen, footballer

September

• 1 September – Inger Lise Hansen, politician
• 3 September – Fredrik Klock, footballer
• 8 September – Morten Gamst Pedersen, footballer
• 10 September – Morten Adamsen, competition rower. ^[15]
• 11 September – Vemund Brekke Skard, footballer
• 22 September – Ingrid Vetlesen, soprano
• 23 September – Ryan Wiik, actor and entrepreneur
• 25 September – Leo Olsen, footballer
• 27 September – Espen Hægeland, footballer
• 28 September – Cecilia Brækhus, professional boxer and kickboxer

October

• 2 October – Helge Nitteberg, journalist and newspaper editor. ^[16]
• 8 October – Sten Ove Eike, footballer
• 13 October – Vidar Norheim, drummer and songwriter
• 24 October – Fredrik Mikkelsen, musician and composer
• 28 October – Andreas Loven, jazz pianist
• 29 October – Lene Alexandra, singer and model
• 30 October – Lars Petter Sveen, novelist. ^[17]

November

• 3 November – Gunhild Følstad, footballer
• 20 November – Marit Tveite Bystøl, ski mountaineer
• 20 November – Espen Hoff, footballer
• 30 November – Belinda Braza, singer, choreographer, artist and actor

December

Bjørnar Moxnes

Solveig Heilo

• 6 December – Morten Værnes, ice sledge hockey player
• 17 December – Kim Myhr, guitarist and composer
• 19 December – Bjørnar Moxnes, politician
• 19 December – Espen Nystuen, footballer
• 20 December – John Olav Nilsen, singer and songwriter
• 24 December – Solveig Heilo, composer, artist, musician, music producer, arranger, designer and costume designer

Full date missing

• Lars Akerhaug, journalist and non-fiction author
• Ivar Loe Bjørnstad, jazz and rock musician
• Marius Bjugan, orienteering competitor
• Ida Hegazi Høyer, writer
• Annette Münch, children's writer, playwright and non-fiction writer. ^[18]
• Øystein Kvaal Østerbø, orienteering competitor. ^[19]
• Kjersti Reenaas, ski-orienteering competitor
• Julian Skar, composer and multi-media artist
• Todd Terje, DJ, songwriter, and record producer

Notable deaths

January to March

Karl Evang

• 3 January – Karl Evang, physician and civil servant (born 1902). ^[20]
• 4 January – Aage Thor Falkanger Sr., judge (born 1902)
• 9 January – Jack Nielsen, tennis player (born 1896)
• 12 January – Olav Marensius Strandås, politician (born 1900)
• 16 January – Birger Haug, high jumper (born 1908)
• 20 January – Richard Frydenlund, wrestler (born 1891)
• 22 January – Torgeir Svendsen, politician (born 1910). ^[21]
• 29 January – Karl Ludvig Bugge, civil servant (born 1902)
• 1 February – Geirr Tveitt, composer and pianist (born 1908)
• 11 February – Haakon Olsen Wika, politician (born 1899)
• 12 February – Trygve de Lange, lawyer (born 1918)
• 21 February – Julla Sæthern, barrister, feminist, politician (born 1901). ^[22]
• 11 March – Jonas Enge, politician (born 1908)
• 30 March – Christian L. Holm, politician (born 1892)

April to June

Odd Hassel, Nobel laureate in chemistry.

Henry Imsland

• 4 April – Aanund Bjørnsson Berdal, engineer (born 1888). ^[23]
• 15 April – Birger Brekke, Scout leader (born 1891)
• 15 April – Anton Fredrik Klaveness, equestrian and ship-owner (born 1903)
• 28 April – Kristian Horn, botanist and humanist (born 1903)
• 5 May – Rolf Bloch Hansen, military officer and skiing official (born 1894)
• 9 May – Rolf Just Nilsen, singer and actor (born 1931)
• 11 May – Odd Hassel, physical chemist and Nobel Laureate (born 1897)
• 18 May – Ola Høyland, politician (born 1890)
• 22 May – Reimar Riefling, classical pianist, music teacher, and music critic (born 1898)
• 23 May – Johan Georg A. Ræder, diplomat (born 1905)
• 29 May – Mette Lange-Nielsen, actress (born 1929)
• 7 June – Lars Johan Danbolt, priest (born 1895)
• 7 June – Asbjørn Listerud, politician (born 1905)
• 11 June – Kristian Østby, naval aviator (born 1900)
• 14 June – Henry Imsland, illustrator (born 1900)
• 22 June – Petter Hol, gymnast (born 1883)
• 25 June – Otto Hjersing Munthe-Kaas, politician, businessman and military officer (born 1883)

July to September

Tove Mohr

• 5 July – Olav Larssen, newspaper editor and politician (born 1894)
• 6 July – Kaare Fostervoll, educator and politician (born 1891)
• 9 July – Nikolai Paul Kornelius Molvik, politician (born 1905)
• 19 July – John Aalmo, (born 1902)
• 31 July – Christian Stray, lawyer and politician (born 1894)
• 2 August – Kåre Norum, educator (born 1907). ^[24]
• 11 August – Arne Skaare, politician (born 1907)
• 15 August – Jørgen Løvset, professor of medicine, gynecology and obstetrics (born 1896)
• 25 August – Jens Gram Dunker, architect (born 1892)
• 26 August – Tove Mohr, physician and proponent for women's rights (born 1891)
• 28 August – Bjarne Fjærtoft, politician (born 1899)
• 11 September – Erling Østerberg, police officer (born 1901). ^[25]
• 26 September – Jens Edv. Haugland, politician (born 1924)

October to December

Ada Kramm

• 9 October – Per Arneberg, poet, prosaist and translator (born 1901)
• 26 October – Olaf Sunde, lawyer and workers' rights activist (born 1915)
• 31 October – Bent Røiseland, politician (born 1902)
• 4 November – Sverre Helgesen, high jumper (born 1903)
• 25 November Sigbjørn Hølmebakk, author (born 1922)
• 17 December – Ada Kramm, stage and film actress (born 1899)
• 18 December – Olav Rasmussen Langeland, politician (born 1904)

Full date unknown

• Alf-Jørgen Aas, painter (born 1915)
• Tor Hermod Refsum, painter (born 1894)
• Knut Robberstad, jurist and philologist (born 1899)

References

1. "Saami and Norwegians protest construction of Alta Dam, Norway, 1979-1981 | Global Nonviolent Action Database". nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
2. Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Norway (1981)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
3. Hofverberg, Elin (4 February 2021). "On this Day: Gro Harlem Brundtland Becomes First Female Prime Minister in Norway | In Custodia Legis". The Library of Congress. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
4. "Act Relating to the Ombudsperson for Children [The Ombudsperson for Children Act]" (PDF).
5. Valen, Henry (1 August 1982). "Norway: The 1981 election confirms trend to the right" . Electoral Studies. 1 (2): 243–250. doi:10.1016/0261-3794(82)90006-3. ISSN   0261-3794.
6. regjeringen.no (1 March 2007). "Gro Harlem Brundtland's First Government". Government.no. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
7. "Kristin Mürer Stemland". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
8. "Ole Erevik". eurohandball.com. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
9. Helgesen, Petra. "Maria Parr". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
10. Bolme, Magne; Bryhn, Rolf. "Tora Berger". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
11. Hovdenakk, Sindre. "Jan Grue". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
12. "Lise Klaveness". static.fifa.com. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
13. "Lene Storløkken". nifs.no. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
14. Cissé, Yacoub; Kalleklev, Katrine. "Lisa Aisato". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
15. "Morten Adamsen". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
16. Garvik, Olav. "Helge Nitteberg". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
17. Karlsvik, Mette. "Lars Petter Sveen". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
18. Karlsvik, Mette. "Annette Münch". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
19. "Profile: Øystein Kvaal Østerbø" – World of O Runners (Retrieved on 3 June 2019)
20. Mellbye, Fredrik. "Karl Evang". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
21. "Svendsen, Torgeir". stortinget.no (in Norwegian). Parliament of Norway. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
22. Bolstad, Erik (ed.). "Julie Therese Sæthern". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
23. Magnus, Jens Christian. "Aanund Bjørnsson Berdal". In Helle, Knut (ed.). Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
24. Vormeland, Oddvar. "Kåre Norum". In Helle, Knut (ed.). Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
25. Garvik, Olav. "Erling Østerberg". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 3 April 2025.