UK, 
US, 
Australia & 
IrelandAt A Glance
5 January 1981 at a glance
- Day of the week
- 5 January 1981 was a Monday.
- Kent Music Report No. 1
- The Kent Music Report No. 1 was “Shaddap You Face” by Joe Dolce Music Theatre.
- Top Film of 1981
- The highest-grossing film worldwide released in 1981 was Raiders of the Lost Ark.
- Best-Selling Vehicle of 1981
- Australia's top-selling new vehicle in 1981 was the Holden Commodore.
- Star sign
- The star sign for 5 January is Capricorn.
- Chinese zodiac
- In the Chinese zodiac, 5 January 1981 fell in the Year of the Monkey.
- Birthstone
- The birthstone for January is Garnet.
- Moon phase
- The moon phase on 5 January 1981 was New Moon.
On this day: 5 January
- 1972 US President Richard Nixon announces the Space Shuttle program.
- 1976 The Khmer Rouge announce that the new Constitution of Democratic Kampuchea is ratified.
- 1991 Georgian forces enter Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, Georgia, opening the 1991–92 South Ossetia War.
- 1991 Somali Civil War: The United States Embassy to Somalia in Mogadishu is evacuated by helicopter airlift days after the outbreak of violence in Mogadishu.
- 1993 The oil tanker MV Braer runs aground on the coast of the Shetland Islands, spilling 84,700 tons of crude oil.
Famous people born on 5 January
- Suki Waterhouse, English actress, singer-songwriter, and model (born 1992)
- Vinnie Jones, British footballer and actor (born 1965)
- Diane Keaton, American actress, director, and businesswoman (1946–2025)
- Bradley Cooper, American actor and producer (born 1975)
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Events of 1981 in Australia
A selection from Wikipedia's '1981 in Australia'. Not a complete list.
- 30 January – Sir Harry Gibbs is announced as the next Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia in the wake of Sir Garfield Barwick's resignation.
- 10 February – Townsville International Airport opens in Townsville
- 19 March – The South Australian Parliament passes the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights Act 1981.
Life in Australia in 1981
Prime Minister
Malcolm Fraser
Monarch
Queen Elizabeth II
Petrol (per litre)
$0.34
Loaf of Bread
$0.65
Average House
$50,000
Weekly Wage
$250.00
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Famous Faces Born in the 1980s
Well-known people born in the same decade as you, not on your birthday.
Chris Hemsworth11 August 1983ActorView their day →Delta Goodrem9 November 1984Singer & songwriterView their day →Ruby Rose20 March 1986Actor & modelView their day →Sam Reid19 February 1987ActorView their day →Rebel Wilson2 March 1980Actress & writerView their day →Teresa Palmer26 February 1986Actress & modelView their day →Alexander Volkanovski29 September 1988Mixed martial artist & kickboxerView their day →Abbie Cornish7 August 1982ActressView their day →Sources: Wikidata and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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