1981 Trinidad and Tobago general election

{{short description|General election in Trinidad and Tobago}}

{{use Trinidadian English|date=October 2020}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}

{{Infobox election

| country = Trinidad and Tobago

| type = parliamentary

| previous_election = 1976 Trinidad and Tobago general election

| previous_year = 1976

| next_election = 1986 Trinidad and Tobago general election

| next_year = 1986

| seats_for_election = All 36 seats in the House of Representatives

| majority_seats = 19

| turnout = 56.43%

| election_date = {{Start date|1981|11|09|df=yes}}

| image_size = 130x130px

| image1 = George Chambers (cropped).jpg

| leader1 = George Chambers

| leader_since1 = 30 March 1981

| party1 = People's National Movement

| leaders_seat1 = St. Ann's East

| last_election1 = 54.23%, 24 seats

| seats1 = {{Composition bar|26|36|hex={{party color|People's National Movement}}}}

| seat_change1 = {{increase}} 2

| popular_vote1 = 218,557

| percentage1 = 52.95%

| swing1 = {{decrease}}1.28pp

| image2 = Basdeo Panday.jpg

| leader2 = Basdeo Panday

| colour2 = aaa9ad

| leader_since2 = 1975

| party2 = ULF

| alliance2 = National Alliance

| alliance2_name = no

| leaders_seat2 = Couva North

| last_election2 = 27.17%, 10 seats

| seats2 = {{Composition bar|8|36|hex={{party color|United Labour Front}}}}

| seat_change2 = {{decrease}} 2

| popular_vote2 = 62,781

| percentage2 = 15.21%

| swing2 = {{decrease}}11.96pp

| image3 = A. N. R. Robinson (cropped).jpg

| leader3 = A. N. R. Robinson

| colour3 = aa00d4

| leader_since3 = 1971

| party3 = DAC

| alliance3 = National Alliance

| alliance3_name = no

| leaders_seat3 = Tobago East

| last_election3 = 8.20%, 2 seats

| seats3 = {{Composition bar|2|36|hex={{party color|Democratic Action Congress}}}}

| seat_change3 = {{steady}}

| popular_vote3 = 15,390

| percentage3 = 3.73%

| swing3 = {{decrease}}4.47pp

|map_image = The official 1981 map for trinidad and tobago.png

| title = Prime Minister

| posttitle = Subsequent Prime Minister

| before_election = George Chambers

| before_party = People's National Movement

| after_election = George Chambers

| after_party = People's National Movement

}}

General elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 9 November 1981.Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p635 {{ISBN|978-0-19-928357-6}} The result was a victory for the People's National Movement, which won 26 of the 36 seats. Voter turnout was 56.4%.Nohlen, p640