# List of UK Albums Chart number ones of the 1980s

The UK Albums Chart is a weekly record chart based on album sales from Sunday to Saturday in the United Kingdom; during the 1980s, a total of 184 albums reached number one.

## Number ones

Key :
| No. | nth album to top the UK Albums Chart |
| re | Return of an album to number one |
| Silver | Silver certification |
| Gold | Gold certification |
| Platinum | Platinum certification |
| † | Best-selling album of the year |
| ‡ | Best-selling album of the decade |
| No. | Artist | Album | Record label | Reached number one (for the week ending) | Weeks at number one | Certification (as of 31 December 1989) |
| 1980 |||||||
| 220 | Rod Stewart | Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 | Riva | 8 December 1979 | 5 | Platinum |
| re | ABBA | Greatest Hits Volume 2 | Epic | 12 January 1980 | 1 | Platinum |
| 221 | The Pretenders | Pretenders | Real | 19 January 1980 | 4 | Platinum |
| 222 | Various artists | The Last Dance | Motown | 16 February 1980 | 2 | Gold |
| 223 | The Shadows | String of Hits | EMI | 1 March 1980 | 3 | Platinum |
| 224 | Johnny Mathis | Tears and Laughter | CBS | 22 March 1980 | 2 | Gold |
| 225 | Genesis | Duke | Charisma | 5 April 1980 | 2 | Platinum |
| 226 | Rose Royce | Greatest Hits | Whitfield | 19 April 1980 | 2 | Platinum |
| 227 | Sky | Sky 2 | Ariola | 3 May 1980 | 2 | Platinum |
| 228 | Boney M. | The Magic of Boney M. – 20 Golden Hits | Hansa/Atlantic | 17 May 1980 | 2 | Platinum |
| 229 | Paul McCartney | McCartney II | Parlophone | 31 May 1980 | 2 | Gold |
| 230 | Peter Gabriel | Peter Gabriel | Charisma | 14 June 1980 | 2 | Gold |
| 231 | Roxy Music | Flesh and Blood | Polydor | 28 June 1980 | 1 | Platinum |
| 232 | The Rolling Stones | Emotional Rescue | Rolling Stones | 5 July 1980 | 2 | Gold |
| 233 | Queen | The Game | EMI | 19 July 1980 | 2 | Gold |
| 234 | Deep Purple | Deepest Purple: The Very Best of Deep Purple | Harvest | 2 August 1980 | 1 | Gold |
| 235 | AC/DC | Back in Black | Atlantic | 9 August 1980 | 2 | Platinum |
| re | Roxy Music | Flesh and Blood | Polydor | 23 August 1980 | 3 | Platinum |
| 236 | Gary Numan | Telekon | Beggars Banquet | 13 September 1980 | 1 | Gold |
| 237 | Kate Bush | Never for Ever | EMI | 20 September 1980 | 1 | Gold |
| 238 | David Bowie | Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) | RCA | 27 September 1980 | 2 | Platinum |
| 239 | The Police | Zenyatta Mondatta | A&M | 11 October 1980 | 4 | Platinum |
| 240 | Barbra Streisand | Guilty | CBS | 8 November 1980 | 2 | Platinum |
| 241 | ABBA | Super Trouper † | Epic | 22 November 1980 | 9 | Platinum |
| 1981 |||||||
| 242 | Adam and the Ants | Kings of the Wild Frontier † | CBS | 24 January 1981 | 2 | Platinum |
| 243 | John Lennon and Yoko Ono | Double Fantasy | Geffen | 7 February 1981 | 2 | Platinum |
| 244 | Phil Collins | Face Value | Virgin | 21 February 1981 | 3 | Platinum |
| re | Adam and the Ants | Kings of the Wild Frontier † | CBS | 14 March 1981 | 10 | Platinum |
| 245 | Starsound | Stars on 45 | CBS | 23 May 1981 | 5 | Gold |
| 246 | Motörhead | No Sleep 'til Hammersmith | Bronze | 27 June 1981 | 1 | Gold |
| 247 | Various artists | Disco Daze and Disco Nites | Ronco | 4 July 1981 | 1 | Gold |
| 248 | Cliff Richard | Love Songs | EMI | 11 July 1981 | 5 | Platinum |
| 249 | Various artists | The Official BBC Album of the Royal Wedding | BBC | 15 August 1981 | 2 | Gold |
| 250 | Electric Light Orchestra | Time | Jet | 29 August 1981 | 2 | Platinum |
| 251 | Meat Loaf | Dead Ringer | Cleveland International /Epic | 12 September 1981 | 2 | Platinum |
| 252 | Genesis | Abacab | Charisma | 26 September 1981 | 2 | Platinum |
| 253 | The Police | Ghost in the Machine | A&M | 10 October 1981 | 3 | Platinum |
| 254 | The Human League | Dare | Virgin | 31 October 1981 | 1 | Platinum |
| 255 | Shakin' Stevens | Shaky | Epic | 7 November 1981 | 1 | Platinum |
| 256 | Queen | Greatest Hits | EMI | 14 November 1981 | 4 | 6× Platinum |
| 257 | Various artists | Chart Hits '81 | K-tel | 12 December 1981 | 1 | Platinum |
| 258 | ABBA | The Visitors | Epic | 19 December 1981 | 3 | Platinum |
| 1982 |||||||
| re | The Human League | Dare | Virgin | 9 January 1982 | 3 | Platinum |
| 259 | Barbra Streisand | Love Songs † | CBS | 30 January 1982 | 7 | Platinum |
| 260 | The Jam | The Gift | Polydor | 20 March 1982 | 1 | Platinum |
| re | Barbra Streisand | Love Songs † | CBS | 27 March 1982 | 2 | Platinum |
| 261 | Iron Maiden | The Number of the Beast | EMI | 10 April 1982 | 2 | Platinum |
| 262 | Status Quo | 1+9+8+2 | Vertigo | 24 April 1982 | 1 | Gold |
| 263 | Barry Manilow | Barry Live in Britain | Arista | 1 May 1982 | 1 | Platinum |
| 264 | Paul McCartney | Tug of War | Parlophone | 8 May 1982 | 2 | Gold |
| 265 | Madness | Complete Madness | Stiff | 22 May 1982 | 2 | Platinum |
| 266 | Roxy Music | Avalon | E.G. | 5 June 1982 | 1 | Platinum |
| re | Madness | Complete Madness | Stiff | 12 June 1982 | 1 | Platinum |
| re | Roxy Music | Avalon | E.G. | 19 June 1982 | 2 | Platinum |
| 267 | ABC | The Lexicon of Love | Neutron | 3 July 1982 | 4 | Platinum |
| 268 | Original soundtrack | Fame | RSO | 31 July 1982 | 1 | Gold |
| 269 | The Kids from "Fame" | The Kids from "Fame" | BBC | 7 August 1982 | 8 | Platinum |
| 270 | Dire Straits | Love over Gold | Vertigo | 2 October 1982 | 4 | 2× Platinum |
| re | The Kids from "Fame" | The Kids from "Fame" | BBC | 30 October 1982 | 4 | Platinum |
| 271 | ABBA | The Singles: The First Ten Years | Epic | 27 November 1982 | 1 | Platinum |
| 272 | John Lennon | The John Lennon Collection | Parlophone | 6 December 1982 | 6 | 3× Platinum |
| 1983 |||||||
| 273 | Various artists | Raiders of the Pop Charts | Ronco | 15 January 1983 | 2 | Platinum |
| 274 | Men at Work | Business as Usual | Epic | 29 January 1983 | 5 | Platinum |
| 275 | Michael Jackson | Thriller † | Epic | 5 March 1983 | 1 | 11× Platinum |
| 276 | U2 | War | Island | 12 March 1983 | 1 | Platinum |
| re | Michael Jackson | Thriller † | Epic | 19 March 1983 | 1 | 11× Platinum |
| 277 | Tears for Fears | The Hurting | Mercury | 26 March 1983 | 1 | Platinum |
| 278 | Pink Floyd | The Final Cut | Harvest | 2 April 1983 | 2 | Gold |
| 279 | Bonnie Tyler | Faster Than the Speed of Night | CBS | 16 April 1983 | 1 | Silver |
| 280 | David Bowie | Let's Dance | EMI America | 23 April 1983 | 3 | Platinum |
| 281 | Spandau Ballet | True | Reformation | 14 May 1983 | 1 | Platinum |
| re | Michael Jackson | Thriller † | Epic | 21 May 1983 | 5 | 11× Platinum |
| 282 | The Police | Synchronicity | A&M | 25 June 1983 | 2 | Platinum |
| 283 | Wham! | Fantastic | Innervision | 9 July 1983 | 2 | 3× Platinum |
| 284 | Yazoo | You and Me Both | Mute | 23 July 1983 | 2 | Gold |
| 285 | The Beach Boys | The Very Best of The Beach Boys | Capitol | 6 August 1983 | 2 | Platinum |
| 286 | Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5 | 18 Greatest Hits | Motown Telstar | 20 August 1983 | 3 | Platinum |
| re | The Beach Boys | The Very Best of The Beach Boys | Capitol | 10 September 1983 | 1 | Platinum |
| 287 | Paul Young | No Parlez | CBS | 17 September 1983 | 1 | 3× Platinum |
| 288 | UB40 | Labour of Love | DEP International | 24 September 1983 | 1 | 2× Platinum |
| re | Paul Young | No Parlez | CBS | 1 October 1983 | 2 | 3× Platinum |
| 289 | Genesis | Genesis | Charisma | 15 October 1983 | 1 | 2× Platinum |
| 290 | Culture Club | Colour by Numbers | Virgin | 22 October 1983 | 3 | 2× Platinum |
| 291 | Lionel Richie | Can't Slow Down | Motown | 12 November 1983 | 1 | 3× Platinum |
| re | Culture Club | Colour by Numbers | Virgin | 19 November 1983 | 2 | 2× Platinum |
| 292 | Duran Duran | Seven and the Ragged Tiger | EMI | 3 December 1983 | 1 | Platinum |
| re | Paul Young | No Parlez | CBS | 10 December 1983 | 1 | 3× Platinum |
| 293 | Various artists | Now That's What I Call Music | Virgin/EMI | 17 December 1983 | 4 | 3× Platinum |
| 1984 |||||||
| re | Paul Young | No Parlez | CBS | 14 January 1984 | 1 | 3× Platinum |
| re | Various artists | Now That's What I Call Music | Virgin/EMI | 21 January 1984 | 1 | 3× Platinum |
| re | Michael Jackson | Thriller | Epic | 28 January 1984 | 1 | 11× Platinum |
| 294 | Eurythmics | Touch | RCA | 4 February 1984 | 2 | Platinum |
| 295 | Simple Minds | Sparkle in the Rain | Virgin | 18 February 1984 | 1 | Platinum |
| 296 | Thompson Twins | Into the Gap | Arista | 25 February 1984 | 3 | 2× Platinum |
| 297 | Howard Jones | Human's Lib | WEA | 17 March 1984 | 2 | 2× Platinum |
| re | Lionel Richie | Can't Slow Down † | Motown | 31 March 1984 | 2 | 3× Platinum |
| 298 | Various artists | Now That's What I Call Music II | Virgin/EMI | 14 April 1984 | 5 | 2× Platinum |
| 299 | Bob Marley & The Wailers | Legend | Island | 19 May 1984 | 12 | 3× Platinum |
| 300 | Various artists | Now That's What I Call Music 3 | Virgin/EMI | 11 August 1984 | 8 | 2× Platinum |
| 301 | David Bowie | Tonight | EMI America | 6 October 1984 | 1 | Gold |
| 302 | U2 | The Unforgettable Fire | Island | 13 October 1984 | 2 | 2× Platinum |
| 303 | Big Country | Steeltown | Mercury | 27 October 1984 | 1 | Gold |
| 304 | Paul McCartney | Give My Regards to Broad Street | Parlophone | 3 November 1984 | 1 | Platinum |
| 305 | Frankie Goes to Hollywood | Welcome to the Pleasuredome | ZTT | 10 November 1984 | 1 | 3× Platinum |
| 306 | Wham! | Make It Big | Epic | 17 November 1984 | 2 | 4× Platinum |
| 307 | Various artists | The Hits Album/The Hits Tape | CBS/WEA | 1 December 1984 | 7 | 3× Platinum |
| 1985 |||||||
| 308 | Alison Moyet | Alf | CBS | 19 January 1985 | 1 | 4× Platinum |
| 309 | Foreigner | Agent Provocateur | Atlantic | 26 January 1985 | 3 | Platinum |
| 310 | Bruce Springsteen | Born in the U.S.A. | CBS | 16 February 1985 | 1 | 3× Platinum |
| 311 | The Smiths | Meat Is Murder | Rough Trade | 23 February 1985 | 1 | Gold |
| 312 | Phil Collins | No Jacket Required | Virgin | 2 March 1985 | 5 | 6× Platinum |
| 313 | Paul Young | The Secret of Association | CBS | 6 April 1985 | 1 | 2× Platinum |
| 314 | Various artists | The Hits Album 2/The Hits Tape 2 | CBS/WEA | 13 April 1985 | 6 | 2× Platinum |
| 315 | Dire Straits | Brothers in Arms ‡ | Vertigo | 25 May 1985 | 2 | 13× Platinum |
| 316 | The Style Council | Our Favourite Shop | Polydor | 8 June 1985 | 1 | Gold |
| 317 | Bryan Ferry | Boys and Girls | E.G. | 15 June 1985 | 2 | Platinum |
| 318 | Marillion | Misplaced Childhood | EMI | 29 June 1985 | 1 | Platinum |
| re | Bruce Springsteen | Born in the U.S.A. | CBS | 6 July 1985 | 4 | 3× Platinum |
| re | Dire Straits | Brothers in Arms ‡ | Vertigo | 3 August 1985 | 2 | 13× Platinum |
| 319 | Various artists | Now That's What I Call Music 5 | Virgin/EMI | 17 August 1985 | 5 | 2× Platinum |
| 320 | Madonna | Like a Virgin | Sire | 21 September 1985 | 1 | 3× Platinum |
| 321 | Kate Bush | Hounds of Love | EMI | 28 September 1985 | 2 | 2× Platinum |
| re | Madonna | Like a Virgin | Sire | 12 October 1985 | 1 | 3× Platinum |
| re | Kate Bush | Hounds of Love | EMI | 28 September 1985 | 1 | 2× Platinum |
| 322 | George Benson | The Love Songs | K-tel | 26 October 1985 | 1 | 2× Platinum |
| 323 | Simple Minds | Once Upon a Time | Virgin | 2 November 1985 | 1 | 3× Platinum |
| re | George Benson | The Love Songs | K-tel | 9 November 1985 | 1 | 2× Platinum |
| 324 | Sade | Promise | Epic | 16 November 1985 | 2 | 2× Platinum |
| 325 | Various artists | The Greatest Hits of 1985 | Telstar | 30 November 1985 | 1 | Platinum |
| 326 | Various artists | Now That's What I Call Music 6 | Virgin/EMI | 7 December 1985 | 2 | 4× Platinum |
| 327 | Various artists | Now – The Christmas Album | Virgin/EMI | 21 December 1985 | 2 | 4× Platinum |
| 1986 |||||||
| re | Various artists | Now That's What I Call Music 6 | Virgin/EMI | 4 January 1986 | 2 | 4× Platinum |
| re | Dire Straits | Brothers in Arms ‡ | Vertigo | 18 January 1986 | 10 | 13× Platinum |
| 328 | Various artists | Hits 4 | CBS/WEA/RCA/Ariola | 29 March 1986 | 4 | Platinum |
| 329 | Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music | Street Life: 20 Great Hits | E.G. | 26 April 1986 | 5 | Platinum |
| 330 | Peter Gabriel | So | Virgin | 31 May 1986 | 2 | 3× Platinum |
| 331 | Queen | A Kind of Magic | EMI | 14 June 1986 | 1 | 2× Platinum |
| 332 | Genesis | Invisible Touch | Virgin | 21 June 1986 | 3 | 4× Platinum |
| 333 | Madonna | True Blue † | Sire | 12 July 1986 | 6 | 6× Platinum |
| 334 | Various artists | Now That's What I Call Music 7 | Virgin/EMI | 23 August 1986 | 5 | 2× Platinum |
| 335 | Five Star | Silk and Steel | Tent | 27 September 1986 | 1 | 4× Platinum |
| 336 | Paul Simon | Graceland | Warner Bros. | 4 October 1986 | 5 | 5× Platinum |
| 337 | The Police | Every Breath You Take: The Singles | A&M | 8 November 1986 | 2 | 3× Platinum |
| 338 | Various artists | Hits 5 | CBS/RCA/Ariola/WEA | 22 November 1986 | 2 | 3× Platinum |
| 339 | Various artists | Now That's What I Call Music 8 | Virgin/EMI/PolyGram | 6 December 1986 | 6 | 4× Platinum |
| 1987 |||||||
| 340 | Kate Bush | The Whole Story | EMI | 17 January 1987 | 2 | 2× Platinum |
| re | Paul Simon | Graceland | Warner Bros. | 31 January 1987 | 3 | 5× Platinum |
| 341 | Original London cast | The Phantom of the Opera | Really Useful | 21 February 1987 | 3 | 3× Platinum |
| 342 | Hot Chocolate | The Very Best of Hot Chocolate | Rak | 14 March 1987 | 1 | Platinum |
| 343 | U2 | The Joshua Tree | Island | 21 March 1987 | 2 | 6× Platinum |
| 344 | Various artists | Now That's What I Call Music 9 | Virgin/EMI/PolyGram | 5 April 1987 | 5 | 2× Platinum |
| 345 | Curiosity Killed the Cat | Keep Your Distance | Mercury | 9 May 1987 | 2 | Platinum |
| 346 | Swing Out Sister | It's Better to Travel | Mercury | 23 May 1987 | 2 | Platinum |
| 347 | Simple Minds | Live in the City of Light | Virgin | 6 June 1987 | 1 | 2× Platinum |
| 348 | Whitney Houston | Whitney | Arista | 13 June 1987 | 6 | 6× Platinum |
| 349 | Terence Trent D'Arby | Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby | CBS | 25 July 1987 | 1 | 5× Platinum |
| 350 | Various artists | Hits 6 | CBS/BMG/WEA | 1 August 1987 | 4 | 3× Platinum |
| 351 | Def Leppard | Hysteria | Bludgeon Riffola | 29 August 1987 | 1 | 2× Platinum |
| re | Various artists | Hits 6 | CBS/BMG/WEA | 5 September 1987 | 1 | 3× Platinum |
| 352 | Michael Jackson | Bad † | Epic | 12 September 1987 | 5 | 14× Platinum |
| 353 | Bruce Springsteen | Tunnel of Love | CBS | 17 October 1987 | 1 | Platinum |
| 354 | Sting | ...Nothing Like the Sun | A&M | 24 October 1987 | 1 | Platinum |
| 355 | Fleetwood Mac | Tango in the Night | Warner Bros. | 31 October 1987 | 2 | 8× Platinum |
| 356 | George Michael | Faith | Epic | 14 November 1987 | 1 | 2× Platinum |
| 357 | T'Pau | Bridge of Spies | Siren | 21 November 1987 | 1 | 4× Platinum |
| 358 | Rick Astley | Whenever You Need Somebody | RCA | 28 November 1987 | 1 | 4× Platinum |
| 359 | Various artists | Now That's What I Call Music 10 | Virgin/EMI/PolyGram | 5 December 1987 | 6 | 4× Platinum |
| 1988 |||||||
| 360 | Wet Wet Wet | Popped In Souled Out | The Precious Organisation | 16 January 1988 | 1 | 5× Platinum |
| 361 | Johnny Hates Jazz | Turn Back the Clock | Virgin | 23 January 1988 | 1 | 2× Platinum |
| re | Terence Trent D'Arby | Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby | CBS | 30 January 1988 | 8 | 5× Platinum |
| 362 | Morrissey | Viva Hate | His Master's Voice | 26 March 1988 | 1 | Gold |
| 363 | Various artists | Now That's What I Call Music 11 | Virgin/EMI/PolyGram | 2 April 1988 | 3 | 4× Platinum |
| 364 | Iron Maiden | Seventh Son of a Seventh Son | EMI | 23 April 1988 | 1 | Gold |
| 365 | Erasure | The Innocents | Mute | 30 April 1988 | 1 | 2× Platinum |
| re | Fleetwood Mac | Tango in the Night | Warner Bros. | 7 May 1988 | 2 | 8× Platinum |
| 366 | Prince | Lovesexy | Paisley Park | 21 May 1988 | 1 | Platinum |
| re | Fleetwood Mac | Tango in the Night | Warner Bros. | 28 May 1988 | 1 | 8× Platinum |
| 367 | Various artists | Nite Flite | CBS | 4 June 1988 | 4 | Platinum |
| 368 | Tracy Chapman | Tracy Chapman | Elektra | 2 July 1988 | 3 | Platinum |
| 369 | Various artists | Now That's What I Call Music 12 | Virgin/EMI/PolyGram | 23 July 1988 | 5 | 2× Platinum |
| 370 | Kylie Minogue | Kylie † | PWL | 27 August 1988 | 4 | 7× Platinum |
| 371 | Various artists | Hot City Nights | Vertigo | 24 September 1988 | 1 | Platinum |
| 372 | Bon Jovi | New Jersey | Vertigo | 1 October 1988 | 2 | Platinum |
| 373 | Chris de Burgh | Flying Colours | A&M | 15 October 1988 | 1 | Platinum |
| 374 | U2 | Rattle and Hum | Island | 22 October 1988 | 1 | 3× Platinum |
| 375 | Dire Straits | Money for Nothing | Vertigo | 29 October 1988 | 3 | 4× Platinum |
| re | Kylie Minogue | Kylie † | PWL | 19 November 1988 | 2 | 7× Platinum |
| 376 | Various artists | Now That's What I Call Music XIII | Virgin/EMI/PolyGram | 3 December 1988 | 3 | 4× Platinum |
| 377 | Cliff Richard | Private Collection: 1979–1988 | EMI | 24 December 1988 | 2 | 4× Platinum |
| 1989 |||||||
| re | Various artists | Now That's What I Call Music XIII | Virgin/EMI/PolyGram | 7 January 1989 | 1 | 4× Platinum |
| re | Erasure | The Innocents | Mute | 14 January 1989 | 1 | 2× Platinum |
| 378 | Roy Orbison | The Legendary Roy Orbison | Telstar | 21 January 1989 | 3 | 2× Platinum |
| 379 | New Order | Technique | Factory | 11 February 1989 | 1 | Gold |
| 380 | Fine Young Cannibals | The Raw & the Cooked | London | 18 February 1989 | 1 | 3× Platinum |
| 381 | Simply Red | A New Flame | WEA | 25 February 1989 | 4 | 7× Platinum |
| 382 | Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine | Anything for You | Epic | 25 March 1989 | 1 | 4× Platinum |
| 383 | Madonna | Like a Prayer | Sire | 1 April 1989 | 2 | 2× Platinum |
| 384 | Deacon Blue | When the World Knows Your Name | CBS | 15 April 1989 | 2 | 2× Platinum |
| re | Simply Red | A New Flame | WEA | 29 April 1989 | 1 | 7× Platinum |
| 385 | Holly Johnson | Blast | MCA | 6 May 1989 | 1 | Platinum |
| 386 | Simple Minds | Street Fighting Years | Virgin | 13 May 1989 | 1 | 2× Platinum |
| 387 | Jason Donovan | Ten Good Reasons † | PWL | 20 May 1989 | 2 | 5× Platinum |
| 388 | Queen | The Miracle | Parlophone | 3 June 1989 | 1 | Platinum |
| re | Jason Donovan | Ten Good Reasons † | PWL | 10 June 1989 | 2 | 5× Platinum |
| 389 | Paul McCartney | Flowers in the Dirt | Parlophone | 24 June 1989 | 1 | Platinum |
| 390 | Prince | Batman | Warner Bros. | 1 July 1989 | 1 | Platinum |
| 391 | Transvision Vamp | Velveteen | MCA | 8 July 1989 | 1 | Platinum |
| 392 | Soul II Soul | Club Classics Vol. I | 10 | 15 July 1989 | 1 | 2× Platinum |
| re | Simply Red | A New Flame | WEA | 22 July 1989 | 2 | 7× Platinum |
| 393 | Gloria Estefan | Cuts Both Ways | Epic | 5 August 1989 | 6 | 2× Platinum |
| 394 | Original stage cast | Aspects of Love | Really Useful/Polydor | 16 September 1989 | 1 | Platinum |
| 395 | Eurythmics | We Too Are One | RCA | 23 September 1989 | 1 | Platinum |
| 396 | Tina Turner | Foreign Affair | Capitol | 30 September 1989 | 1 | 3× Platinum |
| 397 | Tears for Fears | The Seeds of Love | Fontana | 7 October 1989 | 1 | Platinum |
| 398 | Tracy Chapman | Crossroads | Elektra | 14 October 1989 | 1 | Platinum |
| 399 | Kylie Minogue | Enjoy Yourself | PWL | 21 October 1989 | 1 | 4× Platinum |
| 400 | Erasure | Wild! | Mute | 28 October 1989 | 2 | Platinum |
| 401 | Chris Rea | The Road to Hell | WEA | 11 November 1989 | 3 | 2× Platinum |
| 402 | Phil Collins | ...But Seriously | Virgin | 2 December 1989 | 8 | 4× Platinum |

### By artist

Ten artists spent 10 weeks or more at number one on the album chart during the 1980s.
| Artist | Number ones | Weeks at number one |
| Dire Straits | 3 | 21 |
| Michael Jackson | 3 | 16 |
| ABBA | 4 | 14 |
| Phil Collins | 3 | 13 |
| Adam and the Ants | 1 | 12 |
| The Kids from "Fame" | 1 | 12 |
| Bob Marley & The Wailers | 1 | 12 |
| The Police | 4 | 11 |
| Barbra Streisand | 2 | 11 |
| Madonna | 3 | 10 |

### By record label

Six record labels spent 20 weeks or more at number one on the album chart during the 1980s.
| Record label | Number ones | Weeks at number one |
| Virgin Records | 24 | 95 |
| EMI Records | 26 | 91 |
| CBS | 19 | 83 |
| WEA | 8 | 36 |
| PolyGram | 6 | 29 |
| Vertigo Records | 6 | 25 |

## Christmas number ones

In the UK, Christmas number one albums are those that are at the top of the UK Albums Chart on Christmas Day. Typically, this will refer to the album that was announced as number one on the Sunday before 25 December—when Christmas Day falls on a Sunday itself, the official number one is considered by the OCC to be the one announced on that day's chart. During the 1980s, the following albums were Christmas number ones.
| Year | Artist | Album | Record label | Weeks at number one |
| 1980 | ABBA | Super Trouper | Epic | 9 |
| 1981 | ABBA | The Visitors | Epic | 3 |
| 1982 | John Lennon | The John Lennon Collection | Parlophone | 6 |
| 1983 | Various artists | Now That's What I Call Music | Virgin/EMI | 5 |
| 1984 | Various artists | Hits 1 | CBS/WEA | 7 |
| 1985 | Various artists | Now – The Christmas Album | Virgin/EMI | 2 |
| 1986 | Various artists | Now That's What I Call Music 8 | Virgin/EMI/PolyGram | 6 |
| 1987 | Various artists | Now That's What I Call Music 10 | Virgin/EMI/PolyGram | 6 |
| 1988 | Cliff Richard | Private Collection: 1979–1988 | EMI | 2 |
| 1989 | Phil Collins | ...But Seriously | Virgin | 15 |