1981 European Aquatics Championships Medal table Medal table

| Rank_ | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Germany | 15 | 11 | 3 | 29 |
| 2 | Soviet Union | 13 | 11 | 8 | 32 |
| 3 | Great Britain | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| 4 | West Germany | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| 5 | Hungary | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 6 | Sweden | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| 7 | Yugoslavia | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 8 | Netherlands | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 9 | Poland | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 10 | Austria | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 11 | Italy | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 | Spain | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 12 | Czechoslovakia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 12 | France | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 12 | Romania | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 12 | Switzerland | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | Total | 37 | 37 | 37 | 111 |