The 1980 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships (1980 WJHC) was the fourth edition of the Ice Hockey World Junior Championship and was held from December 27, 1979, until January 2, 1980.

The top three teams in the championship won the gold, silver and bronze medals.

Switzerland was relegated to Pool B for the 1981 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

The second tier of the World Junior Championship was contested in Klagenfurt, Austria from March 7 to 13, 1980.

Austria was promoted to Pool A for the 1981 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.