The Senior men's race at the 1981 IAAF World Cross Country Championships was held in Madrid, Spain, at the Hipódromo de la Zarzuela on March 28, 1981.

A report on the event was given in the Glasgow Herald.

[1] Complete results,[2] medallists, [3] and the results of British athletes[4] were published.

An unofficial count yields the participation of 238 athletes from 35 countries in the Senior men's race.

This is in agreement with the official numbers as published.