| men's national records 5000m as at 31.12.1980 | |||||||
| Kenya | Henry Rono | 13:08,4h (1.) | Berkeley (USA) | 08.04.78 | Triangular Meet | Africa | |
| Tanzania | Suleiman Nyambui Muyaja | 13:12,29 (1.) | Stockholm | 18.06.79 | International | Africa | |
| New Zealand | Dick Quax (1) | 13:12,86 (1.) | Stockholm | 05.07.77 | Dagens Nyheter Galan | Ozeania | |
| Belgium | Emiel Adrien "Miel" Puttemans | 13:13,0h (1.) | Bruxelles | 20.09.72 | International | Europe | |
| Swizerland | Markus Ryffel | 13:13,32 (2.) | Stockholm | 18.06.79 | International | Europe | |
| FR Germany | Klaus-Peter Hildenbrand | 13:13,69 (2.) | Stockholm | 05.07.76 | Dagens Nyheter Galan | Europe | |
| Ethiopia | Miruts Yifter | 13:13,82 (1.) | Düsseldorf | 04.09.77 | World Cup | Africa | |
| Great Britain | Brendan Foster | 13:14,6h (2.) | Christchurch | 29.01.74 | Commonwealth Games | Europe | |
| United States of America | Martin "Marty" Liquori | 13:15,06 (2.) | Düsseldorf | 04.09.77 | World Cup | America | |
| Romania | Ilie Floroiu | 13:15,0h (1.) | Bucureşti | 23.07.78 | National Championships | Europe | |
| Soviet Union | Valeriy Abramov | 13:15,6h (1.) | Sochi | 08.06.79 | Pravda | Asia | |
| Finland | Lasse Virén | 13:16,3h (1.) | Helsinki | 14.09.72 | International | Europe | |
| Australia | Ronald "Ron" Clarke | 13:16,6h (1.) | Stockholm | 05.07.66 | International | Ozeania | |
| Estonia | Enn Sellik | 13:17,20 (1.) | Podolsk | 28.06.76 | for USSR | ||
| Sweden | Anders Gärderud | 13:17,59 (4.) | Stockholm | 05.07.76 | International / July Games | Europe | |
| Belarus | Aleksandr Fyedotkin | 13:17,66 (1.) | Budapest | 10.07.79 | for USSR | ||
| Poland | Bronislaw Malinowski | 13:17,69 (5.) | Stockholm | 05.07.76 | International / July Games | Europe | |
| Portugal | Fernando Pacheco Mamede | 13:17,76 (3.) | Stockholm | 04.07.78 | Dagens Nyheter Galan | Europe | |
| Lithuania | Aleksandras Antipovas | 13:17,9h (2.) | Sochi | 09.06.79 | for USSR | ||
| German DR | Manfred Kuschmann | 13:19,51 (4.) | Stockholm | 05.07.77 | Dagens Nyheter Galan | Europe | |
| France | Francis Gonzalès | 13:20,34 (3.) | Stockholm | 18.06.79 | International | ||
| Norway | Knut Kvalheim | 13:20,54 (1.) | Helsinki | 26.06.74 | Top Games | Europe | |
| South Africa | Sydney Maree | 13:20,63 (1.) | Champaign (USA) | 03.06.79 | Africa | ||
| Italy | Venanzio Ortis | 13:20,82 (3.) | Zürich | 16.08.78 | Weltklasse Zürich | Europe | |
| Ireland | Eamonn Coghlan | 13:20,99 (1.) | Dublin | 27.08.80 | Europe | ||
| Netherlands | Gerard Tebroke | 13:21,68 (4.) | Zürich | 16.08.78 | Weltklasse Zürich | Europe | |
| Austria | Dietmar Millonig | 13:23,25 (6.) | Moskva | 01.08.80 | Olympic Games | Europe | |
| Spain | Fernando Cerrada | 13:24,01 (3.) | Den Haag | 25.06.77 | Sparta-Games | Europe | |
| Czechoslovakia | Jiří Sýkora | 13:24,99 (9.) | Moskva | 01.08.80 | Olympic Games | Europe | |
| Japan | Toshiaki Kamata | 13:25,41 (5.) | Stockholm | 05.07.77 | Dagens Nyheter Galan | Asia | |
| Tunisia | Mohamed Gammoudi | 13:27,33 (2.) | München | 10.09.72 | Olympic Games | Africa | |
| Mexico | Rodolfo Gómez | 13:27,52 (1.) | Lüdenscheid (FRG) | 30.08.77 | America | ||
| Hungary | Lájos Mecser | 13:29,2h (1.) | Stockholm | 03.07.68 | International / DN Galan | Europe | |
| Colombia | Domingo Tibaduiza | 13:29,67 (7.) | Zürich | 16.08.78 | Weltklasse Zürich | America | |
| Columbia | Domingo Tibaduiza | 13:29,67 (7.) | Zürich | 16.08.78 | Weltklasse Zürich | Europe | |
| Botswana | Matthews Mothswarateu | 13:29,6h (1.) | Stellenbosch | 14.04.78 | Africa | ||
| Serbia | Danijel Korica | 13:31,2h (?.) | Helsinki | 30.06.71 | for Yugoslavia | Europe | |
| Slovenia | Peter Svet | 13:32,8h (?.) | Berlin | 12.06.74 | for Yugoslavia | Europe | |
| Kyrgyzstan | Vadim Mochalov | 13:34,2h (?.) | Sochi | 13.05.76 | for USSR | Asia | |
| Canada | Grant McLaren | 13:34,4h (2.) | Warszawa | 30.06.74 | POL v. CAN | America | |
| Greece | Mihail Kousis | 13:35,4h (5.) | Oslo | 03.08.78 | Europe | ||
| Algeria | Eachid Habchaoui | 13:35,8h (2.) | Moskva | 27.07.79 | Spartakiade (B) | Africa | |
| Chile | Edmundo Warnke | 13:36,76 (10.) | Köln | 21.05.76 | International | America | |
| Morocco | Jaddour Haddou | 13:36,8h (1.) | Bourges (FRA) | 24.06.72 | Africa | ||
| Brazil | José Joao Da Silva | 13:37,4h (2.) | Buenos Aires | 11.10.80 | America | ||
| Denmark | Gert Karlin | 13:39,4 (14.) | Köln | 21.05.76 | International | Europe | |
| Israel | Yuval Wishnitzer | 13:39,8h (5.) | Göteborg | 13.08.74 | Asia | ||
| Uzbekistan | Ashur Normuradov | 13:41,0h (4.) | Podolsk | 19.08.75 | for USSR | Asia | |
| Cuba | Luis Medina | 13:44,8h (2.) | Praha | 21.06.77 | America | ||
| Zimbabwe | Kenias Tembo | 13:46,0h (2.) | Cape Town | 29.03.76 | Africa | ||
| Armenia | Artashes Mikoyan | 13:53,0h (?.) | München | 30.05.76 | for USSR | Asia | |
| Bulgaria | Georgi Tikhov | 13.37,6h (3.) | Colombes (FRA) | 26.06.71 | Europe | ||
| India | Edward Sequeira | 14:00,4h (?.) | Bonn | 11.09.71 | ae78 | Asia | |
| Costa Rica | Julio Marin | 14:01,8h (?.) | Compton | 05.06.64 | America | ||
| Egypt | Abdel Hamid Khamis | 14:03,0h (?.) | Turku | 21.08.71 | Africa | ||
| Iran | Mohamed Vodjdanzadeh | 14:04,2a (?.) | Seoul | 13.06.75 | Asia | ||
| Uganda | Musa Mustapha | 14:06,4h () | Kampala | 08.07.72 | Africa | ||
| Venezuela | Lucirio Garrido | 14:06,6e () | Sto Domingo | 07.03.74 | America | ||
| Pakistan | Muhammad Younis | 14:08,4h (?.) | Troisdorf (GER) | 22.07.77 | Asia | ||
| Ghana | Robert Hackman | 14:09,0h (?.) | Philadelphia | 14.06.74 | Africa | ||
| Sri Lanka | Lucien Sellapuliage B. Rosa | 14:10,2h (?.) | Colombo (LKA) | 05.09.70 | Asia | ||
| China | Hsieh Pao-ching | 14:11,0h () | 03.09.75 | ae78 | America | ||
| Gibraltar | John Charvetto | 14:18,4h (?.) | Praha | 31.08.78 | Europe | ||
| Myanmar | Maung Robert | 14:27,2h (?.) | Singapore | 05.09.76 | Asia | ||
| Nigeria | George Umoru | 14:31,8h () | Lagos | 29.08.77 | ae78 | Africa | |
| Senegal | Antoine Mbengué | 14:32,0h (?.) | Blois | 30.06.78 | Africa | ||
| Zambia | Ngwila Musonda | 14:37,3e (n.) | München | 07.09.72 | Olympic Games/h4 – ae75 | (13.) | Africa |
| Monaco | Emile Battaglia | 14:39,0h (?.) | Monaco | 11.08.46 | Europe | ||
| Swaziland | Richard Mabuza | 14:39,2h (?.) | Zürich | 03.07.70 | Africa | ||
| Mali | Kamek Ag Tahiss | 14:40,4h (?.) | Bamako | 20.04.68 | America | ||
| Papua & New Guinea | John Kokinai | 14:43,4h (?.) | Rabaul (PNG) | 10.09.72 | Ozeania | ||
| Madagascar | Jules Randriandrarivelo | 14:46,2h () | Antananarivo | 15.08.76 | ae78 | Africa | |
| Netherlands Antilles | Ronald Mercelina | 14:49,6h (?.) | Panama City | 03.03.70 | America | ||
| Malawi | George Waluza | 14:51,8h () | Edinburgh | 23.07.70 | ae78 | Africa | |
| Burundi | Naabimana | 14:52,6h () | Libreville | 06.07.76 | Africa | ||
| Trinidad and Tobago | Rudy Maraj | 14:56,0h (?.) | Pte-à-Pierre | 10.04.76 | America | ||
| Guyana | George de Peana | 14:57,0h (?.) | Chicago | 30.08.59 | America | ||
| Libya | Abdallah Khamis | 14:59,4h () | Algiers | 17.06.77 | ae78 | Asia | |
| Togo | Folly Kangni | 15:03,2h (?.) | Lomé | 04.04.77 | Africa | ||
| Congo | Michel Mouka | 15:06,0h () | Pointe-Noire | 06.07.65 | ae78 | Africa | |
| Liechtenstein | Hugo Walser | 15:07,8h (?.) | Aarau (SUI) | 27.05.65 | Europe | ||
| Niger | Abdou Oumarou | 15:20,8h () | Brazzaville | 24.07.65 | ae78 | Africa | |
| Suriname | Sheik Hassan | 15:27,0h (?.) | Paramaribo | 07.12.68 | America | ||
| Kuwait | Khaled Kazem Hamood | 15:28,6h () | Kuwait | 10.02.77 | ae78 | Asia | |
| Brunei | B.J.R. Keneenthep | 15:28,9h (?.) | Bandar Seri Begawan (BRN) | 15.07.73 | Asia | ||
| Vietnam | Bui Luong | 15:34,8h (?.) | Hanoi | ??.??.68 | Asia | ||
| Solomon Islands | Matthew Hovaisuta | 15:39,7a (?.) | Suva | 30.08.79 | Ozeania | ||
| Cayman Islands | Nicholas Akers | 15:45,44 (n.) | Edmonton | 08.08.78 | Commonwealth Games/h1 | (11.) | America |
| Guinea | Soriba Camara | 15:51,0h () | Fria (GIN) | 26.03.64 | ae78 | Africa | |
| Saudi Arabia | Abdallah Almabrouk | 15:51,0e (n.) | München | 07.09.72 | Olympic Games/h3 | (13.) | Asia |
| Mauretania | Omer | 16:04,0h (?.) | ??.??.69 | Africa | |||
| Gambia | Ousman Jallow | 16:13,0h () | Bathurst | 16.03.69 | ae78 | Africa | |
| Guinea-Bissau | Said Umaru | 16:15,7a (?.) | Moscow | 25.07.79 | Africa | ||
| Western Samoa | Filipo Tai | 16:17,0a (?.) | Suva | 04.09.79 | Ozeania | ||
| Laos | W. Bounpheng Bounirisavone | 16:38,4h (?.) | singapore | 03.09.73 | Asia | ||
| Comoros | Soule Kari | 16:50,0a (?.) | St. Denis | 29.08.79 | Africa | ||
| British Virgin Islands | Liston Farrington | 16:56,8h (?.) | Road Town | 10.07.77 | America | ||
| Tonga | Peau‘afi Haukinima | 17:07,6h (?.) | Pirae | 13.09.71 | Ozeania | ||
| Kiribati | Tara Mango | 17:29,6h (?.) | Suva | 02.09.63 | Ozeania | ||
| Nauru | Karl Teabuge | 18:29,8h (?.) | Port Moresby (PNG) | 18.08.69 | Ozeania | ||
| Bhutan | Dhoman Tgenzin | 19:11,4h (?.) | Kathmandu | 20.09.84 | Asia | ||
| Sudan | Africa | ||||||
| Rwanda | Africa | ||||||
| Somalia | Africa | ||||||
| Djibouti | Africa | ||||||
| Lesotho | Africa | ||||||
| Angola | Africa | ||||||
| Sierra Leono | Africa | ||||||
| Namibia | Africa | ||||||
| Mozambique | Africa | ||||||
| Cameroon | Africa | ||||||
| Central African Republic | Africa | ||||||
| Gabon | Africa | ||||||
| Seychelles | Africa | ||||||
| Equatorial Guinea | Africa | ||||||
| Burkina Faso | Africa | ||||||
| Liberia | Africa | ||||||
| Argentina | America | ||||||
| Jamaica | America | ||||||
| Puerto Rico | America | ||||||
| Ecuador | America | ||||||
| Peru | America | ||||||
| Uruguay | America | ||||||
| Bolivia | America | ||||||
| Aruba | America | ||||||
| Panama | America | ||||||
| Bermuda | America | ||||||
| Antigua and Barbuda | America | ||||||
| Bahamas | America | ||||||
| Mauritius | America | ||||||
| Dominica | America | ||||||
| US Virgin Islands | America | ||||||
| Barbados | America | ||||||
| Honduras | America | ||||||
| Belize | America | ||||||
| El Salvador | America | ||||||
| Haiti | America | ||||||
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | America | ||||||
| Guam | America | ||||||
| Paraguay | America | ||||||
| Guatemala | America | ||||||
| Saint Lucia | indipendent since 22.02.79 | America | |||||
| Anguilla | America | ||||||
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | America | ||||||
| American Samoa | America | ||||||
| Turkey | Asia | ||||||
| Moldova | Asia | ||||||
| PR Korea (North Korea) | Asia | ||||||
| Philippines | Asia | ||||||
| Iraq | Asia | ||||||
| Palestine | Asia | ||||||
| Jordan | Asia | ||||||
| Nepal | Asia | ||||||
| Qatar | Asia | ||||||
| Indonesia | Asia | ||||||
| South Korea | Asia | ||||||
| Yemen | Asia | ||||||
| Oman | Asia | ||||||
| Cambodia | Asia | ||||||
| Bangladesh | Asia | ||||||
| Thailand | Asia | ||||||
| Macau | Asia | ||||||
| UAE | Asia | ||||||
| Hong Kong | Asia | ||||||
| Maldives | Asia | ||||||
| Northern Mariana Islands | Asia | ||||||
| Malaysia | Munusamy Ramachandran? | Asia | |||||
| Afghanistan | Asia | ||||||
| Cyprus | Europe | ||||||
| Luxembourg | Europe | ||||||
| Croatia | Europe | ||||||
| North Macedonia | Europe | ||||||
| Albania | Europe | ||||||
| Kosovo | Europe | ||||||
| San Marino | Europe | ||||||
| Greenland | Europe | ||||||
| Andorra | Europe | ||||||
| Faroe Islands | Europe | ||||||
| French Polynesia | Ozeania | ||||||
| Vanuatu | Ozeania | ||||||
| Fiji | Ozeania | ||||||
| Wallis and Futuna | Ozeania | ||||||
| Cook Islands | Ozeania | ||||||
| Marshall Islands | Ozeania | ||||||
| Dominican Republic | America | ||||||
| Chad | Africa | ||||||
| Hongkong | Asia | ||||||
| Cape Verde | Africa | ||||||
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | Africa | ||||||
| Greenland | Europe | ||||||
| (1) full name: Theodorus Jacobus Leonardus Quax | |||||||