About the Nobel Prize

The Nobel Prize is the world's most prestigious international award, established in 1901 based on the will of Swedish inventor and chemist Alfred Nobel. Each year, prizes are awarded to individuals and organizations who have made the greatest contributions to humanity in six fields: Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences.

History of the Nobel Prize

The Life of Alfred Nobel

Alfred Nobel (October 21, 1833 -- December 10, 1896) was a chemist, inventor, and industrialist born in Stockholm, Sweden. He amassed an enormous fortune through his invention of dynamite and other explosives, earning him the title "the Dynamite King."

Throughout his life, Nobel held 355 patents and owned more than 90 armaments and ammunition factories worldwide. Despite his involvement in the weapons industry, he maintained a deep interest in literature and philosophy, writing poetry and fiction in his spare time. He was a cultured polyglot who spoke five languages fluently.

The Will and Establishment of the Nobel Prize

On November 27, 1895, at the Swedish-Norwegian Club in Paris, Nobel signed his historic last will and testament. In this document, he directed that 94% of his total assets -- 31 million Swedish kronor (equivalent to approximately 265 million US dollars today) -- be used to establish a fund whose annual interest would be distributed as prizes to those who had conferred "the greatest benefit on mankind."

Nobel's will astonished everyone, as he had not discussed his plans with anyone during his lifetime. The executors of his will, Ragnar Sohlman and Rudolf Lilljequist, worked tirelessly to realize Nobel's vision, establishing the Nobel Foundation in 1900.

The First Nobel Prizes

The first Nobel Prize ceremony was held on December 10, 1901, the fifth anniversary of Nobel's death. The Physics Prize was awarded to Wilhelm Rontgen (discovery of X-rays), the Chemistry Prize to Jacobus Henricus van't Hoff (discovery of the laws of chemical thermodynamics), the Physiology or Medicine Prize to Emil von Behring (development of diphtheria antitoxin serum therapy), the Literature Prize to Sully Prudhomme (French poet), and the Peace Prize jointly to Henry Dunant (founder of the Red Cross) and Frederic Passy.

The Six Prize Categories

Physics

Awarded to the person who has made the most important discovery or invention in the field of physics. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences is responsible for the selection. Since the first award to Wilhelm Rontgen in 1901 for the discovery of X-rays, groundbreaking achievements across a wide range of physics disciplines have been recognized, including relativity, quantum mechanics, particle physics, and astrophysics.

Chemistry

Awarded to the person who has made the most important chemical discovery or improvement. Like the Physics Prize, it is selected by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The award covers a broad range of fields including biochemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and physical chemistry. In recent years, achievements such as the development of lithium-ion batteries and genome editing technologies have been recognized.

Physiology or Medicine

Awarded to the person who has made the most important discovery in the field of physiology or medicine. The Nobel Committee at the Karolinska Institute is responsible for the selection. Achievements spanning from basic research to clinical applications in infectious diseases, genetics, immunology, and neuroscience have been recognized.

Literature

Awarded to the person who has produced the most outstanding work in an idealistic direction in the field of literature. The Swedish Academy makes the selection. Writers of all literary genres, including novels, poetry, drama, and essays, are eligible. Notable laureates include Ernest Hemingway, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Toni Morrison, and Kazuo Ishiguro.

Peace

Awarded to the person or organization that has done the most to promote fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and the holding and promotion of peace congresses. The Norwegian Nobel Committee is responsible for the selection. In accordance with Nobel's will, the Peace Prize is the only prize awarded in Norway rather than Sweden. Both individuals and organizations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and United Nations agencies, have received this prize.

Economic Sciences

Officially known as the "Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel," this prize was not included in Nobel's original will. It was established in 1968 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Sweden's central bank and has been awarded since 1969. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences makes the selection. The prize covers diverse fields of economics, including game theory, behavioral economics, and development economics.

The Selection Process

The Nobel Prize selection process is rigorous and confidential, taking approximately one year to complete.

1. Nominations (September -- January)

Each September, the prize-awarding institutions send confidential nomination forms to approximately 3,000 qualified individuals worldwide. Those eligible to nominate include previous Nobel Laureates, university professors in relevant fields, members of national academies of science, and members of the Nobel Committees. The deadline for submitting nominations is January 31 of the following year. Self-nominations are not permitted.

2. Preliminary Review (February -- May)

Each Nobel Committee examines the submitted nominations and compiles a list of candidates. With the assistance of independent experts, detailed investigation reports are prepared on each candidate's achievements. Typically, the initial pool of 250 to 350 nominations is narrowed down to approximately 15 to 20 candidates.

3. Final Review and Decision (June -- October)

The Nobel Committees deliberate based on the investigation reports and recommend final candidates to the prize-awarding institutions. The Physics and Chemistry Prizes are decided by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Physiology or Medicine Prize by the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute, the Literature Prize by the Swedish Academy, the Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, and the Economics Prize by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Decisions are made by majority vote and cannot be appealed.

4. Announcement (October)

Laureates are announced sequentially each October, typically in the following order: Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences. The names of nominees are kept secret for 50 years, and nomination records are not made public until that period has elapsed.

The Award Ceremony

The Stockholm Ceremony

The award ceremonies for Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Economic Sciences are held annually on December 10 (the anniversary of Nobel's death) at the Stockholm Concert Hall in Sweden. The King of Sweden presides over the ceremony, personally presenting each laureate with a medal, a diploma, and a document confirming the prize amount.

Following the ceremony, the Nobel Banquet is held in the Blue Hall of Stockholm City Hall. Approximately 1,300 guests attend, including members of the Swedish Royal Family and other dignitaries. The banquet is followed by a ball in the Golden Hall, providing a grand finale to the day's celebrations.

The Oslo Peace Prize Ceremony

The Peace Prize ceremony is held on the same day at Oslo City Hall in Norway. This tradition stems from Nobel's will and is linked to the fact that Norway and Sweden were united under the same monarchy at the time. The King of Norway is present, and the Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee presents the laureate with the medal and diploma.

Nobel Week

The week preceding the ceremony is known as "Nobel Week," during which laureates deliver their Nobel Lectures, participate in seminars, and attend public events. During this period, laureates stay in Stockholm or Oslo and take part in various official functions.

The Medal and Diploma

The Nobel Medal

Nobel Prize medals have been presented to laureates since 1902 (the medals were not ready in time for the first ceremony in 1901 and were therefore presented the following year). The obverse of each medal features a portrait of Alfred Nobel in profile along with his birth and death years.

Before 1980, the medals were struck in 23-karat gold. Today, they are made of 18-karat gold plated with 24-karat gold. Each medal weighs approximately 185 grams and has a diameter of about 66 millimeters.

The reverse of each medal varies by prize category. The Physics and Chemistry medals share a common design depicting the Genius of Science lifting the veil from the face of Nature. The Physiology or Medicine medal shows the Genius of Medicine holding an open book and collecting water from a rock to quench a sick girl's thirst.

The Diploma

Each Nobel diploma is a unique work of art. Individually designed by prominent Swedish and Norwegian artists and calligraphers, each diploma features imagery appropriate to the laureate's achievements.

The Prize Money

As of 2025, the monetary award for each Nobel Prize is 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately 1.2 million US dollars). When multiple laureates share a prize in the same category, the prize money is divided among them. The prize funds come from the investment returns on the capital managed by the Nobel Foundation.

Notable Facts and Figures

Youngest laureate: Malala Yousafzai (2014 Peace Prize, age 17 at the time). In the natural sciences, Lawrence Bragg (1915 Physics Prize, age 25) holds the record.
Oldest laureate: John B. Goodenough (2019 Chemistry Prize, age 97). He was recognized for his contributions to the development of lithium-ion batteries.
Multiple laureates: Marie Curie received the Physics Prize (1903) and the Chemistry Prize (1911), making her the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields. Other individuals who have won twice include Linus Pauling (Chemistry and Peace), John Bardeen (Physics twice), and Frederick Sanger (Chemistry twice).
Declined the prize: Jean-Paul Sartre (1964 Literature Prize) declined, stating that "no man deserves to be consecrated during his lifetime." Le Duc Tho (1973 Peace Prize) declined because peace had not yet been achieved in Vietnam.
Female laureates: From 1901 to 2025, approximately 65 women have received Nobel Prizes. Marie Curie (1903 Physics Prize) was the first female laureate and also the first person to win two Nobel Prizes.
Years when prizes were not awarded: On several occasions, including during World War I and World War II, certain prizes were not awarded. The statutes of the Nobel Foundation permit withholding a prize if no worthy candidate is identified.