Number of Nobel Prize Winners by Country

Total Number of Winners

923

Total of Countries that wont the Nobel Prize

79

Nobel Prize Overview

The Nobel Prize is a set of six international prizes awarded in various categories of institutions and standards, to recognize people or institutions that carry out research, discoveries or outstanding contributions to a population in the previous year or in the course of their activities.

The Swedish scientist Alfred Nobel's last wish established the prizes in 1895. The prizes in Chemistry, Literature, Peace, Physics and Physiology or Medicine were awarded for the first time in 1901. In 1968, the Sveriges Riksbank established the Prize for Economic Sciences in Memory Alfred Nobel, who, while not a Nobel Prize, has been commonly known as the Nobel Prize in Economics. The Nobel Prize is widely regarded as the largest prize available in the areas of literature, medicine, physics, chemistry, economics and peace activism.

The Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences awards the Nobel Prize in Physics, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and the Alfred Nobel Memory Science Award; a Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute awards the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine; the Swedish Academy awards the Nobel Prize for Literature; and the Nobel Peace Prize is not awarded by a Swedish organization, but by the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

Between 1901 and 2017, Nobel prizes, including Economic prizes, were awarded 585 times to 923 people and organizations. With some receiving the Nobel Prize more than once, this makes a total of 24 organizations and 892 individuals. The award ceremonies take place in Stockholm, Sweden (with the exception of the peace prize, which takes place in Oslo, Norway). Each recipient or laureate receives a gold medal, a diploma and a sum of money that is decided by the Nobel Foundation. Medals made before 1980 were made in 23-karat gold and then in 18-karat green gold with 24-karat gold plating.

The prize is not awarded posthumously; however, if a person receives an award and dies before receiving it, the award can still be presented. Although the average number of prize laureates has increased substantially during the 20th century, a prize cannot be divided between more than three people, although the Nobel Peace Prize may be awarded to activities of more than three people.