Nobel Prize Fast Facts

CNN Editorial Research
3 minute read
Updated 4:28 PM EDT, Mon October 9, 2023
The late Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel left the bulk of his fortune to create the <a href="http://www.nobelprize.org/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Nobel Prizes</a> to honor work in five areas, including peace. In his 1895 will, he said one part was dedicated to that person "who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses." See the winners of the Nobel Peace Prize since it was first awarded in 1901.
The late Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel left the bulk of his fortune to create the Nobel Prizes to honor work in five areas, including peace. In his 1895 will, he said one part was dedicated to that person "who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses." See the winners of the Nobel Peace Prize since it was first awarded in 1901.
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Congolese gynaecologist Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad, public advocate for the Yazidi community in Iraq and survivor of sexual enslavement by the Islamic State jihadists won the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize on October 5, 2018 for their work in fighting sexual violence in conflicts around the world.
Congolese gynaecologist Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad, public advocate for the Yazidi community in Iraq and survivor of sexual enslavement by the Islamic State jihadists won the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize on October 5, 2018 for their work in fighting sexual violence in conflicts around the world.
FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The 2017 Nobel Peace Prize has been <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/06/world/nobel-peace-prize/index.html" target="_blank">awarded to the International Campaign to Abolition Nuclear Weapons</a> (ICAN), a coalition of non-governmental organizations in 100 countries dedicated to achieving a prohibition of nuclear weapons. Beatrice Fihn, the organization's chief executive, told reporters that the award of the prize to her organization was "hugely important" in the quest to abolish nuclear weapons.
The 2017 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to the International Campaign to Abolition Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), a coalition of non-governmental organizations in 100 countries dedicated to achieving a prohibition of nuclear weapons. Beatrice Fihn, the organization's chief executive, told reporters that the award of the prize to her organization was "hugely important" in the quest to abolish nuclear weapons.
MARTIAL TREZZINI/KEYSTONE/EPA-EFE
The 2016 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos for his efforts to end Colombia's long-running civil war.
The 2016 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos for his efforts to end Colombia's long-running civil war.
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The 2015 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet for its "decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in the country in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011." From left to right: the Secretary General of the Tunisian General Labour Union Houcine Abbassi, the President of the National Order of Tunisian Lawyers Fadhel Mahfoudh, the Tunisian Human Rights League Abdessatar Ben Moussa and the President of the Tunisian employers union Wided Bouchamaoui.
The 2015 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet for its "decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in the country in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011." From left to right: the Secretary General of the Tunisian General Labour Union Houcine Abbassi, the President of the National Order of Tunisian Lawyers Fadhel Mahfoudh, the Tunisian Human Rights League Abdessatar Ben Moussa and the President of the Tunisian employers union Wided Bouchamaoui.
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Malala Yousafzai split the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize with India's Kailash Satyarthi for their struggles against the suppression of children and for young people's rights. Yousafzai came to global attention after she was shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012 for her efforts to promote education for girls in Pakistan.
Malala Yousafzai split the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize with India's Kailash Satyarthi for their struggles against the suppression of children and for young people's rights. Yousafzai came to global attention after she was shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012 for her efforts to promote education for girls in Pakistan.
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Ahmet Uzumcu, director-general of the <a href="http://www.opcw.org/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons</a>, speaks after his chemical watchdog group was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013. The Hague, Netherlands-based organization received the prize for helping to eliminate the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/11/world/europe/norway-nobel-peace-prize-opcw-syria/index.html">Syrian army's stockpiles of poison gas</a> as well as for its longtime efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.
Ahmet Uzumcu, director-general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, speaks after his chemical watchdog group was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013. The Hague, Netherlands-based organization received the prize for helping to eliminate the Syrian army's stockpiles of poison gas as well as for its longtime efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.
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The European Union won the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize.
The European Union won the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize.
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Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee, from left, Tawakkol Karman of Yemen and Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011.
Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee, from left, Tawakkol Karman of Yemen and Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011.
John McConnico/AP
Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010.
Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010.
Kyodo News/AP
U.S. President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.
U.S. President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.
Alex Brandon/AP
Martti Ahtisaari won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008.
Martti Ahtisaari won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008.
Chris Jackson/AP
Former Vice President Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.
Former Vice President Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.
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Muhammed Yunus and Grameen Bank won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.
Muhammed Yunus and Grameen Bank won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.
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Mohamed ElBaradei and the International Atomic Energy Agency won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.
Mohamed ElBaradei and the International Atomic Energy Agency won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.
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Wangari Muta Maathai, founder of the Green Belt Movement, Kenya, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.
Wangari Muta Maathai, founder of the Green Belt Movement, Kenya, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.
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Iranian lawyer and human rights activist Shirin Ebadi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003.
Iranian lawyer and human rights activist Shirin Ebadi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003.
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Former President Jimmy Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
Former President Jimmy Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
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Former United Nations Secretary General Koffi Annan, center, with French Forces commander Gen. Alain Pellegrini, right, review UNIFIL soldiers upon Annan's arrival to the U.N. peacekeeping base in the southern Lebanese town of Naqura, on August 29, 2006. Annan and the United Nations won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.
Former United Nations Secretary General Koffi Annan, center, with French Forces commander Gen. Alain Pellegrini, right, review UNIFIL soldiers upon Annan's arrival to the U.N. peacekeeping base in the southern Lebanese town of Naqura, on August 29, 2006. Annan and the United Nations won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.
Zohra Bensemra/AFP/Getty Images
Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000.
Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000.
Seokyong Lee/Bloomberg News
A flag bearing the logo of Medecins sans Frontieres (also known as Doctors Without Borders) stands in the middle of a makeshift clinic at Kenya's Dadaab refuge on October 16, 2011. Medicins sans Frontieres won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.
A flag bearing the logo of Medecins sans Frontieres (also known as Doctors Without Borders) stands in the middle of a makeshift clinic at Kenya's Dadaab refuge on October 16, 2011. Medicins sans Frontieres won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.
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David Trimble, left, and John Hume hold up their diplomas and medals after receiving their Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway, on December 10, 1998. Trimble and Hume won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998.
David Trimble, left, and John Hume hold up their diplomas and medals after receiving their Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway, on December 10, 1998. Trimble and Hume won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998.
Bjoern Sigurdsoen/NTB/AP
Jody Williams sits in front of donated shoes symbolizing landmine victims during Ban Landmines Week on March 8, 2001, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Williams and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997.
Jody Williams sits in front of donated shoes symbolizing landmine victims during Ban Landmines Week on March 8, 2001, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Williams and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997.
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Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, left, and Jose Ramos-Horta shake hands at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo on December 9,1996, prior to the awarding ceremony. Belo and Ramos-Horta won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996.
Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, left, and Jose Ramos-Horta shake hands at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo on December 9,1996, prior to the awarding ceremony. Belo and Ramos-Horta won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996.
Bjoern Sigurdoen/AP