Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is an international award established by Alfred Nobel’s will and administered by the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
The Nobel Peace Prize is an international award established by Alfred Nobel’s will and administered by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. It is awarded in Oslo to individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to peace, including international fraternity, disarmament, peace negotiations, democracy, and human rights.
History
The Nobel Peace Prize originated in Alfred Nobel’s 1895 will and was first awarded in 1901. It became the only Nobel Prize awarded in Norway rather than Sweden.
Selection process
The Norwegian Nobel Committee is responsible for choosing laureates from eligible nominations. Nomination details are kept secret for 50 years, and self-nominations are not allowed.
Award criteria
Nobel’s will sets the original criteria in broad terms, and the prize has since been interpreted to cover peace work, disarmament, international cooperation, democracy, and human rights.
Notable facts
The prize has been awarded 106 times to 143 laureates through 2025, including 112 individuals and 31 organisations. Some organisations have received the award multiple times, reducing the number of distinct organisations to 28.
Key facts
- The prize is one of the five original Nobel Prizes created by Alfred Nobel’s 1895 will.
- It is awarded in Oslo, unlike the other Nobel Prizes, which are awarded in Stockholm.
- The Norwegian Nobel Committee selects the laureates and keeps nomination records confidential for 50 years.
- The prize has been awarded to both individuals and organisations, including repeated awards to the International Committee of the Red Cross and UNHCR.
- Since World War II, the prize has often recognized arms control, peace negotiation, democracy, human rights, and efforts toward a more peaceful world.
Canadian readers may be interested in Canadian laureates, such as Lester B. Pearson, who won the prize in 1957 for his role in developing UN peacekeeping.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Nobel Peace Prize awarded for?
Who chooses the Nobel Peace Prize laureate?
Where is the Nobel Peace Prize awarded?
When was the first Nobel Peace Prize awarded?
Can people nominate themselves?
How many laureates have received the prize?
References
- Nobel Prize — https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/facts/facts-on-the-nobel-peace-prize-2/Supports: Award location in Oslo; total number of laureates and breakdown by individuals and organisations.
- Norwegian Nobel Institute — https://www.nobelpeaceprize.org/nobel-peace-prize/about-the-nobel-peace-prize/Supports: Stated purpose of the prize; historical framing; areas emphasized since World War II.
- Nobel Prize — https://www.nobelprize.org/nomination/peace/Supports: Norwegian Nobel Committee responsibility; secrecy of nominations for 50 years.
- NPR — https://www.npr.org/2025/10/09/nx-s1-5567786/nobel-peace-prize-explainedSupports: Eligibility rules, nomination process, committee structure, and award components.
- Nobel Prize — https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/lists/all-nobel-peace-prizes/Supports: Award count through 2025; laureate totals; repeated awards to organizations.
- United Nations — https://www.un.org/en/about-us/nobel-peace-prizeSupports: Nobel’s will wording and UN-related context.
- Encyclopedia.com — https://www.encyclopedia.com/science-and-technology/physics/science-general/nobel-prizeSupports: Awarding in Oslo; original Nobel Prize structure; December 10 tradition.