History of Nobel Peace Prize in Timeline
The Nobel Peace Prize, established by Alfred Nobel's will, is awarded annually since 1901 to individuals or organizations making significant contributions to peace. These contributions include promoting fraternity between nations, advocating for disarmament, and organizing peace congresses. The prize is widely regarded as the most prestigious global award.
March 1901: Establishment of the Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize was established in March 1901 as one of the five Nobel Prizes, as per the will of Alfred Nobel. It aimed to recognize individuals or organizations who significantly contributed to international fraternity, disarmament, and peace congresses.
1901: Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony at the Storting
From 1901 to 1904, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony was held at the Storting (Parliament).
1901: Release of Nobel Peace Prize Nominations Data
Nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize from 1901 to 1971 were released in a database.
1901: Design of the Nobel Peace Prize Medal
The Nobel Peace Prize medal was designed in 1901 by Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland, featuring a profile of Alfred Nobel and three men symbolizing fraternity.
1904: Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony at the Storting
From 1901 to 1904, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony was held at the Storting (Parliament).
1905: Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony at the Norwegian Nobel Institute
Between 1905 and 1946, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony took place at the Norwegian Nobel Institute.
1917: International Committee of the Red Cross Wins Nobel Peace Prize
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1917, 1944, and 1963, becoming one of the two recipients to receive the award multiple times.
1937: Mahatma Gandhi Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
Mahatma Gandhi was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1937, 1938, 1939, 1947, and shortly before his death in January 1948, but he never received the award.
1938: Mahatma Gandhi Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
Mahatma Gandhi was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1937, 1938, 1939, 1947, and shortly before his death in January 1948, but he never received the award.
1939: Satirical Nomination of Adolf Hitler
In 1939, Adolf Hitler received a satirical nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize from a Swedish parliament member, mocking the serious but unsuccessful nomination of Neville Chamberlain.
1939: Mahatma Gandhi Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
Mahatma Gandhi was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1937, 1938, 1939, 1947, and shortly before his death in January 1948, but he never received the award.
1944: International Committee of the Red Cross Wins Nobel Peace Prize
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1917, 1944, and 1963, becoming one of the two recipients to receive the award multiple times.
1946: Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony at the Norwegian Nobel Institute
Between 1905 and 1946, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony took place at the Norwegian Nobel Institute.
1947: Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony at the University of Oslo
From 1947 to 1989, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony was held at the Atrium of the University of Oslo Faculty of Law.
1947: Mahatma Gandhi Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
Mahatma Gandhi was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1937, 1938, 1939, 1947, and shortly before his death in January 1948, but he never received the award.
January 1948: Mahatma Gandhi's Absence from Nobel Peace Prize Recipients
Despite nominations in 1937, 1938, 1939, 1947, and days before his assassination in January 1948, Mahatma Gandhi never received the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Committee later acknowledged this as an omission.
1954: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Wins Nobel Peace Prize
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1954 and 1981, making it the second entity to win the award twice.
1963: International Committee of the Red Cross Wins Nobel Peace Prize
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1917, 1944, and 1963, becoming one of the two recipients to receive the award multiple times.
1971: Release of Nobel Peace Prize Nominations Data
Nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize from 1901 to 1971 were released in a database.
1981: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Wins Nobel Peace Prize
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1954 and 1981, making it the second entity to win the award twice.
1989: Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony at the University of Oslo
From 1947 to 1989, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony was held at the Atrium of the University of Oslo Faculty of Law.
1989: Dalai Lama's Nobel Peace Prize as Tribute to Mahatma Gandhi
The Nobel Committee Chairman in 1989 stated that the Peace Prize awarded to the Dalai Lama was partly a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
1990: Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony at Oslo City Hall
Between 1990 and 2019, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony was held at Oslo City Hall.
1994: Rabin's Acceptance Speech
In 1994, upon receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, Yitzhak Rabin spoke on behalf of the Israeli people after the historical handshake with Yasser Arafat.
2006: Nobel Committee Acknowledges Omission of Mahatma Gandhi
In 2006, Geir Lundestad, Secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, publicly acknowledged the omission of Mahatma Gandhi as the biggest in the Nobel Peace Prize's history.
2009: Record Nominations for Nobel Peace Prize
In 2009, the Nobel Peace Prize received a record 205 nominations.
2010: Record Nominations for Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize nomination record was broken again in 2010 with 237 nominations.
2011: Criticism of Nobel Peace Prize Politicization
In 2011, Michael Nobel, the grandson of one of Alfred Nobel's brothers, criticized the perceived politicization of the Nobel Peace Prize, arguing that the committee's decisions didn't always align with Nobel's will.
2011: Criticisms of the Nobel Peace Prize Selection Process
In 2011, a Norwegian newspaper, Aftenposten, published a story highlighting criticisms of the Nobel Peace Prize. The criticisms included the need for more diverse committee members, lack of transparency in the selection process, and the suggestion that Norway might be using the award to further its interests.
2011: Record Nominations for Nobel Peace Prize
The record for Nobel Peace Prize nominations was broken once again in 2011 with 241 nominations.
2019: Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony at Oslo City Hall
Between 1990 and 2019, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony was held at Oslo City Hall.
2020: Nobel Peace Prize Award Amount
Around 2020, the Nobel Peace Prize award amount was approximately 10 million SEK, equivalent to roughly 1 million USD.
2020: Change in Nobel Peace Prize Award Venue
In 2020, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony was moved to the Atrium of the University of Oslo, which also hosted the ceremony between 1947 and 1989.
October 2022: Nobel Peace Prize Statistics
As of October 2022, the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to 110 individuals and 27 organizations. 18 women have won the award, marking the highest number among all Nobel Prizes.
