what nobel prizes are there
The main Nobel Prizes are awarded in six fields: Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences (in memory of Alfred Nobel).
Main Nobel Prize categories
- Physics – Awarded for outstanding contributions to the understanding of the laws of nature, such as discoveries about particles, forces, or the structure of the universe.
- Chemistry – Given for breakthroughs in chemical science, including new substances, reactions, or methods that significantly advance knowledge or technology.
- Physiology or Medicine – Honors discoveries in life sciences and medicine that improve understanding of the human body or lead to better treatments and therapies.
- Literature – Awarded to authors, poets, or playwrights whose body of work has shown outstanding literary merit and a strong idealistic or humanistic orientation.
- Peace – Given to individuals or organizations that have made major efforts to promote peace, resolve conflicts, or advance disarmament and human rights.
- Economic Sciences – Formally the Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, created in 1968 by Sweden’s central bank, for significant contributions to economic research.
Original prizes vs later addition
- The original five prizes specified in Alfred Nobel’s will (1895) were Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace.
- The sixth prize , in Economic Sciences, was added later by Sveriges Riksbank in 1968 and is administered together with the others, even though it was not in the original will.
Quick reference table
| Field | Full name | Since | Core focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | Nobel Prize in Physics | [1]1901 | [3]Fundamental laws of nature | [3][1]
| Chemistry | Nobel Prize in Chemistry | [1]1901 | [3]Chemical substances, reactions, and methods | [1][3]
| Medicine | Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine | [1]1901 | [3]Life sciences and medical discoveries | [3][1]
| Literature | Nobel Prize in Literature | [1]1901 | [3]Outstanding literary work | [1][3]
| Peace | Nobel Peace Prize | [1]1901 | [7]Peace, conflict resolution, human rights | [7][1]
| Economic Sciences | Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel | [8][3]1969 | [3]Economic theory and applied economics | [9][3]
In short, when people ask “what Nobel prizes are there,” they are usually referring to these six categories, with economics being the later, honorary addition.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.