areppim: information, pure and simple

areppim: information, pure and simple


You are here:   areppim >  Culture, Science and Technology >  Major Awards >  Science Nobel Prizes by Nation

Science Nobel Prizes by Nation


areppim column chart and statistics of the total Nobel prizes for chemistry, physics and physiology or medicine by nation, 1901 to 2023.

 

European nations taken together received 320 or 47.7% of the Nobel prize awards for chemistry, physics and physiology or medicine. The United States and Canada grabbed 299 or 44.6%, Asia and the rest of the world won 47 or 7% and 5 or 0.8% of the awards respectively. Small nations such as Switzerland and Sweden sit among the top 10 heavyweights.

The list triggers a puzzling question. Are these nations prosperous because they enjoy a high scientific standing, or do they achieve scientific prowess because they have enough wealth to afford lavish spending in scientific education and research? Indeed Big Science became a capital-intensive activity, requiring huge investments in advanced technology, leading-edge engineering, and in administrative costs to keep numerous researchers busy in their scientific endeavors. It is revealing that the Nobel prize champion, the United States, harbors a significant number of non-US born Nobel prize winners (see list) who left their homeland to pursue their scientific work in a country wealthy enough to offer them the material conditions, laboratories, equipment, research assistants, funding, etc. required to perform high-grade research.

One should not forget a third possibility. There is probably a positive feedback loop between scientific advancement and economic prosperity in a capitalistic system. Science brings about prosperity, which in turn allows for more investment in knowledge, which in turn, etc.

   Take a look at the complete Nobel prize lists

 

Nobel Prize Awards in Science by Nation

1901 - 2023

Nobel Prizes
Chemistry + Physics + Physiology or Medicine
Nation ¹Number of awardsPercent
Argentina30.4%
Australia81.2%
Austria121.8%
Belgium60.9%
Canada142.1%
China50.7%
Czech Republic10.1%
Denmark101.5%
Egypt10.1%
Finland10.1%
France395.8%
Germany7411.0%
Hungary30.4%
India10.1%
Ireland20.3%
Israel60.9%
Italy81.2%
Japan223.3%
Lebanon10.1%
Netherlands142.1%
New Zealand30.4%
Norway30.4%
Pakistan10.1%
Portugal10.1%
Russia152.2%
South Africa10.1%
Spain10.1%
Sweden192.8%
Switzerland203.0%
Turkey10.1%
United Kingdom9013.4%
United States28542.5%
Total671100.0%
¹ Double nationals counted twice, once for each nationality.
  National of former Czechoslovakia appears under Czechia.
  Nationals of former Soviet Union appear under Russia.

 

Sources: Nobel prize