The Nobel Prizes are five separate prizes that, according to Alfred Nobel's will of 1895, are awarded to "those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind." In 1968, a sixth prize, the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, was established.
Hungarians have won 16 Nobel Prizes since 1905. Following is a complete list of the Nobel laureates of Hungary, as recognised by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
Laureates Hungarians have received Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Economics – in all fields except Peace. Year Image Laureate Field Contribution 1905 Philipp Lenard Physics for his work on cathode rays 1914 Robert Bárány Physiology or Medicine for his work on the physiology and pathology of the vestibular apparatus 1925 Richard Adolf Zsigmondy Chemistry for his demonstration of the heterogeneous nature of colloid solutions and for the methods he used, which have since become fundamental in modern colloid chemistry 1937 Albert Szent-Györgyi Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries in connection with the biological combustion processes, with special reference to Vitamin C and the catalysis of fumaric acid 1943 George de Hevesy Chemistry for his work on the use of isotopes as tracers in the study of chemical processes 1961 Georg von Békésy Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries of the physical mechanism of stimulation within the cochlea 1963 Eugene Wigner Physics for his contributions to the theory of the atomic nucleus and the elementary particles, particularly through the discovery and application of fundamental symmetry principles 1971 Dennis Gabor Physics for his invention and development of the holographic method 1986 John Polanyi Chemistry for his contributions concerning the dynamics of chemical elementary processes 1994 George Andrew Olah Chemistry for his contribution to carbocation chemistry 1994 John Harsanyi Economics for pioneering analysis of equilibria in the theory of non-cooperative games 2002 Imre Kertész Literature for writing that upholds the fragile experience of the individual against the barbaric arbitrariness of history 2004 Avram Hershko(Hungarian spelling: Herskó) Chemistry 2023 Katalin Karikó Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 2023 Ferenc Krausz Physics for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter 2025 László Krasznahorkai Literature for his compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art
Also sometimes included
1976, Physiology or Medicine: Daniel Carleton Gajdusek, who was born in the United States to parents from the Kingdom of Hungary; his mother was Hungarian and his father Slovak. 1976, Economics: Milton Friedman, who was born in the United States to Hungarian parents from Beregszász, Bereg County, Kingdom of Hungary 1986, Peace: Elie Wiesel, who was born to Hungarian parents in 1928 in Sighet, Transylvania (until 1920 part of Hungary)
Unsuccessful nominees Year(s) Image Nominee Field Nominated by 1911, 1914, 1917 Loránd Eötvös Physics , Radó von Kövesligethy, , Philipp Lenard 1901 Physiology or Medicine , 1901 Physiology or Medicine Frigyes Korányi, 1901 Josef von Fodor Physiology or Medicine , 1901, 1931, 1937 Sándor Korányi Physiology or Medicine , , Louis Nékám, , , , , , , , Philipp Schwartz, 1904 István Apáthy Physiology or Medicine Willem Rommelaere 1928, 1940 Physiology or Medicine , István Rusznyák 1943 Ladislas J. Meduna Physiology or Medicine Jakob Klaesi 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953 Hans Selye Physiology or Medicine ... 1950 Physiology or Medicine , , 1901, 1902 Ferenc Kemény Literature , 1925, 1926, 1927 Ferenc Herczeg Literature Members of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences 1935 Dezső Szabó Literature Björn Collinder 1936, 1937 Cécile Tormay Literature , , , , Fredrik Böök 1965, 1966 Gyula Illyés Literature 1965-1970 George PopjákChemistry 1967 György Lukács Literature Erik Lindegren 1969, 1970 Literature Watson Kirkconnell 1970, 1971 Sándor Weöres Literature 1911, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1932 Albert Apponyi Peace 19 Professors of Law, Members of the Faculty of Law at the University of Pécs, Members of the Faculty of History and Philosophy at the University of Szeged, Members of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Pécs, Members of the Faculty of Law at the University of Debrecen (), The Hungarian Inter-Parliamentary Group (Albert Berzeviczy), The professors at the Faculty of Law at the Elisabeth University of Pécs, 3 professors at the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Pécs, Professors at the Faculty of History and Philosophy at the University of Szeged
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