Nobel Prize Laureates Trivia
Nobel Prize Laureates trivia explores the scientists, writers, peace advocates, and public figures honored since the prizes were first awarded in 1901. From landmark discoveries and literary achievements to surprising firsts and memorable anecdotes, it offers a factual, approachable way to test what you know about Nobel history.
Easy Nobel Prize Laureates Trivia
13 questions
These easy Nobel Prize Laureates trivia questions are great for beginners and kids around age 12 and under.
Question 1
Who won the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics?
Answer: Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein won the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Question 2
Which famous scientist received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903?
- A.Albert Einstein
- B.Alexander Fleming
- C.Rabindranath Tagore
- D.Marie Curie
Answer: Marie Curie
Marie Curie won the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Question 3
Martin Luther King Jr. received which Nobel honor in 1964?
- A.Nobel Peace Prize
- B.The Nobel Prize in Literature
- C.The Nobel Prize in Physics
- D.The Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Answer: The Nobel Peace Prize
Martin Luther King Jr. received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
Question 4
Which singer-songwriter received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016?
Answer: Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016.
Question 5
Who shared the 1945 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine?
Answer: Alexander Fleming
Alexander Fleming shared the 1945 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Question 6
Which Egyptian novelist won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1988?
- A.Rabindranath Tagore
- B.Bob Dylan
- C.Bertrand Russell
- D.Naguib Mahfouz
Answer: Naguib Mahfouz
Naguib Mahfouz won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1988.
Question 7
Who became the Nobel Prize in Literature winner in 1913?
Answer: Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.
Question 8
Which economist won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1998?
Answer: Amartya Sen
Amartya Sen won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1998.
Question 9
Which British statesman won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953?
- A.Winston Churchill
- B.Bertrand Russell
- C.Bob Dylan
- D.Martin Luther King Jr.
Answer: Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953.
Question 10
Who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1950?
Answer: Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Russell won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1950.
Question 11
Which scientist won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1954?
Answer: Linus Pauling
Linus Pauling won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1954.
Question 12
Who founded the Nobel Prizes?
Answer: Alfred Nobel
Alfred Nobel founded the Nobel Prizes.
Question 13
In what year were the first Nobel Prizes awarded?
- A.1903
- B.1913
- C.1901
- D.1895
Answer: 1901
The first Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901.
Nobel Prize Laureates Family Trivia
12 questions
These family Nobel Prize Laureates trivia questions are built for mixed-age game nights, classrooms, and groups.
Question 1
Who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014?
Answer: Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.
Question 2
Which U.S. president won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906?
- A.Theodore Roosevelt
- B.Nelson Mandela
- C.George Bernard Shaw
- D.Ernest Hemingway
Answer: Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906.
Question 3
In 1993, which leader shared the Nobel Peace Prize?
Answer: Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
Question 4
Who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979?
- A.Doris Lessing
- B.Malala Yousafzai
- C.Mother Teresa
Answer: Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.
Question 5
Which writer won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954?
Answer: Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954.
Question 6
Which author received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925?
Answer: George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925.
Question 7
True or false: Samuel Beckett won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1969.?
Answer: True
Samuel Beckett won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1969.
Question 8
Which author won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993?
- A.Gabriel García Márquez
- B.Toni Morrison
- C.Kazuo Ishiguro
Answer: Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993.
Question 9
Who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2007?
Answer: Doris Lessing
Doris Lessing won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2007.
Question 10
How many times has the International Committee of the Red Cross won the Nobel Peace Prize?
- A.Two times
- B.Four times
- C.3
- D.One time
Answer: Three times
The International Committee of the Red Cross has won the Nobel Peace Prize three times.
Question 11
Which international organization won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001?
Answer: The United Nations
The United Nations won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.
Question 12
Which organization won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020?
Answer: The World Food Programme
The World Food Programme won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.
Fun Nobel Prize Laureates Trivia
13 questions
These fun Nobel Prize Laureates trivia questions highlight surprising moments and playful facts for game-night groups.
Question 1
Which Nobel laureate also gave the world the play "Pygmalion"?
Answer: George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw, a Nobel laureate, also wrote the play "Pygmalion.".
Question 2
If a trivia host says, "Fair warning: this laureate wrote 'Waiting for Godot,' so the answer may take a while," who are they talking about?
Answer: Samuel Beckett
Samuel Beckett also wrote the play "Waiting for Godot.".
Question 3
Who wrote "A History of Western Philosophy"—making one Nobel laureate responsible for many very long reading lists?
Answer: Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Russell wrote "A History of Western Philosophy.".
Question 4
Which Nobel laureate wrote the book "Development as Freedom"?
Answer: Amartya Sen
Amartya Sen wrote the book "Development is Freedom.".
Question 5
Which Nobel laureate penned the poetry collection "Gitanjali"?
Answer: Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore wrote the poetry collection "Gitanjali.".
Question 6
At just 44, which writer snagged the Nobel Prize in Literature?
Answer: Albert Camus
Albert Camus won the Nobel Prize in Literature at age 44.
Question 7
Which Nobel Peace Prize laureate won in 1991?
Answer: Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.
Question 8
Back in 1983, who took home the Nobel Peace Prize?
Answer: Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983.
Question 9
Which laureate shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018?
Answer: Nadia Murad
Nadia Murad shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018.
Question 10
Which poet won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995?
Answer: Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995.
Question 11
Which literary laureate claimed the 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature?
Answer: Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1971.
Question 12
Which Nobel laureate in Literature won in 1994: Kenzaburō Ōe, José Saramago, or Orhan Pamuk?
- A.José Saramago
- B.Orhan Pamuk
- C.Seamus Heaney
- D.Kenzaburō Ōe
Answer: Kenzaburō Ōe
Kenzaburō Ōe won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1994.
Question 13
Who became the Nobel Prize in Literature laureate in 2022?
Answer: Annie Ernaux
Annie Ernaux won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2022.
Funny Nobel Prize Laureates Trivia
13 questions
These funny Nobel Prize Laureates trivia questions highlight playful moments, odd facts, and inside jokes.
Question 1
Which Nobel Prize in Literature winner pulled off the ultimate RSVP decline by refusing the 1964 award?
- A.Knut Hamsun
- B.Paul Sartre
- C.Harold Pinter
- D.Patrick Modiano
Answer: Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Sartre declined the 1964 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Question 2
The 1997 Nobel Prize in Literature went to which Italian playwright and satirist, proving that sharp wit can be prizeworthy too?
- A.Dario Fo
- B.Jon Fosse
- C.Wole Soyinka
- D.Jaroslav Seifert
Answer: Dario Fo
Dario Fo won the 1997 Literature prize and was known is an Italian playwright and satirist.
Question 3
Which 1984 Nobel Literature laureate was primarily known as a poet—because apparently prose didn’t need all the fun?
- A.Jaroslav Seifert
- B.Mikhail Sholokhov
- C.Patrick Modiano
- D.Günter Grass
Answer: Jaroslav Seifert
Jaroslav Seifert won the 1984 Literature prize and was primarily known is a poet.
Question 4
Who won the 2015 Nobel Prize in Literature for nonfiction writing, showing that facts can also bring home trophies?
- A.Louise Glück
- B.Sigrid Undset
- C.Yasunari Kawabata
- D.Svetlana Alexievich
Answer: Svetlana Alexievich
Svetlana Alexievich won the 2015 Literature prize for nonfiction writing.
Question 5
Back in 1903, which writer picked up the Nobel Prize in Literature before most people had even figured out modern small talk?
- A.Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
- B.Rudyard Kipling
- C.Knut Hamsun
- D.Sigrid Undset
Answer: Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson won the 1903 Literature prize.
Question 6
Which author won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920, giving that year at least one excellent plot twist?
- A.Harold Pinter
- B.Knut Hamsun
- C.Rudyard Kipling
Answer: Knut Hamsun
Knut Hamsun won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920.
Question 7
If your calendar says 1955 and your quiz says Nobel Literature, which laureate should stroll onto the page?
- A.J. M. Coetzee
- B.Jon Fosse
- C.Mikhail Sholokhov
- D.Halldór Laxness
Answer: Halldór Laxness
Halldór Laxness won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1955.
Question 8
Which writer won the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature, making that year a very good one for Wole enthusiasts?
Answer: Wole Soyinka
Wole Soyinka won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986.
Question 9
The 2003 Nobel Prize in Literature landed with which author—J. M. Coetzee or Jon Fosse?
- A.J. M. Coetzee
- B.Jon Fosse
- C.Harold Pinter
Answer: J. M. Coetzee
J. M. Coetzee won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2003.
Question 10
Who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2014, one year before the 2015 nonfiction winner Svetlana Alexievich?
- A.Patrick Modiano
- B.Louise Glück
- C.Harold Pinter
- D.Jaroslav Seifert
Answer: Patrick Modiano
Patrick Modiano won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2014.
Question 11
Which poet won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Literature, proving poems can still absolutely steal the room?
- A.Dario Fo
- B.Louise Gl
- C.Svetlana Alexievich
- D.Sigrid Undset
Answer: Louise Glück
Louise Glück won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2020.
Question 12
Who won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the newest name on this particular roll call?
- A.Wole Soyinka
- B.Jon Fosse
- C.Patrick Modiano
Answer: Jon Fosse
Jon Fosse won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2023.
Question 13
Which laureate picked up the 2005 Nobel Prize in Literature—Harold Pinter or Günter Grass?
- A.Patrick Modiano
- B.Knut Hamsun
- C.Harold Pinter
- D.Günter Grass
Answer: Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2005.
Hard Nobel Prize Laureates Trivia
14 questions
These hard Nobel Prize Laureates trivia questions are for expert fans who want a real challenge.
Question 1
Which family, rather than a single individual, is credited here with producing five Nobel laureates?
Answer: The Curie family.
The Curie family has produced five Nobel laureates.
Question 2
Who was the Literature laureate awarded posthumously in 1931?
Answer: Erik Axel Karlfeldt.
Erik Axel Karlfeldt was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature posthumously in 1931.
Question 3
Name the Nobel Peace Prize recipient who was awarded posthumously in 1961.?
Answer: Dag Hammarskjöld.
Dag Hammarskjöld was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize posthumously in 1961.
Question 4
What is the official namesake institution in the full title of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences?
Answer: Sveriges Riksbank.
The Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences is officially named for Sveriges Riksbank.
Question 5
Which laureate broke a gender barrier in 2009 by becoming the first woman to win the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences?
Answer: Elinor Ostrom.
The provided fact says Elinor Ostrom became the first woman to win the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2009.
Question 6
At age 90, who won the Economic Sciences prize in 2007?
Answer: Leonid Hurwicz.
Leonid Hurwicz won the Economic Sciences prize in 2007 at age 90.
Question 7
Which Physics laureate was just 25 years old when he won in 1915?
Answer: Lawrence Bragg.
Lawrence Bragg won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1915 at age 25.
Question 8
Which author became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, and did so in 1909?
Answer: Selma Lagerlöf.
Selma Lagerlöf became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1909.
Question 9
Who took the very first Nobel Prize in Literature in 1901?
Answer: Sully Prudhomme.
The listed fact identifies Sully Prudhomme is the winner of the first Nobel Prize in Literature in 1901.
Question 10
Which Peace Prize laureate is specifically identified as the winner for 1935?
Answer: Carl von Ossietzky.
Carl von Ossietzky won the Nobel Peace Prize for 1935.
Question 11
Who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 1952?
Answer: Albert Schweitzer.
The provided fact says Albert Schweitzer won the Nobel Peace Prize for 1952.
Question 12
Which figure won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975?
Answer: Andrei Sakharov.
Andrei Sakharov won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975.
Question 13
Who became the first Iranian Nobel laureate by winning the Peace Prize in 2003?
Answer: Shirin Ebadi.
Shirin Ebadi became the first Iranian Nobel laureate when she won the Peace Prize in 2003.
Question 14
Which scientist shared the 1968 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine?
Answer: Har Gobind Khorana.
Har Gobind Khorana shared the 1968 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
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