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Fact check: What are the official Nobel Peace Prize eligibility criteria?

Checked on August 18, 2025

1. Summary of the results

The official Nobel Peace Prize eligibility criteria consist of two main components: nominator qualifications and nominee eligibility.

Nominator Qualifications:

The analyses reveal that nominations are only considered valid if submitted by individuals who meet specific criteria [1] [2]. The qualified nominators include:

  • Members of national assemblies [1]
  • University professors [1]
  • Previous Nobel Peace Prize laureates [1]

These criteria were revised in April 2018 according to the statutes of the Nobel Foundation [3]. Importantly, nominations require no invitation but must come from qualified individuals [2].

Nominee Eligibility:

All living persons and active organizations are eligible candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize [2]. The fundamental criterion for selection is based on Alfred Nobel's will, which specifies the prize should go to those who have done "the most or the best work for fraternity between nations" [4].

Process Requirements:

  • Nominations must be submitted by January 31 to be considered valid [2]
  • The Norwegian Nobel Committee seeks consensus in selection but may decide by simple majority vote if consensus cannot be reached [2]
  • The Committee has no influence on the quality of submissions [2]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question focuses solely on formal eligibility criteria but omits several important contextual elements:

Political Considerations:

The analyses reveal that the Nobel Peace Prize has become a subject of political campaigning and legacy-building. Specifically, Donald Trump has actively campaigned for the prize, hoping to cement his legacy as a "peacemaker" through brokering peace deals [5] [4]. This demonstrates that while formal criteria exist, political motivations and public relations efforts significantly influence the nomination and selection process.

Practical vs. Theoretical Eligibility:

While technically all living persons are eligible, the analyses suggest that high-profile political figures particularly benefit from the nomination process, as they can leverage their positions to secure nominations from qualified nominators and generate public support for their candidacy.

Committee Autonomy:

The Norwegian Nobel Committee operates independently, and their decision-making process involves subjective interpretation of what constitutes the "best work for fraternity between nations" [4], meaning personal and political biases of committee members may influence selections despite formal criteria.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains no apparent misinformation or bias. It straightforwardly asks for factual information about official eligibility criteria without making claims or expressing particular viewpoints. The question is neutral and seeks objective information about the Nobel Peace Prize nomination and selection process.

The question appropriately focuses on "official" criteria, which distinguishes between formal requirements and informal political considerations that may influence the actual selection process. This framing demonstrates an understanding that there may be differences between stated rules and practical realities in the Nobel Peace Prize selection process.

Want to dive deeper?
Who is eligible to nominate candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize?
What are the key factors considered by the Nobel Committee for Peace Prize selection?
Can organizations or groups be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?
How does the Nobel Committee verify the work and achievements of Peace Prize nominees?
What is the timeline for the Nobel Peace Prize nomination and selection process?