Immigrants have won 40%, or 45 out of 112, of the Nobel Prizes awarded to Americans since 2000, according to to a new analysis from the nonprofit National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP).
This percentage has remained relatively unchanged since the creation of the Nobel Prize. “Between 1901 and 2023, immigrants received 36%, or 115 out of 319, of the Nobel Prizes won by Americans in chemistry, medicine and physics. »
In 2023, four of the six American Nobel Prize winners in medicine, chemistry and physics were immigrants.
The study finds that immigration laws are important, and two in particular have helped attract future Nobel laureates to the United States. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 marked a watershed moment by removing discriminatory national origin quotas and opening the way for Asian immigrants. Additionally, the Immigration Act of 1990 increased the number of employment-related green cards available. These laws have played a crucial role in attracting international students to the United States and strengthening the country’s ability to integrate talented individuals into our society and economy.
The report highlights a number of American immigrants who received the Nobel Prize in 2023, including Hungarian-born Katalin Karikó, who shared the Nobel Prize with American physician-scientist Drew Weissman in physiology or medicine. for their discoveries regarding nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.
“Immigrant achievements in the form of Nobel Prizes, successful businesses, and contributions in other fields are a testament to the American dream,” the report’s authors write. “Being open to immigration allows America to reap the rewards of scientific and technological innovation. »