Han Kang is the first Asian woman to win the Literature Nobel. Only 18 women have won the Nobel for literature since the award was instituted 123 years ago.

More women have won for literature and peace than for separate scientific disciplines. Of the 110 Nobel Peace Prize winners, 19 have been women.

Only three women have won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.

All Nobel Prizes in scientific disciplines this year have been awarded to men. Of the over 600 Nobel prizes given in Medicine, Physics and Chemistry, just 26 have gone to women.