Nelson Mandela
Awards & Honours
300
Awards Won
8
Honours
4
Rankings
5
Covers
3
Records
Nelson Mandela's lifetime of service earned him over 250 awards, more than any other political figure of the 20th century. He is one of only two people to have received the Nobel Peace Prize while imprisoned. His receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal, and the Order of the British Empire reflects his unique global stature. Mandela was also the first living person to be awarded honorary Canadian citizenship and was named by the United Nations as a global advocate for peace. His birthday, July 18, was declared Nelson Mandela International Day by the UN in 2009, a singular honor that underscores his enduring impact.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
Nobel Peace Prize
Awarded jointly with F.W. de Klerk for ending apartheid peacefully.
Presidential Medal of Freedom
Highest civilian award in the U.S.
Congressional Gold Medal
Highest legislative award in the U.S.
Order of Canada
Honorary Companion of the Order of Canada.
Order of the British Empire (Honorary Knight Grand Cross)
Honorary knighthood for his role in ending apartheid.
Bharat Ratna
India's highest civilian award.
Nelson Mandela International Day
July 18 declared as a day of global service.
United Nations Nelson Mandela Prize
Established posthumously to recognize peace and reconciliation efforts.
Rankings & Lists
100 Most Important People of the 20th Century
Most Admired Person of the 20th Century
Most Admired Man in the World
50 People Who Changed the World
Magazine Covers
TIME
July 18, 1988
Mandela: A Prisoner's Prayer for Peace
TIME
May 7, 1990
Mandela: The Making of a Leader
Rolling Stone
April 19, 1990
Nelson Mandela: The Inside Story
Newsweek
February 19, 1990
Mandela: The Prisoner Who Changed the World
National Geographic
June 1990
Nelson Mandela: A Man of Courage
Records & Feats
First Black president of South Africa
Elected in 1994 as the first Black head of state in South Africa's history.
Longest-serving political prisoner to become head of state
Imprisoned for 27 years before being released and becoming president.
Only person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize while imprisoned
Awarded the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize while still incarcerated.