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(CNN) - Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old climate activist, is considered by bookmakers as the favorite to win the 100th Nobel Peace Prize.
If she succeeds, she will become the youngest winner, as she would be one year younger than Malala Yousafzai when she won the award in 2014.
There are 301 candidates in the race for this year's award - 223 people and 78 organizations -, according to the Nobel Peace Prize website.
Greta Thunberg
The names of the nominees and who nominates them will not be disclosed for 50 years.
The teenage Swedish activist drew the world's attention for the first time in August 2018 by missing school and staying outside the parliament of her country in search of a stronger response to climate change.
She is the favorite of bookmakers to win the prize and the London-based Coral betting company places her with odds of 1/2.
Another British bookmaker, William Hill, who put Thunberg with odds of 8/13, said Wednesday that 96% of Nobel Peace Prize bets had been made by the young Swedish.
William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams said the punters were "convinced" that Thunberg will win.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is the second favorite in bookmakers.
But the teenager faces a tough competition from world leaders.
According to London-based online betting company Betfair, Abiy Ahmed, the Ethiopian prime minister who ended his country's conflict with Eritrea, is the second most likely candidate to win.
Brazilian indigenous chief Raoni Metuktire is also in the pools.
William Hill predicts that other contenders include Raoni Metuktire, the Brazilian indigenous leader and ecologist who led a campaign to protect the Amazon, and Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand.
Among the 78 bookmakers, both Betfair and William Hill put Reporters Without Borders, which advocates press freedom, and the United Nations Human Rights Council as external bets.
Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand.
The winner will be announced live from Oslo, Norway, on Friday at 11:00 am local time (5:00 am Eastern time).
Last year's Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to former ISIS sex slave Nadia Murad and Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege "for his efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict."
Peace Nobel
