SIPRI Yearbook 2025: Global Nuclear Arsenal

Estimated total warheads (January 2025): 12,241

    • Warheads in military stockpiles for use: 9,614
    • Deployed with missiles/aircraft: 3,912
    • High operational alert warheads: ~2,100 (mostly USA and Russia)
  • The post–Cold War trend of declining arsenals is reversing, with dismantlement slowing and deployments rising.

USA and Russia

  • Together possess ~90% of global nuclear weapons.
  • Stockpiles remained stable in 2024, but both are:
    • Undertaking extensive modernization.
    • Likely to increase deployed warheads after New START expires in Feb 2026.

China: Fastest Growing Nuclear Arsenal

  • Estimated warheads (2025): 600+
  • Adding ~100 warheads per year since 2023.
  • Built or nearing completion of 350 ICBM silos.
  • Projected warheads by 2035: 1,500 (still one-third of US/Russian stockpiles).

United ....

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