Nuclear forces
Nine states are known or assessed to possess nuclear weapons. These are the most widely cited public estimates of how many warheads each one has.
- TOTAL INVENTORY
- 12,187 Warheads in the world, including retired ones awaiting dismantlement
- MILITARY STOCKPILES
- 9,745 Available for use by the armed forces
- DEPLOYED
- 4,012 On missiles or at bases with operational forces
- HIGH ALERT
- 2,100–2,200 On ballistic missiles, ready to launch on short notice
Warheads by country
Russia and the United States hold 86% of all warheads. Bars show total inventory.- 01RussiaPOSSIBLY GROWING5,4201,796 DEPLOYED · 4,400 STOCKPILE
- 02United StatesSLOWLY FALLING5,0421,770 DEPLOYED · 3,700 STOCKPILE
- 03ChinaGROWING62034 DEPLOYED · 620 STOCKPILE
- 04FranceSTABLE370280 DEPLOYED · 290 STOCKPILE
- 05United KingdomGROWING225120 DEPLOYED · 225 STOCKPILE
- 06IndiaGROWING1900 DEPLOYED · 190 STOCKPILE
- 07PakistanGROWING1700 DEPLOYED · 170 STOCKPILE
- 08IsraelSTABLE900 DEPLOYED · 90 STOCKPILE
- 09North KoreaGROWING600 DEPLOYED · 60 STOCKPILE
Full table
| COUNTRY | DEPLOYED STRATEGIC | DEPLOYED NON-STRATEGIC | RESERVE / NON-DEPLOYED | MILITARY STOCKPILE | TOTAL INVENTORY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | 1,796 | 0 | 2,604 | 4,400 | 5,420 |
| United States | 1,670 | 100 | 1,930 | 3,700 | 5,042 |
| China | 34 | n.a. | 586 | 620 | 620 |
| France | 280 | n.a. | 10 | 290 | 370 |
| United Kingdom | 120 | n.a. | 105 | 225 | 225 |
| India | 0 | n.a. | 178 | 190 | 190 |
| Pakistan | 0 | n.a. | 170 | 170 | 170 |
| Israel | 0 | n.a. | 90 | 90 | 90 |
| North Korea | 0 | n.a. | 60 | 60 | 60 |
How to read these numbers
No nuclear-armed state publishes a full, current count. These figures are estimates built from public information, historical records and analysis, and they carry real uncertainty. The United States has disclosed its stockpile only in some years since 2019, the United Kingdom stopped publishing its figures in 2021, and France said in early 2026 it would no longer disclose its figures.
The world total is still falling only because the United States and Russia keep dismantling retired warheads. Military stockpiles are growing again, and China is expanding its arsenal faster than any other country.
Deployed means warheads on missiles or at bases with operational forces. Reserve warheads are in central storage. Retired warheads are waiting to be dismantled and are counted in the total inventory only.
Sources: SIPRI Yearbook 2026, World nuclear forces · Federation of American Scientists, Status of World Nuclear Forces 2026. Estimates as of January 2026.