There are currently nine countries that claim to have nuclear weapons or are believed to possess them. According to a recent report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the world’s nine nuclear-armed states are upgrading and expanding their arsenals, accelerating a competitive arms race. The nine nuclear powers include China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, the UK and the US. According to the SIPRI report, together, the nuclear powers possess 12,187 nuclear warheads as of early 2026, with some 9,745 of these held in military stockpiles for potential use. The report found that an estimated 4,012 warheads were deployed on missiles and aircraft, with around 2,200 held on high alert, meaning they could be launched within minutes. Russia owns a total of 4,400 warheads in its military stockpile, with 1,796 of those deployed and ready for potential use. Meanwhile, the US owns 3,700 warheads, with 1,770 deployed. Together, the two countries possess 83% of all usable nuclear warheads and nearly 86% of all nuclear weapons globally. China ranks third in terms of nuclear arsenal size, with an estimated 620 warheads in its possession. According to the SIPRI report, China’s arsenal rose from about 600 to 620 warheads in the past year, expanding faster than any other country. The UK, which ranks fifth globally for nuclear weapons and has 225 warheads, is not believed to have expanded its arsenal over the past year. France, on the other hand, has continued to modernize its nuclear capabilities, announcing plans to expand its number of warheads and stating that it will no longer publicly communicate the size of its arsenal. Israel maintains its policy of nuclear ambiguity; however, according to the SIPRI report, it has an estimated 90 warheads in its possession. SIPRI director Karim Haggag warned that making national security strategies dependent on nuclear weapons could “significantly increase nuclear risks.”
