⚛️ Global Nuclear Weapons Stockpile
Comprehensive Analysis of the World's Nuclear Arsenal (January 2025)
9 Nations · 12,241 Warheads · 3,912 Deployed
Nuclear Weapons by Country (Ranked by Total Inventory)
Complete Nuclear Arsenal Data by Country
| Rank | Country | Total Inventory | Military Stockpile | Deployed | First Test | NPT Status | Nuclear Triad |
|---|
Global Deployment Status
Historical Nuclear Stockpile Trends (1945-2025)
Nuclear Delivery Systems
The Nuclear Triad
Four countries maintain a complete nuclear triad (land-based ICBMs, submarine-launched SLBMs, and strategic bombers): United States, Russia, China, and India. The triad provides redundancy, survivability, and flexibility in nuclear deterrence.
🚀 Land-Based: Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs)
Characteristics: Launched from underground silos or mobile launchers. Most responsive leg of the triad—can be launched within minutes. Vulnerable to first strike but create complex targeting problem for adversaries.
Examples: US Minuteman III (450 silos), Russia RS-24 Yars, China DF-41, India Agni-V
🌊 Sea-Based: Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs)
Characteristics: Launched from nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). Most survivable leg—submarines remain hidden in ocean depths. Each submarine covers over 1 million square miles on patrol.
Examples: US Trident II D5 (14 Ohio-class submarines), Russia RSM-56 Bulava, UK Trident D5, France M51, China JL-3
✈️ Air-Based: Strategic Bombers
Characteristics: Carry nuclear gravity bombs or air-launched cruise missiles. Most flexible leg—can be recalled mid-flight, visible deterrent signal, can loiter for extended periods.
Examples: US B-2 Spirit, B-52H Stratofortress, Russia Tu-95 Bear, Tu-160 Blackjack, China H-6N
Delivery System Capabilities by Country
United States Nuclear Weapon Storage Locations
Geographic Distribution
The United States stores nuclear weapons at 24 locations across 11 US states and 5 European countries. Approximately 1,770 warheads are deployed, with the remainder in reserve storage.
Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
Pantex Plant, Texas
Naval Base Kitsap, Washington
Malmstrom AFB, Montana
Minot AFB, North Dakota
F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming
Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia
Whiteman AFB, Missouri
Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
Nellis AFB, Nevada
Europe: NATO Nuclear Sharing
Countries That Voluntarily Gave Up Nuclear Weapons
🇿🇦 South Africa (1989-1991)
Developed 6 gun-type fission weapons (similar to Hiroshima bomb). Enriched uranium at Valindaba facility.
President F.W. de Klerk ordered dismantlement. All weapons destroyed, facilities decommissioned.
Signed Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as non-nuclear-weapon state.
Publicly announced former nuclear weapons program. Only country to voluntarily dismantle an independently developed nuclear arsenal.
🇺🇦 Ukraine (1991-1996)
Inherited ~1,700 strategic warheads + 2,883 tactical warheads after USSR collapse. Third-largest nuclear arsenal in the world (more than China, France, UK combined).
130 UR-100N ICBMs (6 warheads each), 46 RT-23 ICBMs (10 warheads each), 33 heavy bombers.
Budapest Memorandum: US, UK, Russia provided security assurances in exchange for denuclearization. Trilateral Statement with US and Russia signed.
Last warhead transferred to Russia for dismantlement. US provided $300+ million financial assistance via Nunn-Lugar program.
Russia violated Budapest Memorandum: annexed Crimea (2014), full invasion (2022).
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan (1991-1995)
Inherited ~1,400 strategic warheads on 104 SS-18 ICBMs after USSR collapse. Also major nuclear test site (Semipalatinsk - 456 tests 1949-1989).
Signed Lisbon Protocol to START I treaty.
Signed Budapest Memorandum. Joined NPT as non-nuclear-weapon state.
All warheads returned to Russia by April 1995.
All 104 SS-18 silos eliminated.
🇧🇾 Belarus (1991-1996)
Inherited ~800 strategic warheads on mobile SS-25 ICBMs after USSR collapse.
Signed Lisbon Protocol. Russia pressured Belarus into classified denuclearization agreement.
Joined NPT as non-nuclear-weapon state.
All SS-25 missiles and warheads returned to Russia.
Russia deployed tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus (weapons remain under Russian control).
Other Countries That Abandoned Nuclear Programs
1970s: Sweden, South Korea, Taiwan discontinued weapons development programs.
1980s: Argentina and Brazil ended programs after signing bilateral inspection agreements.
1990s: South Africa dismantled completed arsenal (only country to do so independently).
Total: Seven countries voluntarily gave up nuclear weapons or weapons programs.
Major Nuclear Arms Control Treaties
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) ACTIVE
Signed: 1968 | In Force: 1970 | Indefinite duration
Parties: 191 countries (nearly universal)
Non-signatories: India, Israel, Pakistan, South Sudan | Withdrew: North Korea (2003)
Key Provisions:
- Five recognized nuclear-weapon states (US, Russia, UK, France, China) - those who tested before 1967
- Non-nuclear-weapon states agree not to acquire nuclear weapons
- Nuclear-weapon states agree not to transfer weapons to non-nuclear states
- All parties have right to peaceful nuclear energy use
- Nuclear-weapon states commit to pursue disarmament negotiations in good faith (Article VI)
- IAEA safeguards and inspections for non-nuclear-weapon states
Status: Cornerstone of nuclear nonproliferation regime. Extended indefinitely in 1995. Review conferences every 5 years.
New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) ACTIVE
Signed: 2010 | In Force: 2011 | Expires: February 2026
Parties: United States and Russia (bilateral)
Key Limits:
- 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads (each side)
- 700 deployed ICBMs, SLBMs, and strategic bombers (each side)
- 800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers, and strategic bombers (each side)
- Verification: 18 on-site inspections per year, data exchanges, telemetry
Status: Last remaining nuclear arms control treaty between US and Russia. Extended for 5 years in 2021. No signs of renewal negotiations for post-2026. Russia suspended participation in 2023 but remains within treaty limits.
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) NOT IN FORCE
Adopted: 1996 | Opened for signature: September 1996
Signatories: 187 countries | Ratifications: 178 countries
Key Provision: Bans all nuclear weapon test explosions and any other nuclear explosions (underground, underwater, atmospheric).
Verification: International Monitoring System (337 facilities): seismic stations, hydroacoustic, infrasound, radionuclide detection.
Entry into Force Requirement: Must be ratified by all 44 "Annex 2" states (nuclear-capable countries).
Status: Has NOT entered into force. Still waiting ratification from: China, Egypt, Iran, Israel, United States (signed but not ratified); India, North Korea, Pakistan (not signed). Russia ratified but withdrew ratification in 2023. Most countries observe testing moratorium despite treaty not being in force.
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty TERMINATED
Signed: 1987 (Reagan-Gorbachev) | In Force: 1988-2019 | Duration: 31 years
Parties: United States and Soviet Union/Russia
Key Provision: Eliminated all ground-based ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges 500-5,500 km. Resulted in destruction of 2,692 missiles.
Status: US withdrew August 2019 (accused Russia of violations with 9M729 cruise missile). Russia withdrew same day. Marked end of Cold War-era arms control architecture.
Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) IN FORCE
Adopted: 2017 | In Force: January 2021
Parties: 73 ratifications, 93 signatories
Key Provisions: Comprehensive ban on nuclear weapons - prohibits development, testing, production, stockpiling, transfer, use, and threat of use.
Status: NO nuclear-armed states have joined. Opposed by US, Russia, UK, France, China. NATO members prohibited from joining. Championed by non-nuclear states and civil society (ICAN won 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for advocacy).
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) EXPIRED
Signed: 1991 | In Force: 1994-2009 | Duration: 15 years
Parties: US, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine
Results: Reduced strategic nuclear weapons by 80%. US went from ~10,000 to 6,000 deployed warheads; Russia from ~10,000 to 6,000. Most comprehensive arms control treaty in history.
Nuclear Arms Control in Crisis
Current Challenges:
- New START expires February 2026 with NO renewal negotiations
- INF Treaty collapsed (2019) - no restrictions on intermediate-range missiles
- CTBT never entered into force - not ratified by key states
- Russia suspended New START participation (2023) amid Ukraine war
- China conducting rapid nuclear expansion (not party to any bilateral treaties)
- Growing risk of new nuclear arms race for first time since Cold War
Cold War Peak (1986) vs Today (2025)
Key Insights: Global Nuclear Landscape
- Dramatic Reduction: Global stockpile declined from 70,300 warheads (1986 Cold War peak) to 12,241 (2025) - an 83% decrease
- Superpower Dominance: US and Russia control 87% of world's nuclear weapons, 83% of military stockpile
- China's Expansion: Fastest growing arsenal - adding ~100 warheads/year. Increased from 500 (2024) to 600 (2025). Could reach 1,500 by 2035
- High Alert Status: ~2,100 warheads on high operational alert (mostly US & Russia), ready to launch within minutes
- Triad Powers: Only 4 countries maintain complete nuclear triad: US, Russia, China, India
- Delivery Speed: ICBMs can strike targets 8,700+ miles away in under 30 minutes
- Submarine Superiority: SLBMs most survivable - submarines nearly impossible to track in ocean depths
- Arms Control Crisis: New START expires 2026, no renewal talks. First time since 1972 no bilateral limits may exist
- Successful Denuclearization: 7 countries gave up weapons/programs (South Africa, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Argentina, South Korea)
- Budapest Memorandum Violations: Russia violated Ukraine's Budapest Memorandum (Crimea 2014, invasion 2022) - raising questions about security assurances
- Modernization: All 9 nuclear-armed states upgrading arsenals - US spending $1.7 trillion over 30 years
- Hiroshima Comparison: Modern warheads range from 8 to 300+ kilotons. Hiroshima bomb was 15 kilotons. Single modern warhead 20x more destructive
China's Nuclear Expansion (2020-2025)
Data Sources & Methodology
Primary Sources:
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Yearbook 2025 | Federation of American Scientists (FAS) Nuclear Information Project | Arms Control Association | Bulletin of Atomic Scientists Nuclear Notebook | Congressional Research Service reports | US Department of Defense assessments | International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) | CTBTO Preparatory Commission
Treaty Documentation:
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty official text | New START Treaty documentation | Budapest Memorandum (1994) | Lisbon Protocol | CTBT text | Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
US Storage Locations:
Federation of American Scientists facility assessments | National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) | Department of Energy declassified data | US Strategic Command | Bulletin of Atomic Scientists "Where the Bombs Are" report | Commercial satellite imagery analysis
Historical Data:
Natural Resources Defense Council nuclear data project | Carnegie Endowment for International Peace | Woodrow Wilson Center nuclear proliferation archives | Brookings Institution denuclearization studies | National Security Archive
Disclaimer: Exact nuclear weapon numbers are classified national secrets. All figures are estimates by independent researchers based on publicly available information, declassified documents, satellite imagery, historical records, and occasional official disclosures. Estimates carry significant uncertainty, particularly for countries with high secrecy (North Korea, Israel, Pakistan). Data current as of January 2025.
Note: All information presented comes from publicly available sources and open-source intelligence (OSINT). No classified information is included.