Which Countries Have Nuclear Weapons, and How Many? (2026)
Nine countries hold an estimated 9,745 nuclear warheads in military stockpiles. Russia and the US hold most of them, and China's arsenal is growing fastest.
Nine countries have nuclear weapons. According to the SIPRI Yearbook 2026, they held an estimated 12,187 warheads in total as of January 2026. Of those, about 9,745 were in military stockpiles available for use, and about 4,012 of these were deployed on missiles or at bases with operational forces. The remainder are retired warheads awaiting dismantlement.
| # | Country | Warheads |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇷🇺 Russia | 4,400 |
| 2 | 🇺🇸 United States | 3,700 |
| 3 | 🇨🇳 China | 620 |
| 4 | 🇫🇷 France | 290 |
| 5 | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 225 |
| 6 | 🇮🇳 India | 190 |
| 7 | 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 170 |
| 8 | 🇮🇱 Israel | 90 |
| 9 | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 60 |
Russia and the United States
Russia (about 4,400 warheads) and the United States (about 3,700) together hold more than 80% of the world’s military nuclear stockpile. Each has about 1,800 warheads deployed. Both maintain a full nuclear triad: land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched missiles and long-range bombers.
Their arsenals are a fraction of their Cold War peaks, thanks largely to a series of arms control treaties. The last of those, New START, capped deployed strategic warheads until it expired in February 2026, leaving the two largest arsenals without a binding limit for the first time in decades.
China: the fastest-growing arsenal
SIPRI estimates China’s stockpile at about 620 warheads, making it the world’s third-largest nuclear power and the one growing fastest. China has been building large fields of new missile silos and expanding its fleet of missile submarines. Until recently it kept most warheads separate from their missiles; SIPRI now estimates that a small number, about 34, are deployed.
France and the United Kingdom
France (about 290 warheads) and the UK (about 225) are Europe’s two nuclear powers. The UK relies entirely on submarine-launched Trident missiles, keeping at least one submarine at sea at all times. France has both submarine-launched missiles and air-launched cruise missiles carried by its Rafale fighters.
India and Pakistan
India (about 190) and Pakistan (about 170) have arsenals of similar size and are both expanding them. SIPRI estimates that India now has a small number of warheads deployed. Pakistan’s doctrine relies on nuclear weapons to offset India’s much larger conventional military; see the India vs Pakistan comparison.
Israel and North Korea
Israel has never confirmed or denied having nuclear weapons, but SIPRI estimates it holds about 90 warheads. North Korea, which has carried out six nuclear tests, is estimated to have about 60 and enough fissile material to build more.
Deployed versus stockpiled
The headline number for each country hides an important distinction. Only Russia, the US, France, the UK and, in small numbers, China and India are estimated to keep warheads deployed on missiles or at operational bases. The others store theirs separately and would need time to mate them with delivery systems. We explain the difference in deployed vs stored warheads.
All of these figures are estimates. No country publishes a complete count of its nuclear weapons, and SIPRI’s numbers are based on official statements, satellite imagery, budget documents and other open sources.