16:00 05-01-2026

Who Holds Nuclear Weapons in 2025: Global Breakdown

An overview of global nuclear arsenals in 2025, from recognized nuclear powers to undeclared states, with SIPRI estimates and warhead figures worldwide.

Journalists have published an overview examining the global nuclear landscape, outlining who officially holds nuclear weapons and how arsenals are distributed worldwide.

The article notes that there are five internationally recognized nuclear powers, all of which also hold permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council. These countries are Russia, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, and France. Their right to possess nuclear weapons is enshrined in the 1968 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which defines a nuclear-weapon state as one that conducted a nuclear test before January 1, 1967.

After that cutoff date, nuclear tests were carried out by India, Pakistan, and North Korea. Israel is also widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, although the country has never officially disclosed information about nuclear tests. South Africa joined the nuclear club in 1982 but later reversed course, dismantling its arsenal and acceding to the NPT in 1991.

According to estimates by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), as of January 1, 2025, there were 9,614 nuclear warheads worldwide. The overwhelming majority of them remain in the hands of Russia and the United States, which together account for more than 8,000 warheads-4,309 held by Russia and 3,700 by the United States.

The remaining roughly 1,600 warheads are divided among other nuclear-armed states. China is estimated to possess around 600, followed by France with 290 and the United Kingdom with 225. India’s arsenal is assessed at 180 warheads, Pakistan’s at 170, while Israel is believed to have about 90 and North Korea around 50.