Status of global nuclear forces

The world’s inventory of nuclear weapons remains very high, despite sizeable reductions since the end of the Cold War, with nine countries in possession of approximately 12,700 warheads


ESTIMATED NUCLEAR WARHEAD INVENTORIES, 1945-2022*

1967: U.S. peak: 31,255
Cold War
1986: Global peak: 70,374
1986: Soviet/Russia peak: 40,159

4,477 
3,708

70
60
50
40
30 
20 
10
0
	1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020


OTHER ESTIMATED NUCLEAR STOCKPILES, 2022
China 350
France 290
UK 180
Pakistan 165
India 160
Israel 90 
N. Korea 20


GLOBAL BREAKDOWN

12,700 nuclear warheads, including retired but still intact warheads awaiting dismantling

9,440 warheads stockpiled ready for use by missiles, aircraft, ships and submarines

3,730 deployed with operational forces (on missiles or bomber bases)

2,000 on high alert, ready for use at short notice

12,700 9,440 3,730 2,000


*South Africa briefly had six nuclear warheads in 1980s      
        
                        
Source: Federation of American Scientists
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