Status of global nuclear arsenals

Russia, smarting from a faltering war in Ukraine and recent coup attempt, remains the largest nuclear power, with a stockpile of some 4,500 nuclear warheads compared to around 3,700 for the U.S.

ESTIMATED GLOBAL NUCLEAR WARHEAD INVENTORIES, 1945-2023
(thousands)

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

1945 
U.S. 2
Russia 0
Others* 0

1967 
U.S.  31,255 

1986
Russia 40,159
  
1970:
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) enters into force
 
1995:
NPT extended indefinitely

2023
Russia 4,489 
U.S. 3,708 
Others* 1,379

© GRAPHIC NEWS
*China, France, UK, Pakistan, India, Israel, North Korea Sources: Federation of American Scientists, Reuters