Introduction
Nuclear weapons are among the most destructive weapons that humans have ever created. Nuclear weapons can cause mass destruction in a matter of seconds, and their use can have catastrophic consequences. Currently, there are only nine countries that have nuclear weapons. This is mainly due to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and promote disarmament. The NPT has been signed by 191 countries, which have agreed not to develop nuclear weapons.
Having nuclear weapons comes with both dangers and benefits. On the one hand, nuclear weapons can deter other countries from attacking or invading. On the other hand, the existence of nuclear weapons increases the risk of accidental or intentional nuclear war, which could result in the end of human civilization as we know it. Moreover, the possession of nuclear weapons by some countries creates a power imbalance that can lead to conflict and tensions between nations.
There are some countries that are in the process of creating their first nuclear weapon, such as Iran and North Korea. This has sparked controversy and concern among the international community, as the acquisition of nuclear weapons by more countries would increase the risk of nuclear war and destabilize the world order. The international community has responded to these concerns with sanctions, diplomacy, and other measures aimed at preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Country | Nuclear Weapon Possession | Nuclear Warhead Inventory |
---|---|---|
Afghanistan | No | |
Albania | No | |
Algeria | No | |
Andorra | No | |
Angola | No | |
Anguilla | No | |
Antigua and Barbuda | No | |
Argentina | No | |
Armenia | No | |
Aruba | No | |
Ashmore and Cartier Islands | No | |
Australia | No | |
Australian Indian Ocean Territories | No | |
Austria | No | |
Azerbaijan | No | |
Bahrain | No | |
Bangladesh | No | |
Barbados | No | |
Belarus | No | |
Belgium | No | |
Belize | No | |
Benin | No | |
Bermuda | No | |
Bhutan | No | |
Bolivia | No | |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | No | |
Botswana | No | |
Brazil | No | |
British Virgin Islands | No | |
Brunei | No | |
Bulgaria | No | |
Burkina Faso | No | |
Burundi | No | |
Cambodia | No | |
Cameroon | No | |
Canada | No | |
Cayman Islands | No | |
Central African Republic | No | |
Chad | No | |
Chile | No | |
Colombia | No | |
Comoros | No | |
Costa Rica | No | |
Croatia | No | |
Cuba | No | |
Curaçao | No | |
Cyprus | No | |
Czech Republic | No | |
Democratic Republic of the Congo | No | |
Denmark | No | |
Djibouti | No | |
Dominica | No | |
Dominican Republic | No | |
East Timor | No | |
Ecuador | No | |
Egypt | No | |
El Salvador | No | |
Equatorial Guinea | No | |
Eritrea | No | |
Estonia | No | |
Ethiopia | No | |
Faroe Islands | No | |
Federated States of Micronesia | No | |
Fiji | No | |
Finland | No | |
Gabon | No | |
Georgia | No | |
Germany | No | |
Ghana | No | |
Greece | No | |
Grenada | No | |
Guam | No | |
Guatemala | No | |
Guernsey | No | |
Guinea | No | |
Guinea-Bissau | No | |
Guyana | No | |
Haiti | No | |
Honduras | No | |
Hong Kong | No | |
Hungary | No | |
Iceland | No | |
Indonesia | No | |
Iran | No | |
Iraq | No | |
Ireland | No | |
Isle of Man | No | |
Italy | No | |
Ivory Coast | No | |
Jamaica | No | |
Japan | No | |
Jersey | No | |
Jordan | No | |
Kazakhstan | No | |
Kenya | No | |
Kosovo | No | |
Kuwait | No | |
Kyrgyzstan | No | |
Laos | No | |
Latvia | No | |
Lebanon | No | |
Lesotho | No | |
Liberia | No | |
Libya | No | |
Liechtenstein | No | |
Lithuania | No | |
Luxembourg | No | |
Macau | No | |
Madagascar | No | |
Malawi | No | |
Malaysia | No | |
Maldives | No | |
Mali | No | |
Malta | No | |
Marshall Islands | No | |
Mauritania | No | |
Mauritius | No | |
Mexico | No | |
Moldova | No | |
Monaco | No | |
Mongolia | No | |
Montenegro | No | |
Montserrat | No | |
Morocco | No | |
Mozambique | No | |
Myanmar | No | |
Namibia | No | |
Nauru | No | |
Nepal | No | |
Netherlands | No | |
New Caledonia | No | |
New Zealand | No | |
Nicaragua | No | |
Niger | No | |
Nigeria | No | |
Norfolk Island | No | |
Northern Mariana Islands | No | |
Norway | No | |
Oman | No | |
Palau | No | |
Palestine | No | |
Panama | No | |
Papua New Guinea | No | |
Paraguay | No | |
Peru | No | |
Philippines | No | |
Poland | No | |
Portugal | No | |
Puerto Rico | No | |
Qatar | No | |
Republic of Macedonia | No | |
Republic of the Congo | No | |
Romania | No | |
Rwanda | No | |
Saint Helena | No | |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | No | |
Saint Lucia | No | |
Saint Martin | No | |
Saint Pierre and Miquelon | No | |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | No | |
Saint-Barthélemy | No | |
San Marino | No | |
Saudi Arabia | No | |
Senegal | No | |
Serbia | No | |
Seychelles | No | |
Siachen Glacier | No | |
Sierra Leone | No | |
Singapore | No | |
Sint Maarten | No | |
Slovakia | No | |
Slovenia | No | |
Solomon Islands | No | |
Somalia | No | |
Somaliland | No | |
South Africa | No | |
South Korea | No | |
South Sudan | No | |
Spain | No | |
Sri Lanka | No | |
Sudan | No | |
Suriname | No | |
Sweden | No | |
Switzerland | No | |
Syria | No | |
São Tomé and Príncipe | No | |
Taiwan | No | |
Tajikistan | No | |
Tanzania | No | |
Thailand | No | |
The Bahamas | No | |
The Gambia | No | |
Togo | No | |
Trinidad and Tobago | No | |
Tunisia | No | |
Turkey | No | |
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus | No | |
Turkmenistan | No | |
Turks and Caicos Islands | No | |
Uganda | No | |
Ukraine | No | |
United Arab Emirates | No | |
United States Virgin Islands | No | |
Uruguay | No | |
Uzbekistan | No | |
Vanuatu | No | |
Vatican City | No | |
Venezuela | No | |
Vietnam | No | |
Western Sahara | No | |
Yemen | No | |
Zambia | No | |
Zimbabwe | No | |
Eswatini | No | |
Åland Islands | No | |
France | Yes | 290 |
India | Yes | 160 |
Israel | Yes | 90 |
North Korea | Yes | 20 |
Pakistan | Yes | 165 |
People's Republic of China | Yes | 350 |
Russia | Yes | 5,977 |
United Kingdom | Yes | 225 |
United States of America | Yes | 5,428 |
Countries with Nuclear Weapons
The nine countries with nuclear weapons are the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea. The possession of nuclear weapons by these countries has been a major source of international tension and concern. Each of these countries has their reasons for possessing nuclear weapons, but the overall consensus is that these weapons should be kept under strict control and only used as a last resort.
Russia is the country with the most nuclear weapons in the world, with an arsenal of 5,977 nuclear weapons. The United States is the second country with the most nuclear weapons, with a total of 5,428 weapons. China has the third-largest nuclear arsenal, with 350 weapons. France is the fourth country with the most nuclear weapons, with 290 nuclear weapons, while the United Kingdom comes in fifth, with 225 nuclear weapons.
Pakistan and India have 165 and 160 nuclear weapons respectively, making them the sixth and seventh countries with the most nuclear weapons in the world. Coming in eighth position is Israel, which is believed to have around 90 nuclear weapons, although the country has not officially acknowledged their possession. And finally, North Korea is the ninth country to possess nuclear weapons, with around 20 nuclear weapons in its arsenal, although this number is difficult to verify.
The possession of nuclear weapons by these countries has resulted in a nuclear arms race and an increased risk of nuclear war. However, it has also ensured that no major wars have occurred between these countries, as the consequences of such a conflict would be too catastrophic to contemplate.
Nuclear Weapons by Country
Country | Number of Nuclear Weapons |
Russia | 5,977 |
United States of America | 5,428 |
People’s Republic of China | 350 |
France | 290 |
United Kingdom | 225 |
Pakistan | 165 |
India | 160 |
Israel | 90 |
North Korea | 20 |
Country With Most Nuclear Weapons
Russia, also known as the Russian Federation, is the country with the most nuclear weapons in the world. According to the Federation of American Scientists, Russia possesses approximately 6,255 nuclear warheads, including both deployed and non-deployed weapons. This represents almost 50% of the world’s total nuclear weapons stockpile. The country has a significant nuclear arsenal, with a diverse range of delivery systems, including submarines, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and strategic bombers.
Russia’s nuclear arsenal is a legacy of the Cold War era, during which the country was in direct competition with the United States for global dominance. Despite the end of the Cold War, Russia continues to maintain a significant nuclear arsenal, which it views as a key component of its national security strategy. The country’s nuclear weapons are under the control of its military, with the President of Russia serving as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
The possession of a significant nuclear arsenal makes Russia a key player in global security and arms control discussions. It is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and participates in various international initiatives aimed at reducing the threat posed by nuclear weapons. However, the country’s ongoing investment in modernizing and expanding its nuclear arsenal has raised concerns among some experts that a new arms race could be on the horizon. As such, the role of Russia in the global nuclear landscape remains a topic of ongoing debate and discussion.
Nuclear Weapon Possession by Country
Afghanistan
Åland Islands
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Australia
Australian Indian Ocean Territories
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
Colombia
Comoros
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Curaçao
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Faroe Islands
Federated States of Micronesia
Fiji
Finland
France
Nuclear Warhead Inventory
290
Ranked in the World
#4
France is the fourth country with the most nuclear weapons worldwide with 290 nuclear weapons. The country has been pursuing nuclear weapons since the 1950s and conducted its first nuclear test in 1960. France's nuclear weapons program is closely guarded, and its arsenal is believed to consist of both submarine-launched and air-launched nuclear missiles. However, the country has committed to a no-first-use policy, meaning that it will only use nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack.
Gabon
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Nuclear Warhead Inventory
160
Ranked in the World
#7
India is the seventh country with the most nuclear weapons worldwide with 160 nuclear weapons. India developed its own nuclear weapons program in the late 1960s and conducted its first nuclear test in 1974. Since then, it has continued to develop and expand its nuclear capabilities. While the country has a "no first use" policy, meaning that it will only use nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack, India's nuclear program remains a source of tension with neighboring Pakistan, which also possesses nuclear weapons.
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Isle of Man
Israel
Nuclear Warhead Inventory
90
Ranked in the World
#8
Italy
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Japan
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Nuclear Warhead Inventory
20
Ranked in the World
#9
Northern Mariana Islands
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Nuclear Warhead Inventory
165
Ranked in the World
#6
Pakistan is the sixth country with the most nuclear weapons worldwide with 165 nuclear weapons. Pakistan developed its own nuclear weapons program in response to India's nuclear program, conducting its first nuclear test in 1998, and has since continued to develop and expand its nuclear capabilities. Like India, the country has a "no first use" policy, meaning that it will only use nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack. However, the nuclear arms race between the two countries has heightened tensions in the region and raised concerns about the possibility of a nuclear conflict.
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
People's Republic of China
Nuclear Warhead Inventory
350
Ranked in the World
#3
China is the third country with the most nuclear weapons worldwide with 350 nuclear weapons. China developed its nuclear weapons program in the 1950s and conducted its first nuclear test in 1964. The country has since expanded its nuclear capabilities, including the development of nuclear-powered submarines and intercontinental ballistic missiles. While China has a "no first use" policy, meaning that it will only use nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack, its nuclear program is a source of concern for other countries in the region, as well as the United States and other nuclear-armed nations.
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Republic of Macedonia
Republic of the Congo
Romania
Russia
Nuclear Warhead Inventory
5,977
Ranked in the World
#1
Russia is the first country with the most nuclear weapons worldwide with 5,977 nuclear weapons. During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a nuclear arms race, resulting in the build-up of a vast nuclear arsenal by both nations. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia inherited its nuclear weapons and has continued to modernize and develop its nuclear capabilities. Today, the threat of a nuclear escalation in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is again a concern for the international community.
Rwanda
Saint Helena
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint-Barthélemy
San Marino
São Tomé and Príncipe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Siachen Glacier
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Sint Maarten
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
Somaliland
South Africa
South Korea
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
The Bahamas
The Gambia
Togo
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
Nuclear Warhead Inventory
225
Ranked in the World
#5
United States of America
Nuclear Warhead Inventory
5,428
Ranked in the World
#2
The United States is the second country with the most nuclear weapons worldwide with 5,428 nuclear weapons. The United States developed its nuclear weapons program during World War II and became the first country to use nuclear weapons in warfare, dropping atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a nuclear arms race, resulting in the build-up of a vast nuclear arsenal by both nations. Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has continued to modernize and develop its nuclear capabilities.
United States Virgin Islands
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Western Sahara
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
FAQs
How many countries have nuclear weapons ?
Nine countries have nuclear weapons: the United States, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea.
What countries have nuclear weapons ?
The countries that have nuclear weapons are the United States, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea.
Who has the most nuclear weapons ?
Russia has the most nuclear weapons with an estimated 5,977 warheads in its nuclear arsenal, followed closely by the United States with an estimated 5,428 warheads.