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You are here: Home / Issue Center / Updated global nuclear weapons count

May 14, 2021

Updated global nuclear weapons count

By John Isaacs

The indomitable Hans Kristensen of the Federation of Americans Scientists, along with his colleague Matt Korda, has produced authoritative estimates of the world’s nuclear stockpiles. When in the past, the United States government has tried to shield the number of American weapons behind high walls of classification, Hans and Matt have provided spot-on numbers. 

United States nuclear weapons 

5,500 – total inventory, including retired warheads awaiting dismantlement 

3,700 – stockpile in the custody of the Department of Defense, deployed and reserve 

1,800 – weapons deployed on ICBM’s and submarines, at bomber bases and non-strategic bombs in Europe 

 

Russia nuclear weapons 

6,257 – total inventory, including retired warheads  

4,497 – stockpile of warheads, deployed and reserve 

1,600 – weapons deployed on ICBM’s and submarines or at bomber bases  

 

Estimates of other countries nuclear weapons inventories 

   350 – China 

   290 – France 

   195 – United Kingdom 

   165 – Pakistan 

   160 – India 

     90 – Israel  

     40 – North Korea (warheads that could potentially be made from available fissile materials) 

 

Estimated worldwide total of nuclear weapons 

13,100 – total inventory, including retired warheads 

9,590 – military stockpiles 

Together, the United States and Russia possess 91% of all nuclear weapons.

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