SIPRI Annual Report 2025: Insights from this report!

Key Discoveries

Global Nuclear Trends (2025): Overall nuclear warheads: 12,241.

Military reserves (active/potential): 9,614.

Total deployed: 3,912.

Elevated readiness (ballistic missiles): ~2,100, primarily U.S. and Russia.

As of January 2025, India possesses 180 nuclear warheads, while Pakistan is believed to have around 170.

As of January 2025, China possesses 600 nuclear warheads, with 24 being deployed warheads, meaning they are positioned on missiles or situated at bases with active forces.

Growth and Upgrading: Almost all nine nuclear-capable nations—the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel—persisted with rigorous nuclear modernization efforts in 2024.

In 2024, India moderately increased its nuclear stockpile and progressed in the development of advanced nuclear delivery systems with improved features.

Pakistan persisted in advancing new delivery systems while amassing additional fissile material, suggesting a desire to enlarge its arsenal.

China has expedited the growth of its nuclear stockpile, increasing by approximately 100 warheads each year since 2023.

Military Spending: Worldwide expenditures hit $2.7 trillion in 2024, marking a 9.4% rise.

Major spenders: USA ($997 billion), China ($314 billion).

Main importers: Ukraine, India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan.

Leading exporters: USA (43%), France (9.6%), Russia (7.8%).

Issues & Perspectives

Arms control is eroding: No significant nuclear states are entirely devoted to disarmament.

The period of cuts in worldwide arsenals might be coming to a close.

China is gradually expanding its nuclear arsenal and could attain 1,000 warheads in 7 to 8 years.

In 2024, all nine countries with nuclear weapons made significant investments in modernization, involving enhanced systems, advanced technologies (such as MIRVs, canisterization, AI-driven command and control).

Emerging Nuclear States: Renewed national discussions in East Asia, Europe, and the Middle East regarding nuclear status and strategy indicate a possibility for additional countries to create their own nuclear arsenals.

The USA and Russia hold approximately 90% of the world's nuclear arsenal.

Large-scale modernisation initiatives are being carried out by both nations, which may eventually expand the scope and variety of their arsenals.

After the bilateral 2010 Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START) expires in February 2026, it appears likely that the number of warheads they deploy on strategic missiles will increase if no new agreement is reached to cap their stockpiles.