Nuclear weaponsNumber of world’s nuclear weapons reduced, but modernization continues
The overall number of nuclear weapons in the world continues to decline, but none of the nuclear weapon-possessing states are prepared to give up their nuclear arsenals for the foreseeable future. At the start of 2014 nine states — the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea — possessed approximately 4000 operational nuclear weapons. If all nuclear warheads are counted, these states together possessed a total of approximately 16,300 nuclear weapons compared to 17,270 in early 2013.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) yesterday released its annual nuclear forces data, which assesses the current trends and developments in world nuclear arsenals. SIPRI notes that the data shows that while the overall number of nuclear weapons in the world continues to decline, none of the nuclear weapon-possessing states are prepared to give up their nuclear arsenals for the foreseeable future.
At the start of 2014 nine states — the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea — possessed approximately 4000 operational nuclear weapons. If all nuclear warheads are counted, these states together possessed a total of approximately 16,300 nuclear weapons compared to 17,270 in early 2013.
Over the past five years there has been a steady decline in the overall number of nuclear warheads in the world. The decrease is due mainly to Russia and the United States — which together still account for more than 93 percent of all nuclear weapons — further reducing their inventories of strategic nuclear weapons under the terms of the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START).
At the same time, all five legally recognized nuclear weapon states — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States — are either deploying new nuclear weapon delivery systems or have announced programs to do so. India and Pakistan continue to develop new systems capable of delivering nuclear weapons and are expanding their capacities to produce fissile material for military purposes.
There is an emerging consensus in the expert community that North Korea has produced a small number of nuclear weapons, as distinct from rudimentary nuclear explosive devices.
Number of nuclear weapons held by states
- United States – 7,300
- Russia – 8,000
- United Kingdom – 225
- France – 300
- China – 250
- India – 90-110
- Pakistan – 100-120
- Israel – 80
North Korea – 6-8
