Amid escalating Iran-Israel tensions and growing concerns over a new nuclear arms race, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has raised alarm about the state of the world’s nuclear arsenal. The SIPRI Yearbook 2025 reveals that nine nuclear-armed states collectively possess 12,241 warheads — a dramatic indicator of the ongoing expansion and modernisation of nuclear capabilities.
Nuclear-Armed States and Warheads
According to SIPRI, nine countries currently possess nuclear warheads. Here’s a breakdown of their inventories:
- United States: 5,177
- Russia: 5,459
- China: 600
- France: 290
- United Kingdom: 225
- India: 180
- Pakistan: 170
- Israel: 90
- North Korea: 50
SIPRI highlights that these states “continued intensive nuclear modernisation programmes in 2024, upgrading existing weapons and adding newer versions.”
Nuclear Deployment and Storage
Of the total 12,241 warheads in the world, 9,614 are in military stockpiles and are potentially available for use.
About 3,912 warheads were deployed with aircraft and ballistic missiles at the start of 2025, while nearly 2,100 were kept at a state of high operational alert — predominantly by the USA and Russia.
SIPRI notes that “China may now keep some warheads on missiles during peacetime.”
A Rising Concern Amid Conflict
The new data comes at a time when Iran’s nuclear programme and the ongoing Iran-Israel tensions have raised alarm about a potential escalation in nuclear proliferation.
Leaders from the USA and Israel have insisted Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, adding urgency to diplomatic and strategic conversations.
As nine nuclear powers collectively hold over 12,000 warheads — many of them ready for deployment — the SIPRI Yearbook underscores a growing vulnerability in the international security environment. The ongoing Iran-Israel tensions and the weakening of arms control regimes serve as a dramatic backdrop to this growing nuclear competition.
