Nine countries possess the largest nuclear weapons stockpiles globally, posing great threats to international security and stability.
According to Statista, “There were approximately 13,080 nuclear warheads worldwide as of January 2021, and almost 90 per cent of them belong to two countries: the United States and Russia.”
Nuclear warheads are powerful weapons capable of annihilating entire cities and causing widespread radioactive damage that can last for generations.
Their use has been recorded only once in history, during World War II, when the United States bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
Since then, numerous countries have developed nuclear arsenals.
Here’s a list of the top 9 nations with the largest nuclear warhead stockpiles:
1. Russia – 6,255 nuclear warheads, deployable via missiles, submarines, or aircraft.
2. United States – 5,550 nuclear warheads.
3. China – Approximately 350 nuclear warheads, with ongoing development.
4. France – Around 290 nuclear warheads, with its first nuclear test conducted in 1960.
5. United Kingdom – 225 nuclear warheads, supported by four ballistic marine submarines.
6. Pakistan – Approximately 165 nuclear warheads.
7. India – 160 nuclear warheads.
8. Israel – About 90 nuclear warheads, although Israel has never publicly confirmed its nuclear arsenal.
9. North Korea – 45 nuclear warheads.