Nuclear Warheads in 2025: Which Country Has the Most?

Only nine countries in the world possess nuclear warheads, with Russia having the most (4,309) in 2025, followed by the United States (3,700) and China (600). Of the two superpowers in the world, Russia and the United States have the most nuclear warheads, while China has increased its stockpile by 100 since 2024.

As global tensions rise, nuclear arsenals are considered an important measure of power. Their distribution reflects the impact of power, deterrence, and geopolitical priorities.

(Source: Visual Capitalist)

List of countries with the most nuclear warheads, as of January 2025.

Two superpowers still dominate

Russia and the United States, together, represent more than 80% of the world’s nuclear warheads. According to Visual Capitalist, the dominance of the two countries is a legacy of the Cold War, which has been marked by decades of nuclear weapons development and strategic deterrence planning.

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This dominance marked the beginning of the Cold War, a real reflection of decades of nuclear weapons development and strategic deterrence planning. According to Visual Capitalist, the United States’ nuclear arsenal peaked in 1967 at 31,255, a massive number, while the Soviet Union is estimated to have reached 40,000 warheads in 1986.

China’s Warhead Growth

Although China still lags far behind the United States and Russia, the country has increased its stockpile by 100 warheads in just one year, from 500 to 600—a 20% increase, according to Visual Capitalist.

Others

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India, a neighbor of China and Pakistan, now has 180 nuclear warheads, with the country adding eight warheads last year, increasing that number.

In recent years, France, the UK, and Israel have not produced any warheads, and their arsenals have remained stable, according to SIPRI.