12,000 Nuclear Warheads in the World!

Washington – Agencies: Despite international efforts to curb the spread of nuclear weapons since the end of the Cold War, the world still possesses a massive arsenal of nuclear warheads, amid a slowdown in disarmament progress and escalating efforts by several countries to modernize their nuclear arsenals. According to the latest 2026 estimates published by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), nine countries possess approximately 12,187 nuclear warheads, with Russia and the United States together accounting for about 86% of them.

Estimates indicate that around 9,745 warheads are classified as part of military stockpiles designated for use, including 3,912 warheads deployed with operational forces. Meanwhile, approximately 2,100 nuclear warheads are kept on high alert, enabling their use within a short timeframe.

Russia leads the list of nuclear-armed states with about 5,420 warheads, followed by the United States with 5,042, China with 620, and France with 370. The United Kingdom follows with 225 warheads, then India with 190, Pakistan with 170, Israel with 90, and North Korea with 60 nuclear warheads.