Rising Nuclear Stockpiles in the World

Amid rising geopolitical tensions and global conflicts, several countries are rapidly strengthening their military capabilities. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India had 190 nuclear warheads as of January 2025, which is 20 more than Pakistan. The report stated that India added 10 new warheads within a year.

China reportedly has 620 nuclear weapons, while Russia (5,420) and the United States (5,042) remain the world’s largest nuclear powers. SIPRI noted that there are over 12,000 nuclear warheads globally. India’s defence expenditure stood at $92.1 billion in 2025, marking an 8.9% increase from the previous year, and accounting for 8.2% of global arms imports.