The nine nuclear-armed states—United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom, France, India, Israel, Pakistan, and North Korea—jointly spent nearly US$119 billion on their nuclear weapons in 2025, up about 19-20% from 2024, marking a record high global total [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The United States led by a wide margin, spending approximately US$69.2 billion, more than all the others combined, representing a $12.4 to $12.6 billion increase or about 22% from 2024 [1, 2, 3]. China ranked second with around US$13.5 billion, followed by the United Kingdom at US$12.6 billion and Russia at US$9.5 billion [1, 3]. India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea each spent between approximately US$0.65 billion and US$2.8 billion [3].
Over the past five years, these nine countries have spent over US$470 billion on nuclear arsenals [1, 2, 3]. Spending is expected to keep rising, with the US projecting nearly US$1 trillion on nuclear arms from 2025 to 2034 [1, 4, 5]. The US plans to deploy new weapons systems with long lifespans, including Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missiles expected to remain active past 2100 and plutonium pit warheads lasting through 2120 [1, 4].
Despite a decline in the global nuclear warhead stockpile to an estimated 12,187 weapons, the number ready for immediate use has risen to around 9,745 [4, 6]. The US and Russia together hold about 83% of the world’s nuclear arsenal, each with over 5,000 warheads, while China’s arsenal is growing fastest, with around 620 warheads [4, 7].
Experts warn that the increasing spending and modernization amid geopolitical tensions constitute a new nuclear arms race and greater nuclear risks. "To be perfectly honest, I’m terrified," said Susi Snyder, ICAN director of programmes [1]. Snyder also noted that nuclear spending in 2025 equaled the United Nations’ 32-year operating budget [2]. She added, "Countries keep expanding nuclear arsenals instead of investing in aid or healthcare, funding weapons they know would constitute war crimes if used [6]."
Karim Haggag, director of SIPRI, said, "Despite the decrease in total nuclear weapons, the level of nuclear dangers and nuclear risks are rising" [8]. There are also concerns that artificial intelligence may increase the risks of nuclear weapons being used [1, 8].
By comparison, one day of global nuclear weapons spending could cover food security for over 2 million people or fund the UN operating budget for more than three decades [1, 6].
On June 9, 2026, ICAN and SIPRI released reports highlighting these rising nuclear weapons expenditures and risks amid ongoing geopolitical tensions [2, 4, 6, 8].
