Nuclear powers' 2025 spending hits record, fueling new arms race

A study by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) found that the nine recognized nuclear-armed states spent a record US$118.8 billion on nuclear armaments in 2025, a 19 % increase over the previous year. The United States led the spending at US$69.2 billion, enough to fund the United Nations' budget for 19 years, followed by China (US$13.5 billion), the United Kingdom (US$12.6 billion) and Russia (US$9.5 billion). All nine states – the US, Russia, the UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea – raised their nuclear budgets.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reported that the global nuclear stockpile totals about 12,187 warheads, with roughly 9,745 in operational reserves. Although the overall number of warheads has marginally declined, the institute warned that the pace of dismantlement is slowing while deployment of new weapons accelerates, raising the risk of nuclear use. The US and Russia together hold about 83 % of all warheads.

SIPRI also highlighted rapid modernization and expansion by China, which increased its warhead count to 620 and may be deploying warheads on mobile missiles. The report warned that the growing deployment of weapons from storage to delivery systems, combined with heightened geopolitical tensions, signals a new nuclear arms race that could divert resources that might otherwise address global hunger and health needs.