Honestly, the world feels a bit more "on edge" this morning than it did a decade ago. We used to talk about nuclear disarmament like it was a slow, inevitable march toward a safer planet. But if you look at the data coming out of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) or the latest cables from the Federation of American Scientists, that narrative has basically flipped.
So, what country has nuclear weapons right now?
As of early 2026, there are nine. That’s the "club." It’s an exclusive, terrifying, and incredibly expensive group to belong to. But the real story isn't just a list of names; it’s the fact that for the first time since the Cold War, the total number of usable nuclear warheads is actually starting to climb again. We’ve stopped dismantling the old stuff faster than we’re building the new stuff.
The Heavy Hitters: Russia and the United States
You can't talk about nukes without starting here. It’s kinda wild, but Russia and the U.S. still own about 90% of everything.
Russia currently holds the largest inventory, with an estimated 5,459 warheads. About 1,700 of those are "deployed," which is military-speak for "ready to go at a moment's notice." They’ve been busy lately, too. Putin’s government has been vocal about modernizing their triad—land-based missiles, subs, and bombers. They even revoked their ratification of the Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) recently, which has experts like Hans M. Kristensen pretty worried about a return to actual explosive testing.
Then you've got the United States. The U.S. stockpile sits at roughly 5,044 warheads. We’re in the middle of a massive, trillion-dollar refresh of our own. You might have heard of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber or the new Columbia-class submarines. That’s where the money is going.
Here is the kicker: the New START Treaty, which was the last big bridge keeping these two in check, is set to expire on February 5, 2026. That is literally weeks or days away depending on when you’re reading this. Without it, there are no legal limits on how many long-range nukes they can deploy. It’s a "wild west" scenario we haven't seen in decades.
The Rising Power: China’s "Sprint"
For years, China kept a "modest" arsenal of a few hundred. They had a "No First Use" policy and seemed content.
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That’s over.
Basically, China is in a full-on sprint. Satellite imagery has revealed massive silo fields being built in places like Yumen and Hami. The Pentagon and SIPRI now estimate China has surpassed 600 warheads and could hit 1,000 by the end of the decade. They aren't just building more; they’re making them better—hypersonic glide vehicles and missiles that can stay in orbit.
The Mid-Tier: France and the UK
Europe has its own "deterrents," though they operate very differently.
- France: They have about 290 warheads. Almost all of them are tucked away on four Triomphant-class submarines. France is fiercely independent about its nukes; they aren't part of the NATO Nuclear Planning Group. They call it their force de frappe.
- United Kingdom: The UK has around 225 warheads. Unlike France, the UK actually uses U.S.-made Trident missiles, though they put their own warheads on them. A few years ago, they surprised everyone by raising their "ceiling" for warheads from 180 to 260.
The South Asian Flashpoint: India and Pakistan
This is the neighborhood that keeps diplomats awake at night.
India and Pakistan are roughly neck-and-neck, with India holding about 180 and Pakistan around 170. Neither of them signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
India’s program is driven by its rivalry with China, while Pakistan’s is almost entirely focused on India. It’s a classic "security dilemma." If one side builds a new short-range "tactical" nuke, the other side feels they have to match it. Pakistan, in particular, has moved toward "full-spectrum deterrence," which basically means they have a nuke for every possible level of conflict.
The Outliers: North Korea and Israel
Then we have the "unofficial" members.
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North Korea is the only country to have tested a nuclear weapon in the 21st century. They’ve done six tests so far. Estimates suggest they have enough fissile material for maybe 50 to 60 warheads, and they’re getting much better at the "delivery" part—the rockets that actually carry the bomb.
Israel is a unique case. They’ve never officially admitted to having nukes. It’s called "nuclear opacity" or amimut. However, everyone (including the CIA and various whistleblowers like Mordechai Vanunu) knows they have them. Estimates usually land around 90 warheads, likely deliverable by land-based Jericho missiles and Dolphin-class submarines.
The "Nuclear Sharing" Confusion
If you live in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, or Turkey, you might think your country has nukes.
Sorta.
These countries don't own them, but they host U.S. B61 gravity bombs. In a major war, U.S. codes would be used to "hand over" these weapons to be dropped by German or Italian pilots. It’s a controversial Cold War relic that’s been getting a lot of attention lately because of the war in Ukraine.
Even Belarus has recently entered this game, hosting Russian tactical nukes under a similar arrangement.
What About Iran?
You'll see Iran in the news a lot when people ask what country has nuclear weapons.
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As of today, Iran does not have a nuclear weapon.
However, they are closer than they’ve ever been. Since the U.S. pulled out of the JCPOA (the "Iran Deal"), Tehran has ramped up uranium enrichment to 60%—just a tiny technical step away from the 90% needed for a bomb. The recent Israeli strikes in late 2025 and early 2026 targeted their missile infrastructure, but the "breakout time" (how long it would take them to make enough fuel for one bomb) is now measured in days or weeks, not months.
Why This Matters Right Now
The "grand bargain" of the 20th century was the NPT. The big guys promised to eventually get rid of their nukes if the small guys promised never to build them.
That bargain is fraying.
The 2026 NPT Review Conference is approaching, and the mood is sour. Non-nuclear states are rightfully pointing out that the U.S., Russia, and China aren't disarming; they’re "re-arming."
We’re also seeing new tech—Artificial Intelligence and cyber-warfare—creeping into nuclear command and control. That’s terrifying because it shortens the decision-making time for leaders. If an AI detects a "launch" that turns out to be a glitch, a president might only have minutes to decide whether to retaliate before their own silos are hit.
Actionable Steps: How to Stay Informed
The world of nuclear policy moves fast, and most of it happens behind closed doors. If you want to keep track of this without falling into "doom-scrolling," here’s what you should actually do:
- Follow the Right Sources: Don't just rely on social media headlines. Check the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (the people who run the Doomsday Clock) or the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI). They provide context that isn't just "fear-porn."
- Track the New START Expiration: Keep an eye on February 2026. If the U.S. and Russia don't find a way to extend or replace the treaty limits, expect to see a lot of "saber-rattling" in the news regarding new deployments.
- Support Transparency Initiatives: Organizations like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are the "inspectors on the ground." Their ability to access sites in Iran and elsewhere is the only thing standing between us and total guesswork.
- Understand the "Nuclear Umbrella": If you live in Japan, South Korea, or Australia, your security is tied to the U.S. "nuclear umbrella." Watch for shifts in their domestic politics; there’s a growing movement in Seoul for South Korea to develop its own nukes to counter the North.
The nuclear map isn't static. It’s a living, breathing, and unfortunately growing part of our global reality. Knowing who has what—and why they have it—is the first step in demanding a world where these things aren't necessary.