These are the nine countries possessing nuclear weapons according to SIPRI report

According to the Associated Press and a recent report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), nine countries currently possess or are widely believed to possess nuclear weapons.

These include five countries recognized under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and four states outside of its framework.

The five officially recognized nuclear-armed states under the NPT are the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom. These nations have declared their nuclear arsenals and committed, through the NPT, to pursuing eventual disarmament.

Beyond the NPT, India and Pakistan have developed nuclear weapons independently and have never signed the treaty. India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974 and another in 1998; Pakistan responded with tests of its own later that same year.

Israel, while not officially confirming its nuclear status, is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons. It has not joined the NPT and maintains a policy of strategic ambiguity regarding its arsenal.

North Korea was originally a signatory of the NPT but withdrew in 2003, citing hostility from the United States. Since its withdrawal, it has carried out multiple nuclear tests.

Iran, although not confirmed to possess nuclear weapons, continues enriching uranium up to 60% purity—close to the 90% threshold needed for weaponization—raising global concerns.

As of January 2025, SIPRI estimates the following nuclear warhead stockpiles:

-Russia: 4,309

-United States: 3,700

-China: 600

-France: 290

-United Kingdom: 225

-India: 180

-Pakistan: 170

-Israel: 90

-North Korea: 50

Despite international treaties and diplomatic pressure, the global trend points away from nuclear disarmament. Many nuclear-armed states are actively investing in the modernization and expansion of their arsenals.