The world’s nuclear powers are increasingly deploying warheads on missiles and aircraft instead of keeping them in storage, raising the risk of conflict and escalation, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute warned.
Despite a gradual decline in overall stockpiles, an estimated 9,745 of the world’s 12,187 were held in military stockpiles for potential use in January 2026, with around 4,012 already deployed with operational forces, according to SIPRI.
The US and Russia together account for roughly 83% of the global stockpile, with more than 5,000 warheads each, while China continues to expand its arsenal faster than any other country.
SIPRI also found that all nine nuclear-armed states modernised their arsenals in 2025, with most introducing new nuclear-capable weapon systems.
