Global military spending on nuclear weapons reached $119 billion in 2025, according to the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). This massive capital mobilization, which rose by 19% over the previous year, highlights a growing trend of states prioritizing atomic arsenals over global humanitarian and climate needs.
The True Cost of Nuclear Modernization
The $119 billion spent in 2025 stands in stark contrast to the $93 billion that the UN estimates could eradicate world hunger annually by 2030. According to ICAN, a single day of global spending on nuclear arsenals could have provided food security for more than two million people. Beyond food security, this investment could have protected a third of developing nations from the impacts of climate change.
The nine nuclear-armed states spend over $226,000 every single minute on weapons of mass destruction, locking in financial commitments that will span decades.
Who Leads the Global Spending Surge?
The United States remains the largest spender by a significant margin. According to data tracked by ICAN, the U.S. allocated $69.2 billion to its nuclear program in 2025, accounting for 58% of the total global expenditure. Other nations follow with substantially lower, yet rising, investments: China spent $13.5 billion, the United Kingdom $12.6 billion, and Russia $9.5 billion.
The financial burden is not merely a short-term trend. In the U.S., the development of new Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missiles represents a long-term fiscal commitment. The projected spending for these systems between 2025 and 2034 is nearly $1,000 billion, with the infrastructure intended to remain operational well beyond the year 2100.
Shifting Arsenals: The Risk of Immediate Use
While the total number of nuclear warheads globally decreased to 12,187 by early 2026, the risk of use is rising, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). A critical shift is occurring: governments are moving warheads from long-term storage into active deployment systems.
As of early 2026, 9,745 warheads are now considered ready for potential immediate use. Experts warn that this increased “readiness” creates a higher risk of accidental launch, a danger exacerbated by the integration of artificial intelligence into command and control systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did the world spend on nuclear weapons in 2025?
According to ICAN, global spending on nuclear weapons reached $119 billion in 2025, marking a 19% increase from the prior year.
Are nuclear stockpiles growing or shrinking?
While SIPRI reports that the total number of warheads has slightly declined to 12,187, the number of warheads kept in a state of high alert—ready for immediate use—has climbed to 9,745.
Why is the risk of accidental nuclear war considered higher now?
The risk is rising because more warheads are being moved from storage to active launch systems, and the integration of AI into military command structures complicates traditional safety protocols, according to SIPRI.
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