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China added more nuclear warheads than all other states combined

Military stockpile of nuclear warheads by state, January 2026, with January 2024 as markers. SIPRI estimates.

Arms and alliances
  1. 1. Ukraine is now the world's biggest arms importer
  2. 2. Russia's share of arms exports fell from 21% to 7%
  3. 3. Poland spends more of its economy on defence than America
  4. 4. China added more nuclear warheads than all other states combined
  5. 5. Algeria outspends all of sub-Saharan Africa on its military
  6. 6. Nepal sends more UN peacekeepers than all five veto powers
  7. 7. China runs the world's largest diplomatic network
  8. 8. SpaceX launches more rockets than the rest of Earth combined
  9. 9. China went from the world's top arms buyer to 21st
+120

China's stockpile grew from 500 to 620 warheads between January 2024 and January 2026.

+48

The other eight nuclear states' increases added up to less than half of China's.

+24%

China's arsenal grew fastest of all nine, ahead of North Korea (+20%) and India (+10%).

Source: SIPRI Yearbook 2026, World nuclear forces, January 2026 (press release, 8 June 2026); SIPRI Yearbook 2024, chapter 7, Table 7.1, January 2026
the numbers & method
China added more nuclear warheads than all other states combined. Source: SIPRI Yearbook 2026, World nuclear forces, January 2026 (press release, 8 June 2026); SIPRI Yearbook 2024, chapter 7, Table 7.1, January 2026.
Change since 2024Stockpile 2026Jan 2024
Russia204,4004,380
United States-83,7003,708
China120620500
France0290290
United Kingdom0225225
India18190172
Pakistan0170170
Israel09090
North Korea106050

Claim types Estimate

All values are SIPRI estimates; nine states do not publish full data. 2026 table from SIPRI's press release annex (WNF 2026 PR); 2024 from YB24 Table 7.1. Military stockpile excludes retired warheads awaiting dismantlement. Other states' increases (derived): Russia +20, India +18, North Korea +10; US −8; UK, France, Pakistan, Israel unchanged. Russia's rise is largely a reassessment of non-strategic warheads, not new production. North Korea figures are highly uncertain. SIPRI says China could pass 1,000 warheads by 2030 (Forecast, not charted).

Published 3 Nov 2026

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