As the war in the Middle East between US-Israel and Iran intensifies, the threat of a nuclear attack looms large - read on for the full list of which country has what as tensions escalate daily.

As tensions escalate daily in the Middle East conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran, the genuine prospect of nuclear warfare weighs heavily on the public consciousness.

Ongoing hostilities including the Russia -Ukraine confrontation, the Israel-Hamas fighting, and military clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan create a volatile mix of dangerous military engagements between nations where at least one side possesses nuclear capabilities.

In today's world where knowledge equals power, staying abreast of current developments is crucial. Therefore, for those interested in understanding precisely which nations possess which nuclear arsenals, we've compiled the complete breakdown, reports the Express.

List of countries with nuclear weapons in 2026

Russia

United States

China

France

United Kingdom

Pakistan

India

Israel

North Korea

Nuclear arsenals held by these nine nations

These nine nuclear-armed states collectively possess approximately 12,300 warheads as of early 2026, with more than 9,614 maintained in operational military stockpiles for deployment via missiles, naval vessels, aircraft, and submarines, according to the Federation of American Scientists' (FAS) 2025 Status of World Nuclear Forces.

The remaining warheads have been decommissioned but still remain largely intact whilst awaiting disassembly. According to the Federation of American Scientists: "Of the 9,614 warheads in the military stockpiles, some 3,912 are deployed with operational forces (on missiles or bomber bases). Of those, approximately 2,100 US, Russian, British, and French warheads are on high alert, ready for use on short notice."

This overall figure of 12,241 warheads represents a substantial decrease from the roughly 70,000 warheads held by nuclear-armed nations during the Cold War. However, experts anticipate the number will climb steadily over the coming decade, with modern weapons being far more advanced than their Cold War predecessors.

Which country has exactly what

The precise number of nuclear weapons held by each nation remains a tightly-guarded state secret, meaning these estimates carry "significant uncertainty" according to the FAS. These figures are also thought to have been compiled before the escalation of tensions involving the US, Israel and Iran.

That said, Russia is believed to possess approximately 5,459 nuclear warheads, of which 1,150 are retired - meaning they've been removed from the military stockpile but remain intact whilst awaiting dismantlement.

A further 2,591 nuclear warheads sit within the Kremlin's military stockpile, designated for potential military deployment, whilst 1,718 are already strategically positioned - bringing the active nuclear stockpile total to 4,309. The United States, meanwhile, maintains a total active stockpile of 3,700 nuclear warheads, comprising 1,670 strategically deployed, 100 non-strategically deployed, and 1,930 held in the military stockpile for potential use.

The US also holds 1,477 retired nuclear warheads - bringing their total nuclear warheads to 5,177. America's nuclear weapons are stationed in five other nations - Turkey, Italy, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands - in addition to its own territory.

Combined, Russia and the United States control an estimated 87% of the world's total inventory of nuclear weapons as of early 2026, and 83% of the stockpiled warheads available for military deployment.

No other nuclear-armed states apart from Russia and the US currently deem it necessary to maintain more than a few hundred nuclear weapons for their national security, though many are developing their nuclear programmes and gradually expanding their arsenals.

China's total nuclear inventory is estimated at 600, with 576 warheads in reserve stockpile and 24 strategically deployed. It should be noted that the vast majority of the nine nuclear-armed countries provide minimal or no information regarding the actual size of their nuclear stockpiles.

France is understood to maintain an active arsenal of approximately 300 warheads as of 2026, comprising 280 strategically deployed nuclear weapons, 10 held in reserves or non-deployed stockpiles, and 80 retired warheads, bringing the complete total to an estimated 370.

The United Kingdom is thought to possess a total nuclear inventory of 225 warheads, with 120 strategically deployed and 105 kept in reserve stockpiles for potential military deployment.

India, Pakistan, and Israel have never signed up to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), whose stated aim is: "Prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament."

North Korea, however, originally joined the NPT as a non-nuclear weapon state, but declared its withdrawal from the agreement in 2003.

India is estimated to possess roughly 180 nuclear warheads, Pakistan is thought to hold 170, and North Korea has approximately 50. These figures are calculated based on the quantity of fissile material - highly enriched plutonium and uranium - that each of these nuclear-armed nations is estimated to have produced.

The precise warhead count for Israel and North Korea remains unconfirmed, though it's believed North Korea possesses sufficient fissile material to produce at least "40-50 individual weapons", whilst Israel has the "nuclear material for up to 200". According to the Arms Control Association: "North Korea likely possesses additional fissile material that is not weaponized, but there is a high degree of uncertainty surrounding these estimates.

"North Korea has uranium enrichment technology and a known uranium enrichment facility at Yongbyon. It likely operates additional covert uranium enrichment facilities at other locations. North Korea has developed nuclear capable missiles of various ranges, including ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles), and claims to have developed tactical nuclear warheads."

Whilst the worldwide stockpile of nuclear weapons is declining, the rate of reductions has decelerated compared to the previous three decades.

Indeed, French President Emmanuel Macron recently declared his nation would be expanding its nuclear arsenal, with the leader stating: "The next 50 years will be an era of nuclear weapons." Macron also unveiled plans for France's new nuclear-armed submarine in 2036 called The Invincible.

The quantity of warheads in global military reserves is climbing with China, North Korea, India, Pakistan, France, the United Kingdom, and quite possibly Russia, thought to be steadily increasing their current stockpiles. The USA has rapidly depleted its nuclear weapons stockpile in its current war with Iran, including Tomahawk missiles, and it remains to be seen whether it adds more to its existing inventory.