Which Country Has The Most Nuclear Weapons?
Nuclear weapons have been the great equalizer since the dawn of the atomic age. Countries the world over have sought to acquire access to the same levels of nuclear capability as the nations perceived to be national superpowers. With nuclear disarmament agreements and treaties a major focus over the last half-century, the question still remains, which country has the most nuclear weapons?
Nuclear Weapons Today
Nuclear weapons are still a major source of power and influence for the nine known nuclear-capable countries, and are largely maintained as strategic deterrents. By maintaining a ‘nuclear balance’ with the other established actors, access to the ‘nuclear club’ has been limited, though the levels of possession of nuclear capabilities have greatly evolved in the last few decades.
The NPT and International Restrictions
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is an internationally-recognized agreement which allows the disarmament of stockpiled nuclear weapons and limits the spread of these weapons in an effort to achieve nuclear peace. It acknowledges five countries as nuclear-weapon states: The United States (USA), Russia (then the Soviet Union), the United Kingdom (UK), France, and China.
These five countries are the only countries confirmed to possess nuclear capabilities, and have been since the start of the NPT in 1970.
The 4 Nuclear Weapons States Beyond the NPT
There are however, four additional countries that are known or widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, not recognized by the NPT: India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel.
India
India began its research into nuclear capability in the 1940s, though was not officially recognized as a nuclear-capable state until 1998, when it conducted six nuclear tests. India currently claims to possess 140-150 nuclear warheads as part of an overall nuclear deterrent.
Pakistan
Pakistan also entered into the nuclear club in 1998 when it detonated six nuclear devices of its own. It is believed that Pakistan has around 150 nuclear weapons, though official numbers are disputed.
North Korea
North Korea has perhaps drawn the most attention internationally for its nuclear testing, having conducted six nuclear tests in the years between 2006 and 2017. Estimations from the Arms Controlled Association say that North Korea has approximately 20-30 nuclear warheads.
Israel
Israel is generally accepted as having a nuclear program, though it has never confirmed nor denied these claims. Estimations from the Arms Controlled Association place the number of Israeli nuclear warheads at approximately 80.
Which Country Has the Most Nuclear Weapons?
Of the four countries outside the NPT, the overwhelming conclusion is that the country with the most nuclear weapons is the United States of America. While the USA was one of the first signatories of the NPT and maintains the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons, there is some debate over the exact numbers in their arsenal. It is generally accepted that the US has around 3,800 nuclear warheads, though some dispute this as potentially higher.
In terms of the four countries beyond the NPT, it is believed that both India and Pakistan have larger stockpiles than North Korea or Israel. But none of these countries can begin to compare to the massive nuclear capability of the United States of America.
Nuclear weapons remain a major source of power and influence for countries across the world, and the five states recognized under the NPT have maintained a strong nuclear balance. Beyond these five states, there are four countries which are known or believed to have their own nuclear capability. Of these four states, it is generally accepted that the USA has the most nuclear weapons, though the exact number is not known publicly. This is due in part to their continued investments in nuclear deterrents, as well as the historical significance of the United States’ contribution to the development of the atomic age.