Global Nuclear Weapons Spending and Modernization in 2023: Key Insights from SIPRI Report
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Global Spending | $91.4 billion in 2023 ($2,898 per second), a $10.7 billion increase from 2022. |
| Top Spenders | US (80% of the increase), followed by China and Russia. |
| Nuclear-Armed States | 9 countries: US, Russia, China, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, and the UK. |
| Modernization Efforts | All nine states intensified modernization and expansion of nuclear capabilities. |
| India vs. Pakistan | India: 172 nuclear warheads; Pakistan: 170. India focuses on longer-range weapons targeting China. |
| China's Nuclear Growth | Increased from 410 to 500 warheads in 2023, aiming to match US and Russia's ICBM capabilities by 2030. |
| Operational Warheads | Approx. 2,100 warheads on high operational alert. Russia and the US dominate; China joined for the first time. |
| Transparency Issues | Declined post-Russia's Ukraine invasion, leading to debates on nuclear-sharing and global security. |