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It is nearly eight decades since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ushered in the nuclear age and the global race to maintain and modernise nuclear arsenals is accelerating rather than slowing down.
According to the latest report, as seen by Firstpost, released by 2017 Nobel Peace prize winner the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), nuclear-armed nations collectively spent almost $119 billion on their arsenals in 2025, the highest level recorded in recent years and a sharp increase from the previous year.
The nine countries known to possess nuclear weapons spent a combined $118.8 billion in 2025. Compared to 2024, this represented an increase of $16.8 billion, or approximately 19 per cent.
The scale of expenditure becomes even more striking when viewed in real-time terms. Globally, nuclear weapons programmes consumed around $3,768 every second, more than $226,000 every minute and roughly $326 million every day throughout the year.
Over the five-year period between 2021 and 2025, total spending by nuclear powers reached approximately $471 billion.
The spending hierarchy remains heavily concentrated. The United States accounted for the overwhelming majority of expenditure, allocating $69.2 billion to its nuclear forces.
China ranked second with $13.5 billion, followed by the United Kingdom at $12.6 billion. Russia allocated $9.5 billion and France spent $7.7 billion.
Further down the list, India spent $2.8 billion, Pakistan devoted $1.5 billion, Israel allocated $1.2 billion and North Korea reportedly spent an estimated $656 million.
The report arrives at a time when many governments are increasing military budgets amidst ongoing conflicts and concerns over strategic stability.
Yet despite these trends, support for nuclear disarmament initiatives has also continued to grow. ICAN notes that 99 countries have now signed, ratified or acceded to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
No country comes close to matching American expenditure on nuclear weapons. Washington's 2025 nuclear budget reached $69.2 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of $12.4 billion. The United States alone accounted for well over half of all global nuclear spending.
America's nuclear stockpile is estimated at 5,042 weapons, carrying a combined destructive power equivalent to more than 45,000 Hiroshima bombs.
Funding is divided between the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration and military programmes overseen by the Pentagon. The former manages warhead development, maintenance and production activities, while the latter funds delivery systems including strategic bombers, ballistic missile submarines and land-based missiles.
Several of the most expensive modernisation projects are already underway. These include the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile programme, the B-21 Raider strategic bomber and the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine fleet.
The financial burden of these initiatives is expected to continue growing. The Congressional Budget Office projects that US nuclear forces will require approximately $946 billion between 2025 and 2034. Longer-term estimates exceed $1.2 trillion.
The Sentinel programme alone has already experienced cost overruns estimated at $24 billion.
At a national level, the report calculates that the United States spent approximately $131,659 every minute on nuclear weapons during 2025, equivalent to about $199 per citizen.
China maintained its position as the world's second-largest nuclear spender, allocating $13.5 billion to nuclear forces during 2025. The country's arsenal is estimated at around 620 nuclear weapons spread across land-based missiles, strategic bombers and submarine-launched systems.
Because Beijing does not publicly disclose detailed nuclear spending figures, ICAN estimated expenditures by calculating four per cent of China's overall military budget.
China's nuclear enterprise relies heavily on state-controlled industrial organisations. The China National Nuclear Corporation oversees plutonium production and weapons development, while the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation is responsible for intercontinental ballistic missile production.
Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines are produced through major state-owned shipbuilding entities.
The report also notes challenges linked to corruption investigations within China's strategic sectors. Public attention has focused on senior figures within the country's nuclear establishment, raising questions about governance and oversight in key defence industries.
In financial terms, China spent approximately $25,744 every minute on nuclear weapons in 2025.
Russia retains the world's largest nuclear arsenal, with an estimated 5,420 warheads. Despite enormous increases in conventional military spending following
the war in Ukraine, Moscow still allocated approximately $9.5 billion to its nuclear forces in 2025.
Russia's strategic arsenal is managed primarily through state-owned enterprises. Organisations linked to missile production, bomber development and next-generation strategic systems continue to receive substantial funding.
The country is also working on future systems such as the Kedr intercontinental ballistic missile programme, which is expected to replace existing missile families in coming decades.
The United Kingdom spent $12.6 billion on its nuclear deterrent, making it the third-largest spender globally. Britain maintains a submarine-only nuclear posture through its Vanguard-class fleet armed with Trident II D5 missiles.
However, the future of the UK's deterrent rests on the Dreadnought-class submarine programme, which is expected to remain operational into the 2060s. Parliamentary assessments suggest Britain could spend around £128 billion on new nuclear systems between 2023 and 2033.
France allocated $7.7 billion to nuclear forces in 2025 and continues to invest heavily in both submarine-launched ballistic missiles and air-delivered nuclear systems.
French modernisation plans are particularly ambitious. The country's next generation of ballistic missile submarines is expected to remain operational into the 2090s. Meanwhile, future cruise missile projects are designed to ensure the credibility of France's deterrent for decades.
Under France's 2024-2030 Military Programming Law, approximately €58.4 billion has been earmarked specifically for nuclear forces.
India ranked sixth among the world's nuclear powers in terms of spending. The report estimates that New Delhi allocated approximately $2.8 billion, or ₹246.7 billion, to nuclear weapons programmes during 2025.
This represented a rise of around 12 per cent compared with the previous year. India's nuclear arsenal is estimated at approximately 190 weapons. These are deployed across a triad consisting of land-based missiles, aircraft and sea-based systems.
ICAN's methodology linked nuclear expenditure to strategic systems development within the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), while also accounting for infrastructure and warhead-related costs.
Although India's spending remains significantly lower than that of the major nuclear powers, the country's strategic capabilities continue to expand. The report identifies DRDO as the central coordinator of India's nuclear delivery systems.
Domestic industry plays a major role as well. Larsen & Toubro contributes through specialised strategic facilities, while MTAR Technologies, Bharat Dynamics and Walchandnagar Industries support missile and propulsion programmes.
A significant development occurred in April earlier this year when India commissioned INS Aridhaman, its third indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine. The move strengthened the sea-based leg of India's nuclear triad and reinforced the country's long-term deterrence posture.
India's future commitments are also expected to extend far into the future. The report notes that India's induction of the Rafale fighter aircraft in 2022 could create operational and financial obligations lasting into the 2070s, based on historical service lives of comparable platforms.
Measured against total military expenditure, India's nuclear spending accounted for approximately three per cent of its defence budget. The report estimates that India spent around ₹469,396 every minute on nuclear weapons activities during 2025.
Pakistan spent approximately $1.5 billion on nuclear weapons in 2025. Its arsenal is estimated at around 170 weapons, deployed primarily through land-based missiles and aircraft. Pakistan continues to pursue improvements in sea-based nuclear capabilities as well.
The country's nuclear programme remains closely associated with state-run facilities, including Khan Research Laboratories.
Israel, which maintains a longstanding policy of nuclear ambiguity, was estimated to have spent $1.2 billion during the year.
The report places Israel's arsenal at roughly 90 nuclear weapons. These are believed to be deployable through a combination of aircraft, submarines and land-based systems.
North Korea allocated an estimated $656 million to its nuclear programme. Although its budget is the smallest among nuclear powers, Pyongyang's arsenal of around 60 warheads continues to expand alongside advances in missile technology.
The Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile, first tested in 2023, is expected to remain a central element of North Korea's strategic forces for decades.
One of the report's big conclusions is that nuclear programmes represent commitments measured not in years but in generations. Many of the systems currently entering service are expected to remain operational for thirty, forty or even seventy years.
The report argues that such projects create decades of future financial obligations that will continue long after current political leaders have left office.
Governments are not the only beneficiaries of nuclear spending. ICAN identified at least 25 companies that secured contracts connected to nuclear weapons programmes in 2025.
Collectively, these firms generated at least $38 billion in nuclear-related revenue during the year. Outstanding contracts linked to nuclear activities are estimated at approximately $401 billion.
Among the most significant corporate participants were Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Fluor, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Airbus, Leidos and Huntington Ingalls Industries.
Several companies are deeply embedded within strategic programmes involving missile production, submarine construction, warhead maintenance and specialised infrastructure.
Honeywell recorded the highest nuclear-related revenue among the firms identified in the report, followed by Lockheed Martin, Fluor and Northrop Grumman.
The report argues that these corporate relationships contribute to the persistence of nuclear weapons programmes by creating extensive industrial ecosystems tied to long-term government contracts.
According to the report, companies involved in nuclear weapons programmes spent more than $138 million on lobbying activities in the United States and France during 2025.
Some of the largest lobbying expenditures came from Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, RTX, Boeing and Honeywell.
In Britain, records reviewed by ICAN showed that defence companies participated in 226 meetings with government officials during the year. Airbus and BAE Systems were among the companies that secured direct meetings with the UK Prime Minister's office.
France also witnessed substantial lobbying activity linked to the nuclear sector. Airbus, Safran and Thales were among the companies spending heavily on political engagement and advocacy.
A major focus of the report is the concept of opportunity cost. ICAN compares nuclear spending with alternative investments that governments could theoretically make in public welfare, development and environmental protection.
According to the report, the $118.8 billion spent on nuclear weapons in 2025 would be sufficient to fund the United Nations' regular budget for approximately 32 years.
The organisation also argues that nuclear expenditure accumulated over the past three years could have been enough to eliminate global hunger.
The report also presents several comparisons intended to illustrate the scale of spending.
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According to the latest report, as seen by Firstpost, released by 2017 Nobel Peace prize winner the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), nuclear-armed nations collectively spent almost $119 billion on their arsenals in 2025, the highest level recorded in recent years and a sharp increase from the previous year.
How global nuclear spending has surged
The nine countries known to possess nuclear weapons spent a combined $118.8 billion in 2025. Compared to 2024, this represented an increase of $16.8 billion, or approximately 19 per cent.
The scale of expenditure becomes even more striking when viewed in real-time terms. Globally, nuclear weapons programmes consumed around $3,768 every second, more than $226,000 every minute and roughly $326 million every day throughout the year.
Over the five-year period between 2021 and 2025, total spending by nuclear powers reached approximately $471 billion.
The spending hierarchy remains heavily concentrated. The United States accounted for the overwhelming majority of expenditure, allocating $69.2 billion to its nuclear forces.
China ranked second with $13.5 billion, followed by the United Kingdom at $12.6 billion. Russia allocated $9.5 billion and France spent $7.7 billion.
Further down the list, India spent $2.8 billion, Pakistan devoted $1.5 billion, Israel allocated $1.2 billion and North Korea reportedly spent an estimated $656 million.
The report arrives at a time when many governments are increasing military budgets amidst ongoing conflicts and concerns over strategic stability.
Yet despite these trends, support for nuclear disarmament initiatives has also continued to grow. ICAN notes that 99 countries have now signed, ratified or acceded to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
The United States remains the dominant nuclear spender
No country comes close to matching American expenditure on nuclear weapons. Washington's 2025 nuclear budget reached $69.2 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of $12.4 billion. The United States alone accounted for well over half of all global nuclear spending.
America's nuclear stockpile is estimated at 5,042 weapons, carrying a combined destructive power equivalent to more than 45,000 Hiroshima bombs.
Funding is divided between the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration and military programmes overseen by the Pentagon. The former manages warhead development, maintenance and production activities, while the latter funds delivery systems including strategic bombers, ballistic missile submarines and land-based missiles.
Several of the most expensive modernisation projects are already underway. These include the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile programme, the B-21 Raider strategic bomber and the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine fleet.
The financial burden of these initiatives is expected to continue growing. The Congressional Budget Office projects that US nuclear forces will require approximately $946 billion between 2025 and 2034. Longer-term estimates exceed $1.2 trillion.
The Sentinel programme alone has already experienced cost overruns estimated at $24 billion.
At a national level, the report calculates that the United States spent approximately $131,659 every minute on nuclear weapons during 2025, equivalent to about $199 per citizen.
China is the second-largest spender
China maintained its position as the world's second-largest nuclear spender, allocating $13.5 billion to nuclear forces during 2025. The country's arsenal is estimated at around 620 nuclear weapons spread across land-based missiles, strategic bombers and submarine-launched systems.
Because Beijing does not publicly disclose detailed nuclear spending figures, ICAN estimated expenditures by calculating four per cent of China's overall military budget.
China's nuclear enterprise relies heavily on state-controlled industrial organisations. The China National Nuclear Corporation oversees plutonium production and weapons development, while the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation is responsible for intercontinental ballistic missile production.
Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines are produced through major state-owned shipbuilding entities.
The report also notes challenges linked to corruption investigations within China's strategic sectors. Public attention has focused on senior figures within the country's nuclear establishment, raising questions about governance and oversight in key defence industries.
In financial terms, China spent approximately $25,744 every minute on nuclear weapons in 2025.
Russia, Britain and France continue major modernisation efforts
Russia retains the world's largest nuclear arsenal, with an estimated 5,420 warheads. Despite enormous increases in conventional military spending following
Russia's strategic arsenal is managed primarily through state-owned enterprises. Organisations linked to missile production, bomber development and next-generation strategic systems continue to receive substantial funding.
The country is also working on future systems such as the Kedr intercontinental ballistic missile programme, which is expected to replace existing missile families in coming decades.
The United Kingdom spent $12.6 billion on its nuclear deterrent, making it the third-largest spender globally. Britain maintains a submarine-only nuclear posture through its Vanguard-class fleet armed with Trident II D5 missiles.
However, the future of the UK's deterrent rests on the Dreadnought-class submarine programme, which is expected to remain operational into the 2060s. Parliamentary assessments suggest Britain could spend around £128 billion on new nuclear systems between 2023 and 2033.
France allocated $7.7 billion to nuclear forces in 2025 and continues to invest heavily in both submarine-launched ballistic missiles and air-delivered nuclear systems.
French modernisation plans are particularly ambitious. The country's next generation of ballistic missile submarines is expected to remain operational into the 2090s. Meanwhile, future cruise missile projects are designed to ensure the credibility of France's deterrent for decades.
Under France's 2024-2030 Military Programming Law, approximately €58.4 billion has been earmarked specifically for nuclear forces.
Where India stands
India ranked sixth among the world's nuclear powers in terms of spending. The report estimates that New Delhi allocated approximately $2.8 billion, or ₹246.7 billion, to nuclear weapons programmes during 2025.
This represented a rise of around 12 per cent compared with the previous year. India's nuclear arsenal is estimated at approximately 190 weapons. These are deployed across a triad consisting of land-based missiles, aircraft and sea-based systems.
ICAN's methodology linked nuclear expenditure to strategic systems development within the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), while also accounting for infrastructure and warhead-related costs.
Although India's spending remains significantly lower than that of the major nuclear powers, the country's strategic capabilities continue to expand. The report identifies DRDO as the central coordinator of India's nuclear delivery systems.
Domestic industry plays a major role as well. Larsen & Toubro contributes through specialised strategic facilities, while MTAR Technologies, Bharat Dynamics and Walchandnagar Industries support missile and propulsion programmes.
A significant development occurred in April earlier this year when India commissioned INS Aridhaman, its third indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine. The move strengthened the sea-based leg of India's nuclear triad and reinforced the country's long-term deterrence posture.
India's future commitments are also expected to extend far into the future. The report notes that India's induction of the Rafale fighter aircraft in 2022 could create operational and financial obligations lasting into the 2070s, based on historical service lives of comparable platforms.
Measured against total military expenditure, India's nuclear spending accounted for approximately three per cent of its defence budget. The report estimates that India spent around ₹469,396 every minute on nuclear weapons activities during 2025.
Pakistan, Israel and North Korea remain significant players
Pakistan spent approximately $1.5 billion on nuclear weapons in 2025. Its arsenal is estimated at around 170 weapons, deployed primarily through land-based missiles and aircraft. Pakistan continues to pursue improvements in sea-based nuclear capabilities as well.
The country's nuclear programme remains closely associated with state-run facilities, including Khan Research Laboratories.
Israel, which maintains a longstanding policy of nuclear ambiguity, was estimated to have spent $1.2 billion during the year.
The report places Israel's arsenal at roughly 90 nuclear weapons. These are believed to be deployable through a combination of aircraft, submarines and land-based systems.
North Korea allocated an estimated $656 million to its nuclear programme. Although its budget is the smallest among nuclear powers, Pyongyang's arsenal of around 60 warheads continues to expand alongside advances in missile technology.
The Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile, first tested in 2023, is expected to remain a central element of North Korea's strategic forces for decades.
How nuclear weapons are trapping generations of the future
One of the report's big conclusions is that nuclear programmes represent commitments measured not in years but in generations. Many of the systems currently entering service are expected to remain operational for thirty, forty or even seventy years.
- China's JL-3 submarine-launched ballistic missile is expected to remain active into the 2050s.
- Pakistan's Shaheen-I missile programme is projected to remain operational through roughly the same period.
- North Korea's Hwasong-18 could remain in service until the mid-2050s.
- Russia's future Kedr missile family may remain deployed well into the 2060s.
- Britain's Dreadnought-class submarines are also expected to serve through the 2060s.
- India's Rafale-based deterrent capabilities could remain active until around 2072.
- France's next generation of strategic submarines may continue operating into the 2090s.
- The United States has the most extensive long-term plans. The Sentinel missile programme is expected to remain operational beyond 2100, while plutonium production facilities currently under development are designed for use until approximately 2120.
The report argues that such projects create decades of future financial obligations that will continue long after current political leaders have left office.
How corporations have profited from the nuclear enterprise
Governments are not the only beneficiaries of nuclear spending. ICAN identified at least 25 companies that secured contracts connected to nuclear weapons programmes in 2025.
Collectively, these firms generated at least $38 billion in nuclear-related revenue during the year. Outstanding contracts linked to nuclear activities are estimated at approximately $401 billion.
Among the most significant corporate participants were Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Fluor, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Airbus, Leidos and Huntington Ingalls Industries.
Several companies are deeply embedded within strategic programmes involving missile production, submarine construction, warhead maintenance and specialised infrastructure.
Honeywell recorded the highest nuclear-related revenue among the firms identified in the report, followed by Lockheed Martin, Fluor and Northrop Grumman.
The report argues that these corporate relationships contribute to the persistence of nuclear weapons programmes by creating extensive industrial ecosystems tied to long-term government contracts.
According to the report, companies involved in nuclear weapons programmes spent more than $138 million on lobbying activities in the United States and France during 2025.
Some of the largest lobbying expenditures came from Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, RTX, Boeing and Honeywell.
In Britain, records reviewed by ICAN showed that defence companies participated in 226 meetings with government officials during the year. Airbus and BAE Systems were among the companies that secured direct meetings with the UK Prime Minister's office.
The table below details 2025 nuclear revenue and lobbying expenditures for key corporate entities highlighted in the report:
| Company | 2025 Nuclear Income (in millions) | Share of Total Revenue | US Lobbying (2025) | French Lobbying (2025) | UK Government Meetings |
| Airbus | $783 |
0.9% |
$4,658,125 |
€897,889 |
44 meetings* |
| Amentum | $1,339 |
9.3% |
$540,000 |
— | 6 meetings |
| Babcock | $1,313 |
20.6% |
$320,000 |
— | 28 meetings |
| BAE Systems | $1,502 |
3.7% |
$5,338,125 |
€97,960 |
35 meetings* |
| Boeing | $635 |
0.7% |
$13,230,000 |
— | 16 meetings |
| BWXT | $1,775 |
5.6% |
$850,000 |
— | — |
| Fluor | $3,842 |
24.8% |
$4,577,929 |
€825 |
— |
| General Dynamics | $2,996 |
6.7% |
$17,349,357 |
— | 2 meetings |
| HII (Huntington Ingalls) | $1,956 |
15.7% |
$5,984,000 |
— | — |
| Honeywell | $5,270 |
14.1% |
$13,320,000 |
€888 |
7 meetings |
| L3 Harris | $73 |
0.3% |
$2,919,750 |
— | — |
| Leidos | $920 |
5.4% |
$7,070,000 |
— | 5 meetings |
| Leonardo | $203 |
0.8% |
$1,993,125 |
€65,307 |
7 meetings |
| Lockheed Martin | $4,509 |
6.0% |
$17,660,909 |
— | 9 meetings |
| Naval Group | $657 |
12.4% |
— | €271,126 |
— |
| Northrop Grumman | $3,166 |
7.6% |
$9,120,000 |
— | — |
| Rolls-Royce | $1,557 |
5.6% |
$1,730,000 |
— | 43 meetings |
| RTX (Raytheon) | $675 |
0.8% |
$15,895,000 |
— | 3 meetings |
| Safran | $545 |
1.5% |
$565,000 |
€1,531,647 |
4 meetings |
| Thales | $534 |
2.1% |
$820,000 |
€821,941 |
14 meetings |
| TechnicAtome | — | — | — | €2,483 |
— |
| Textron | — | — | $6,736,350 |
— | — |
| Bechtel | — | — | $1,490,000 |
— | 2 meetings |
| Peraton | — | — | $1,120,000 |
— | 1 meeting |
*Denotes entities that secured direct policy meetings with the UK Prime Minister's office.
France also witnessed substantial lobbying activity linked to the nuclear sector. Airbus, Safran and Thales were among the companies spending heavily on political engagement and advocacy.
What the money could have funded instead
A major focus of the report is the concept of opportunity cost. ICAN compares nuclear spending with alternative investments that governments could theoretically make in public welfare, development and environmental protection.
According to the report, the $118.8 billion spent on nuclear weapons in 2025 would be sufficient to fund the United Nations' regular budget for approximately 32 years.
The organisation also argues that nuclear expenditure accumulated over the past three years could have been enough to eliminate global hunger.
The report also presents several comparisons intended to illustrate the scale of spending.
- Every second of global nuclear expenditure could theoretically finance the planting of thousands of trees (4,629 trees in the US, 2,860 in China, 599 in India, or 258 in Pakistan).
- Every minute of spending could provide a year's worth of food security support for thousands of people facing severe food insecurity.
- A single day of global nuclear spending could provide clean water and sanitation access for more than two million people.
- One week of expenditure could purchase billions of doses of measles, mumps and rubella vaccines.
- Annual spending could support solar energy installations capable of powering more than six million homes.
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