| Year | U.S. | Russia | U.K. | France | China | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 1949 | 235 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 236 |
| 1950 | 369 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 374 |
| 1960 | 20,434 | 1,605 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 22,069 |
| 1970 | 26,492 | 11,643 | 280 | 36 | 75 | 38,526 |
| 1980 | 23,916 | 30,062 | 350 | 250 | 280 | 54,858 |
| 1985 | 23,510 | 39,197 | 300 | 360 | 425 | 63,792 |
| 1986* | 23,410 | 45,000 | 300 | 355 | 425 | 69,490** |
| 1990* | 21,781 | 37,000 | 300 | 505 | 435 | 60,021 |
| 1994* | 15,456 | 29,000 | 250 | 485 | 435 | 45,626 |
| 1995* | 14,111 | 27,000 | 300 | 485 | 425 | 42,321 |
| 1996* | 12,937 | 25,000 | 260 | 450 | 400 | 39,047 |
| 1997* | 12,000 | 23,000 | 260 | 450 | 400 | 36,110 |
* These warheads include those in active, operational forces; retired, non-deployed warheads awaiting dismantlement; and weapons in reserve. For recent years the estimate for the former Soviet Union/Russia is 50% active, 50% retired/reserve.
** Height of the Second Cold War under Ronald Reagan.
In addition, Israel is believed to have about 200 fission/boosted fission weapons. India is estimated to have stockpiled enough plutonium for 60 to 150 weapons. Pakistan has enough highly enriched uranium for 12 to 40 weapons.
Total number of Operational Nuclear Weapons in the World: 21,000. Of these about 16,270 are strategic and 4,800 are non-strategic or tactical.
Source: The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, SIPRI Yearbooks.
