Global Nuclear Arsenal Spending Hits Record High in 2025, Led by United States

In 2025, spending on nuclear weapons by nine nuclear-armed states rose by almost a fifth to $119 billion, according to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). The United States spent $69.2 billion, more than all other nuclear states combined, and recorded the largest year-on-year increase at 22 percent.

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ICAN has tracked annual nuclear arms expenditure since 2020 for the nine states: United States, Russia, China, France, Britain, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel. The 2025 figure represents a 19 percent rise from 2024, the highest since tracking began. China increased spending by 7 percent to $13.5 billion, Britain overtook Russia to become the third-biggest spender at $12.6 billion (up 17 percent), while Russia spent $9.5 billion, a 6 percent rise.

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ICAN said the United States is increasing overall military spending while simultaneously rebuilding its nuclear arsenal. The organization, a 2017 Nobel Peace laureate, reiterated its goal of total nuclear elimination and warned that the spending surge challenges that objective.

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ICAN argues that the United States' increase in nuclear spending runs counter to its stated goal of total nuclear elimination. The organization points out that the United States' $69.2 billion outlay exceeds the combined spending of the other eight nuclear-armed states, a disparity it says undermines global disarmament efforts.

The Straits Times

The United States alone accounts for more than half of the total $119 billion nuclear budget, concentrating financial and strategic weight in a single nation. This concentration highlights the disparity between ICAN's objective of total nuclear elimination and the current spending patterns of nuclear-armed states. For ICAN and similar disarmament advocates, the data underscores the widening gap between the goal of total elimination and existing national policies.

The Straits Times

• "Spending on nuclear weapons by the world's nine nuclear-armed states rose by almost a fifth in 2025 to $119 billion." — International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), report

UsNews and World ReportThe Straits Times

• "The United States spent $69.2 billion, more than all other nuclear states combined, and saw the largest increase, at 22 percent." — International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), report

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• "China came second, increasing by 7 percent to $13.5 billion." — International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), report

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• "Britain overtook Russia to become the third-biggest spender, up 17 percent to $12.6 billion." — International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), report

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• "Russia spent $9.5 billion, an increase of 6 percent." — International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), report

UsNews and World ReportThe Straits Times

• "The 2017 Nobel Peace laureate ICAN seeks the total elimination of nuclear weapons." — International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), description

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