Nuclear weapons remain one of the most powerful and destructive forces in modern warfare. Despite efforts to reduce global stockpiles, the world still holds thousands of nuclear warheads, with the majority controlled by just two nations ,Russia and the United States.
- There are approximately 12,100 nuclear warheads worldwide as of January 2024
- 90% of these warheads are owned by the U.S. and Russia
- Africa is a nuclear-free region, committed to peaceful conflict resolution and advocating for a world free of nuclear weapons
As of January 2024, approximately 12,100 nuclear warheads exist worldwide, with nearly 90% of them owned by the U.S. and Russia. While nuclear stockpiles have declined since the Cold War, ongoing geopolitical tensions have reinforced the importance of these weapons as deterrents.
DON’T MISS THIS: China now has 500 warheads and is building its nuclear arsenal faster than any other country, think tank says
What Are Nuclear Warheads?
Nuclear warheads are weapons of mass destruction capable of obliterating entire cities and causing long-term environmental and health consequences due to radioactive contamination. The only time nuclear weapons have been used in war was in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, marking the final stages of World War II.
Despite their devastating impact, some countries continue to conduct nuclear tests, maintaining and upgrading their arsenals.
Global Debate on Nuclear Weapons
The debate over nuclear disarmament continues. In July 2017, the United Nations General Assembly voted on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, with 139 countries supporting the initiative to ban nuclear weapons.
However, major nuclear powers, including the United States and Russia, have not joined the treaty. Instead, they continue to invest heavily in their nuclear programmes. The United States’ projected nuclear budget for 2022 and beyond indicates increasing spending rather than reductions. Similar trends are seen in Russia, China, and other nuclear-armed nations.
Countries with the Largest Nuclear Stockpiles
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the following countries possess nuclear warheads:
| Country | Number of Nuclear Warheads |
|---|---|
| Russia | 5,899 |
| United States | 5,244 |
| China | 410 |
| France | 290 |
| United Kingdom | 225 |
| Pakistan | 170 |
| India | 164 |
| Israel | 90 |
| North Korea | 30 |
Africa’s Absence in the Nuclear Arms Race
DON’T MISS THIS: Russia expands its role in Africa’s nuclear sector with agreements from 15 countries
Unlike other regions, Africa has no nuclear-armed countries. South Africa is the only nation on the continent to have developed and voluntarily dismantled its nuclear weapons programme in the 1990s. This makes Africa one of the most nuclear-free regions, in line with the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Pelindaba Treaty), which prohibits nuclear weapon development and testing.
As global nuclear tensions continue, Africa remains committed to peaceful conflict resolution, advocating for a world free of nuclear weapons.
