ANS: A recent assessment by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reveals that India currently possesses more nuclear weapons than Pakistan. The report highlights a notable expansion in China’s nuclear arsenal, which increased from 410 warheads in January 2023 to 500 in January 2024.
According to SIPRI, India had 172 deployed warheads as of January 2024, surpassing Pakistan’s count of 170. The report also indicates that all nine nuclear-armed states—the US, Russia, the UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel—continued to modernize their nuclear arsenals throughout 2023. This modernization includes the deployment of new nuclear-armed or nuclear-capable weapon systems.
As of January 2024, there were approximately 9,585 warheads in military stockpiles worldwide, ready for potential use out of an estimated total inventory of 12,121. About 3,904 of these warheads were deployed with missiles and aircraft, an increase of 60 from January 2023.
The remaining warheads are held in central storage, with around 2,100 of the deployed warheads maintained on high operational alert for ballistic missiles.
The report highlights that Russia and the United States hold the vast majority of nuclear warheads, together accounting for over 90% of the global total.
Despite the overall stability in their stockpile sizes in 2023, Russia deployed approximately 36 more warheads with active forces compared to January 2023. For the first time, China is also believed to be keeping some warheads on high operational alert.
The study raises concerns about decreased transparency regarding nuclear forces in both Russia and the United States following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This event has also sparked debates about nuclear-sharing arrangements.
Hans M. Kristensen, Associate Senior Fellow with SIPRI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme and Director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) said “China is expanding its nuclear arsenal faster than any other country.”
“However, nearly all of the nuclear-armed states have plans or significant initiatives to increase their nuclear forces,” he added.