Global expenditure on nuclear weapons reached a record $119 billion in 2025, marking a nearly 20% increase from the previous year, according to a report released by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). This surge represents the highest spending level since ICAN began tracking the nuclear arms expenditures of the world's nine nuclear-armed states in 2020.
The United States led this significant rise, allocating $69.2 billion to its nuclear arsenal, a 22% increase from 2024. This figure alone surpasses the combined spending of all other nuclear-armed nations. ICAN highlighted that the US is simultaneously expanding its overall military budget and undertaking a substantial modernization of its nuclear capabilities.
Following the US, China ranked as the second-largest spender, with an increase of 7% bringing its total to $13.5 billion. Notably, the United Kingdom moved into third place, surpassing Russia by increasing its spending by 17% to $12.6 billion. Russia's expenditure rose by 6% to $9.5 billion.
The report also detailed spending by other nuclear states: France spent $8.1 billion (up 4%), Pakistan spent $2.7 billion (up 6%), India spent $2.1 billion (up 5%), and North Korea spent $750 million (up 3%). Israel's spending remains undisclosed, consistent with its policy of nuclear ambiguity.
ICAN, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 2017, advocates for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. The organization's findings underscore a global trend of escalating investment in nuclear arsenals, contradicting efforts towards disarmament and raising concerns about international security.
