Global nuclear weapon spending hits record 119 billion
The worlds nine nuclear-armed nations increased their collective spending by 19 percent in 2025 to reach the highest levels recorded since 2020. The United States accounted for more than half of the total expenditure at 69.2 billion dollars while Britain overtook Russia as the third-largest spender.
Nine nuclear-armed states increased spending on nuclear weapons 19% to $119 billion in 2025, according to a report by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). This 19% rise from 2024 represents the highest expenditure recorded since ICAN began tracking annual data in 2020. The increase reflects a global trend of rebuilding nuclear arsenals and broader military expansion.
