Only a few countries possess nukes in the world, there would have been a stockpile of nuclear weapons in several countries of the world but thanks to The 1970 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, otherwise known as the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

The NPT is an international agreement that aims at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, promoting cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and furthering a goal of complete nuclear disarmament.

Since 1970, 191 countries have joined the NPT. The US, Russia, UK, France and China were allowed to have this weapon because they built and tested a nuclear explosive device before the treaty came into effect. Although, under the agreement, they had to downsize the number of nukes they had. Also, they can't keep them forever.

As of 2021, 13000 nuclear warheads were estimated to be available in the world. Here are 9 countries that possess nuclear weapons (nukes).View pictures in App save up to 80% data.

1. U.S.A

As of 2021, the U.S was estimated to have about 5,550 nuclear warheads. 1800 are believed to be in strategic deployment and another 3750 are in storage or various states of readiness but could be made available quickly if the need arose. This is a fraction of what the US had at its peak. In 1989 it had about 22,217 nuclear warheads and 31, 225 in 1967.

2. Russia

According to the Federation of American Scientists, Russia leads the world with an estimate of 6257 nuclear warheads. Although Russia also downsized its nuclear arsenal after the 1970 treaty, still it possesses roughly 6255 warheads. 1625 are believed to be strategically deployed and ready to fire.

3. China

In recent times, China has focused on expanding its nuclear arsenal. The Pentagon said China hopes to have 700 deliverable nuclear warheads by 2027 and at least 1,000 by 2030. In 2021 China estimated nuclear warheads were 350.

4. France

France currently possesses the world’s fourth-largest nuclear stockpile that is deliverable by submarine and air-launched cruise missiles but France has since banned further development. It has an estimated nuclear warhead of 290.

5. U.k

The United Kingdom possesses a variety of weapons of mass destruction. They are estimated to have a total of 225 nuclear warheads.

6. North Korea

North Korea pulled out of the NPT in 2003. Over the years it has tested different ballistic missiles. Its economy has been met with devastating sanctions for violating United Nations resolutions that prohibit North Korea from developing nukes or ballistic missiles. 

7. Indian

India is known to have tested nuclear weapons. India's first test was in 1974, it hasn't signed the treaty of Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Also, it has not released any official statements about the size of its nuclear arsenal, recent estimates suggest that India has 160 nuclear warheads.

8. Pakistan

Pakistan started developing nuclear weapons in response to the loss of East Pakistan in 1971's Bangladesh Liberation War. Pakistan hasn't signed the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons treaty. It has done a total of 6 nuclear tests and has an estimate of 165 nuclear warheads.

9. Israel

Israel is known to possess nuclear weapons since 1960 but its government had refused to confirm or deny its country's nuclear capabilities. Also, Israel has never signed the NPT.

Some countries previously possess nuclear weapons but for some reason no longer have them. These countries include South Africa, Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan.