Nuclear weapons spending tops $119B worldwide

The report estimates that nuclear weapons expenditures increased by $16.8 billion, or 19%, compared with 2024. Combined spending by China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States amounted to nearly $119 billion, equivalent to about $3,768 every second throughout the year.

The United States remained by far the largest spender, allocating $69.2 billion to its nuclear arsenal in 2025, more than all other nuclear-armed countries combined. China ranked second with an estimated $13.5 billion in spending, followed by the United Kingdom at $12.6 billion. Russia spent an estimated $9.5 billion, while France allocated $7.7 billion.

According to ICAN, the nine nuclear-armed states have spent a combined $471 billion on their nuclear arsenals over the past five years, from 2021 through 2025.

The report highlights that spending growth has been driven not only by current weapons programs but also by long-term modernization plans. All nuclear-armed states are developing or maintaining systems expected to remain operational well beyond 2050, with some projects projected to continue into the next century.

ICAN said several governments have already outlined plans that could require tens of billions of dollars in future spending. In the United States alone, official projections estimate nearly $946 billion in nuclear weapons-related expenditures between 2025 and 2034.

The report also points to the significant role of private industry in nuclear weapons programs. At least 25 companies involved in the development, production and maintenance of nuclear weapons earned an estimated $38 billion from related activities in 2025 and collectively held more than $401 billion in outstanding contracts.

Among the largest beneficiaries were Honeywell International, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics and Fluor. ICAN estimates that new contracts worth around $2.5 billion were awarded during the year.

ICAN criticized the continued growth in nuclear weapons spending, arguing that the funds could instead be directed toward global challenges such as food security, climate action and international development. According to the report, the amount spent on nuclear weapons in 2025 alone would have been sufficient to cover the United Nations' regular budget for 32 years.

At the same time, support for nuclear disarmament continues to grow. ICAN noted that 99 countries have now signed, ratified or acceded to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, an international agreement that bans nuclear weapons and commits participating states to their elimination.

Earlier, Qazinform News Agency reported that artificial intelligence models used in a simulated nuclear war game escalated conflicts by threatening nuclear strikes in 95% of scenarios.