List of states with nuclear weapons

Also known as nuclear weapons states, nuclear-weapon states

There are currently nine sovereign states that are generally understood to possess nuclear weapons, though only eight formally acknowledge possessing them. In order of first successful nuclear test, the world's nine nuclear-armed states are the United States (1945), Russia (1949), the United Kingdom (1952), France (1960), China (1964), India (1974), Pakistan (1998), and North Korea (2006); Israel is believed to have acquired nuclear weapons around 1967, but has never openly tested or formally acknowledged having them. Under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China are recognized "nuclear-weapons states" (NWS). They are also the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. Israel, India, and Pakistan never signed the NPT, while North Korea acceded to it in 1985 before announcing withdrawal in 2003.

AI overview

This is a list of the nine countries believed to possess nuclear weapons—the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel—along with when each first developed them. Understanding which nations have nuclear weapons matters because it affects global security, international negotiations, and the enforcement of treaties designed to prevent nuclear proliferation.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.