Global nuclear weapons spending surges to record 119 billion in 2025

Global spending on nuclear weapons hit an all-time high in 2025, rising 19 percent to $119 billion, according to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). The surge—equivalent to more than €3,200 every second—marks the largest annual increase since ICAN began tracking expenditures in 2020, underscoring a dangerous acceleration in the global arms race.

The United States led the surge, outspending every other nuclear-armed state combined, with total expenditures exceeding $50 billion. Russia followed, allocating an estimated $10.8 billion, while China’s budget reached $11.9 billion, according to ICAN’s latest report. The nine recognized nuclear powers—including the UK, France, India, Pakistan, and North Korea—collectively raised their outlays by $18.5 billion, with Israel’s spending also factored into the global total .

ICAN’s analysis highlights how these funds could address urgent global crises. “The $119 billion spent on nuclear weapons in 2025 could have ended world hunger or funded the UN’s annual budget for decades,” said Alicia Sanders-Zakre, ICAN’s policy and research coordinator. The campaign warns that the record investments reflect growing geopolitical tensions and a breakdown in arms control diplomacy.

Russia’s nuclear posture has come under particular scrutiny amid its war in Ukraine. In recent statements, Moscow has reiterated its willingness to use nuclear weapons if faced with an existential threat, raising alarms in Brussels and Washington. “The level of danger is increasing,” noted a senior analyst at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), pointing to the rapid modernization of arsenals across all major nuclear states .

Analysts attribute the spending surge to a combination of strategic competition, technological upgrades, and deteriorating arms control frameworks. The New START treaty, which limited U.S. and Russian nuclear deployments, remains in limbo, while China continues to expand its arsenal at an unprecedented rate. “We are standing on the brink of a new nuclear arms race,” warned a report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) .

With no immediate signs of de-escalation, the record expenditures signal a long-term shift in global security priorities. As nations prioritize deterrence over disarmament, the risk of miscalculation and accidental escalation grows. ICAN has called for urgent diplomatic action, urging states to redirect funds toward humanitarian and climate initiatives instead.