Deployed vs Stored Nuclear Warheads: What the Numbers Mean
Of about 9,745 nuclear warheads in military stockpiles, roughly 4,012 are deployed. What deployed, stored and retired warheads are, and why the difference matters.
When people ask how many nuclear weapons a country has, the answer usually comes as a single number. But nuclear arsenals have layers, and the layer that matters most in a crisis is often much smaller than the headline figure.
Three categories
SIPRI, whose estimates we use, divides warheads into three groups:
- Deployed warheads are mounted on missiles or kept at bases with operational forces, ready for use within a short time.
- Stored (or reserve) warheads are part of the military stockpile but are not on missiles. They could be loaded within days, weeks or longer depending on the system.
- Retired warheads have been withdrawn from service and are waiting to be dismantled. They are counted in a country’s total inventory but not its military stockpile.
As of January 2026, SIPRI estimates the world’s nine nuclear-armed states held about 12,187 warheads in total, of which 9,745 were in military stockpiles and about 4,012 were deployed.
| # | Country | Deployed warheads |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇷🇺 Russia | 1,796 |
| 2 | 🇺🇸 United States | 1,770 |
| 3 | 🇫🇷 France | 280 |
| 4 | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 120 |
| 5 | 🇨🇳 China | 34 |
| 6 | 🇮🇳 India | 12 |
Who keeps warheads ready
Only six countries are estimated to have warheads deployed. Russia (about 1,796) and the United States (about 1,770) account for the vast majority. France keeps nearly all of its roughly 290 warheads deployed, and the UK about 120 of its 225.
China and India are newer to this category. SIPRI estimates China has about 34 warheads deployed and India about 12. Both have traditionally kept warheads separated from their missiles in peacetime, a policy designed to show restraint and reduce the risk of accidents or unauthorised use. That those numbers are now above zero is one of the more significant shifts in the latest data.
Pakistan, Israel and North Korea are all believed to store their warheads separately from delivery systems, so SIPRI lists none as deployed.
The nuclear triad
Countries deliver nuclear weapons in three main ways, together known as the triad:
- Land-based missiles, usually in silos or on mobile launchers. They are quick to launch and accurate, but their locations can be targeted.
- Submarine-launched missiles. Submarines hidden at sea are very hard to find, which makes them the most survivable part of an arsenal and the core of any “second-strike” capability.
- Aircraft, carrying bombs or cruise missiles. They are slower but flexible, and can be recalled after take-off.
The US, Russia and China maintain all three legs. The UK relies only on submarines. France uses submarines and aircraft. India is building out all three.
Why the distinction matters
Deployed numbers determine how much damage a country could do with little warning, and they are the focus of arms control. New START limited each side to 1,550 deployed strategic warheads, counted in a particular way, until the treaty expired in February 2026.
Stored warheads matter for the longer term. A country with a large reserve can increase its deployed force quickly if it decides to. Analysts watching China’s expansion focus on both its rising total and on any further increase in warheads kept ready for use.
For the full picture by country, see which countries have nuclear weapons.