SIPRI YEARBOOK 2019

Key highlights of the report: 

• Despite an overall decrease in the number of nuclear warheads in 2018, all nuclear weapon-possessing states continue to modernize their nuclear arsenals.
  
  
• At the start of 2019, nine states—the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea—possessed approximately 13 865 nuclear weapons. This marked a decrease from the approximately 14 465 nuclear weapons at the beginning of 2018.
  
  
• The decrease in the overall number of nuclear weapons in the world is due mainly to Russia and the USA—which together still account for over 90 % of all nuclear weapons—implementating the 2010 New START, the treaty which is set to expire in 2021.
  
  
• China, India and Pakistan are increasing the size of their nuclear arsenals. India and Pakistan make statements about some of their missile tests but provide little information about the status or size of their arsenals.
  
  
• For India, it gives a figure of 130-140 “other warheads” in 2019, the same as in 2018.
  
  
• North Korea continues to prioritize its military nuclear programme, although in 2018 it announced a moratorium on the testing of nuclear weapons.