The United States again spent more than all of the other nuclear armed states combined: $69.2 billion. Washington also had the largest annual increase at $12.4 billion. China was the second largest spender at $13.5 billion. The UK overtook Russia to become the third largest spender at $12.6 billion to Russia’s $9.5 billion.

Using the evidence available from some governments, the report also looked at longer term spending growth projections as the nuclear-armed states carry out modernisation and, in many cases, expansion of their arsenals. Figures from France, UK and US show billions more dollars will be spent in the years ahead as the three countries are committed to developing and maintaining weapons systems into the next century. Other countries which are more opaque about future spending are also introducing new weapons systems with long lifespans.

Over the past few years, the UN, along with the whole humanitarian and development sector, has had its funding cut by countries that are rearming themselves, both conventionally and in nuclear terms. The money spent on nuclear weapons in 2025 by the US alone could have covered the entire UN annual budget 19 times over.

ICAN’s Director of Programmes co-author of the report, Susi Snyder, said: “At a time when the cost of living is skyrocketing and food and fuel are unaffordable for so many, it is unthinkable that these nine countries are spending billions on a false promise of security. Nuclear weapons cannot be used without causing catastrophe, and the false logic of nuclear deterrence requires us to trust our enemies with our very survival.”  

Alicia Sanders-Zakre, co-author of the report and ICAN’s Head of Policy added: “Our research is annual, but nuclear weapons spending is not. The nine nuclear-armed states are planning to maintain and modernize their nuclear forces for decades to come, diverting untold billions of dollars away from real human security needs.”

Download the full report (PDF)