The U.S. spent $69.2 billion on its nuclear arsenal in 2025, surpassing the combined spending of all other nuclear-armed states [1].
This surge in spending reflects a renewed global arms competition. As geopolitical tensions escalate, nuclear powers are prioritizing the modernization and rebuilding of their arsenals over disarmament.
Total spending across the nine nuclear-armed nations reached $119 billion in 2025 [2], [3]. This represents a 19 percent increase in global nuclear expenditures compared to the previous year [3]. The worldwide increase in spending for 2025 amounted to $16.8 billion [2].
The U.S. expenditure of $69.2 billion [1] represents a 22 percent increase in its own nuclear budget for the year [1]. This investment is directed toward rebuilding the U.S. nuclear arsenal, a cost that exceeds the combined spending of other nuclear states, including Russia and China [1].
Over a longer horizon, the financial commitment to these weapons remains steep. The nine nuclear-armed nations spent over $470 billion collectively across the five-year period from 2020 to 2025 [4].
These figures highlight a shift in global security priorities. The focus has moved toward maintaining a strategic edge through financial investment in nuclear capabilities, a trend that has accelerated in recent years.
“The United States spent $69.2 billion on its nuclear arsenal in 2025”
The disparity between U.S. spending and that of other nuclear states suggests a massive effort by Washington to maintain qualitative superiority in its arsenal. With global spending rising by 19 percent in a single year, the data indicates that nuclear deterrence is once again a primary driver of national defense budgets, potentially undermining international efforts toward nuclear non-proliferation.
