We estimate that China’s stockpile now includes roughly 410 nuclear warheads, with more in production. The stockpile is expected to increase significantly in the next decade but remains significantly smaller than that of Russia or the United States.
This Nuclear Notebook examines China’s nuclear arsenal, which has now surpassed France’s as the world’s third largest. The authors estimate that China's stockpile now includes roughly 350 operational warheads with more in production. The stockpile is projected to increase further in the next decade but remains significantly smaller than that of Russia or the United States.