Key Takeaways
- The first nuclear test, code-named Trinity, was detonated by the United States on July 16, 1945, at the Alamogordo Bombing Range in New Mexico, with a yield of approximately 21 kilotons of TNT
- The Manhattan Project, initiated in 1942, employed over 130,000 people at its peak and cost about $2 billion (equivalent to $23 billion in 2023 dollars) to develop the first atomic bombs
- Little Boy, the uranium-based bomb dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, had a yield of 15 kilotons and was fueled by 64 kg of highly enriched uranium
- As of 2023, Russia possesses 5,580 nuclear warheads, including 1,549 deployed strategic warheads under New START
- The United States has 5,044 nuclear warheads as of 2023, with 1,419 deployed strategic warheads
- China maintains about 410 nuclear warheads in 2023, with projections to reach 1,000 by 2030
- A single 1-megaton nuclear explosion at optimum height produces a fireball 1.8 km in diameter and thermal radiation causing 3rd-degree burns up to 19 km away
- The Hiroshima bomb killed 70,000-80,000 instantly, with total deaths reaching 140,000 by end of 1945 due to blast, heat, and radiation
- Nagasaki's Fat Man bomb caused 40,000 immediate deaths, totaling 70,000-80,000 by year's end
- Worldwide, 2,056 nuclear tests have been conducted since 1945, totaling over 440 megatons yield
- The Soviet Union performed 715 nuclear tests at Semipalatinsk, exposing 1.5 million people to radiation
- U.S. Nevada Test Site hosted 928 tests, 100 atmospheric, contaminating 1,000+ km²
- The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) entered into force on March 5, 1970, with 191 states parties
- New START Treaty between U.S. and Russia limits deployed strategic warheads to 1,550 each, expires 2026
- The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty eliminated 2,692 missiles by 1991, terminated 2019
Nuclear weapons were rapidly developed and remain a devastating global threat today.
Current Arsenals and Stockpiles
Current Arsenals and Stockpiles Interpretation
Destructive Effects
Destructive Effects Interpretation
Historical Development
Historical Development Interpretation
Nuclear Testing
Nuclear Testing Interpretation
Treaties and Non-Proliferation
Treaties and Non-Proliferation Interpretation
How We Rate Confidence
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
Lukas Bauer. (2026, February 13). Nuclear Weapons Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nuclear-weapons-statistics
Lukas Bauer. "Nuclear Weapons Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/nuclear-weapons-statistics.
Lukas Bauer. 2026. "Nuclear Weapons Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nuclear-weapons-statistics.
Sources & References
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atomicarchive.com
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nuclearweaponarchive.org
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missilethreat.csis.org
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nuclearsecrecy.com
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- Reference 20REACHINGCRITICALWILLreachingcriticalwill.org
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- Reference 21IAEAiaea.org
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- Reference 22FISSILEMATERIALSfissilematerials.org
fissilematerials.org
- Reference 23NUCLEARSUPPLIERSGROUPnuclearsuppliersgroup.org
nuclearsuppliersgroup.org






