India ranked fifth in global military spending, has 190 nuclear warheads: SIPRI
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India was the world's fifth-largest military spender in 2025, with defence expenditure reaching USD 92.1 billion, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Yearbook 2026.
The report said India's military spending increased by 8.9 per cent compared to the previous year. Germany ranked fourth, while the United States, China, and Russia occupied the top three positions.
SIPRI estimated that India possessed about 190 nuclear warheads as of January 2026, compared to Pakistan's estimated stockpile of 170. The think tank said India slightly expanded its nuclear arsenal in 2025 and continued developing new nuclear delivery systems.
According to the report, India's nuclear modernisation programme is increasingly focused on long-range weapons capable of reaching targets across China, while continuing to address its long-standing rivalry with Pakistan.
SIPRI said Pakistan also continued developing new delivery systems and accumulating fissile material, indicating that its nuclear arsenal could expand over the coming decade.
The report referred to the brief armed conflict between India and Pakistan in May 2025, stating that India attacked Pakistani air and missile bases believed to have nuclear-related roles. It added that both countries took steps to prevent escalation.
At the start of 2026, the world's nine nuclear-armed states possessed an estimated 12,187 nuclear weapons. Of these, around 9,745 were held in military stockpiles and considered potentially operational.
SIPRI said the overall number of nuclear warheads continues to decline due to the dismantling of retired warheads by the United States and Russia. However, it warned that countries are increasingly relying on nuclear weapons as instruments of national power, while the risks of miscalculation and escalation are growing.
Global military expenditure rose for the 11th consecutive year in 2025, reaching USD 2.9 trillion, the highest level recorded by SIPRI. The United States remained the largest military spender at USD 954 billion, followed by China at USD 336 billion and Russia at USD 190 billion.
The report also identified India as one of the world's five largest arms importers between 2021 and 2025.