Strategic nuclear weapons are designed for use against targets on the other side of the world, while tactical nuclear weapons are designed for use in a localized conflict. Deployed nuclear weapons are those that are kept ready for use on short notice, while non-deployed nuclear weapons are those that are stored or in reserve.
Russia's nuclear arsenal is the largest in the world, followed by the United States. The two countries together possess over 90% of the world's nuclear weapons.
The number of nuclear weapons in the world has declined significantly since the end of the Cold War. In 1986, the United States and Russia had a combined total of over 60,000 nuclear warheads. By comparison, in 2022, the two countries had a combined total of just over 12,000 nuclear warheads.
