How many nuclear weapons does the UK have? All you need to know

THE United Kingdom is one of just nine nations around the globe that has a nuclear arsenal.

The country developed nuclear weapons after the United States and the Soviet Union, making it one of the first to do so.

This came after the UK played a prominent role in the Manhattan Project, helping the Americans develop their first bomb.

How many nuclear weapons does the UK have?

The UK has 225 nuclear warheads (Image: Lockheed Martin/PA Wire) The United Kingdom has around 225 nuclear warheads, representing a massive reduction from its peak of around 520 in the 1970s.

Since 1998, the UK has relied solely on Trident submarines as its delivery system with these being stationed in Scotland.

How does the UK's nuclear arsenal compare to America's and Russia's?

The UK's nuclear arsenal is much smaller than those maintained by America and Russia.

Russia is the world's biggest nuclear power with around 5500 warheads. The United States is the second biggest with a total stockpile of around 3700.

Which countries around the world have nuclear weapons?

There are nine countries recognised as nuclear powers (Image: Getty Images)

These are all the countries around the world that possess nuclear weapons in order of when they obtained them.

• The United States of America (USA) - 1945
• Russian Federation (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics - USSR) - 1949
• United Kingdom - 1952
• France - 1960
• People's Republic of China - 1964

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Which countries around the globe have nuclear weapons? All you need to know

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• India - 1974
• Pakistan - 1998
• Israel - between 1960 and 1979 (first successful test unknown)
• North Korea - 2006

Beyond the world's current nuclear powers, other nations like Ukraine and South Africa also used to have stockpiles.