Nuclear Information Project
In the summer of 2025, the Federation of American Scientists will host a first-of-its-kind bootcamp to communicate and pass on its practices to the next generation of open-source nuclear analysts. This bootcamp, generously funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, aims to help lower the barriers to entry into this field, democratize open-source research practices, and foster a collegial community of experts among successive cohorts. Learn more about this opportunity and apply here.
The Nuclear Information Project provides the public with reliable information about the status and trends of the nuclear weapons arsenals of the world’s nuclear-armed countries.
The Nuclear Information Project, called “one of the most widely sourced resources for nuclear warhead counts” by the Washington Post, uses open sources such as official documents, testimonies, previously undisclosed information obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, as well as independent analysis of commercial satellite imagery as the basis for developing the best available unclassified estimates of the status and trends of nuclear weapons worldwide.
The Project also conducts analysis of the role of nuclear weapons and provides recommendations for responsibly reducing the numbers and role of nuclear weapons.
The research is mainly published on the Strategic Security Blog, in the Nuclear Notebook in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the World Nuclear Forces overview in the SIPRI Yearbook, as well as in magazines. As a primary source for reliable information on nuclear weapons, the Project is a frequent advisor to governments, parliamentarians, the news media, institutes, and non-governmental organizations.
The Nuclear Information Project is directed by Hans M. Kristensen in collaboration with Matt Korda, Eliana Johns, and Mackenzie Knight (and previously Robert S. Norris). The Project also collaborates with other experts and organizations.
This work builds on the Nuclear Weapons Databook project that Thomas Cochran and Robert Norris managed at NRDC for many years. Many of their publications are available here at FAS via the Archives page.
The Nuclear Information Project is currently supported with generous contributions from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, the Jubitz Family Foundation, the New-Land Foundation, Ploughshares, the Prospect Hill Foundation, Longview Philanthropy, the Future of Life Institute, and individual donors.
We could not imagine a nuclear weapons field without the Federation of American Scientists.
– Ploughshares
Empowering U.S. allies to do more so Washington can do and spend less sounds attractive. But enabling, or looking the other way at the spread of nuclear weapons is not in America’s interests anymore today than it was in the 20th century.
As long as nuclear weapons exist, nuclear war remains possible. The Nuclear Information Project provides transparency of global nuclear arsenals through open source analysis. It is through this data that policy makers can call for informed policy change.
The Department of Defense has finally released the 2024 version of the China Military Power Report.
In early November 2024, the United States released a report describing the fourth revision to its nuclear employment strategy since the end of the Cold War and the third since 2013.
Despite progress in reducing nuclear weapon arsenals since the Cold War, the world’s combined inventory of nuclear warheads remains at a very high level.
The FAS Nuclear Notebook is one of the most widely sourced reference materials worldwide for reliable information about the status of nuclear weapons.
For decades, the Federation of American Scientists website has hosted vast and valuable archives of data relating to nuclear weapons.
To empower new voices to start their career in nuclear weapons studies, we’re pairing emerging leaders with a senior academic or policy expert to co-author a research project that provides a creative perspective on nuclear deterrence policy.
This work builds on the Nuclear Weapons Databook project that Thomas Cochran and Robert Norris managed at NRDC for many years. Many of their publications are available here at FAS via the Cochran Archive and the Norris Archive.
The Nuclear Information Project is currently supported with generous contributions from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, the New-Land Foundation, Ploughshares Fund, the Prospect Hill Foundation, Longview Philanthropy, the Future of Life Institute, and individual donors.
A quick overview with the most up-to-date information on the world’s nuclear weapons arsenals.
Read the latest stories and analyses of current nuclear weapons-related issues, from new discoveries to treaty retrospections.
Dive into the world-famous Nuclear Notebook series with detailed information about each nuclear armed state.
Looking for a project publication? See the chronology with links going back more than a decade.
Our research is used by others around the globe. Here’s just a glimpse of the news stories based on our research.
Follow Hans M. Kristensen, Matt Korda, Eliana Johns, and Mackenzie Knight on Twitter for real-time analysis and more.
Nuclear Policy and strategy, De-alerting,
Nuclear Weapons
Open Source Data Collection,
Global Nuclear Weapons Arsenals,
Missile Defence,
Nuclear-Climate Nexus
Status of Worldwide Nuclear Arsenals,
Nuclear Strategy and Policy,
North Korea
Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament,
Nuclear Policy and Doctrine
Women, Peace and Security