The size of the world's nuclear arsenal has quietly increased in several countries amid fears of World War III. Officially, five countries - China, Pakistan, India, Israel, and North Korea - have increased their nuclear stockpiles by over 700 warheads over the past 40 years. A 2024 report by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) warned that three other nations with nuclear bombs worldwide may be quietly stockpiling even more arms. The report estimates that there are still over 12,000 nuclear warheads in the world, controlled by 9 different countries. The threat of a global war involving nuclear weapons remains high due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.