Country position on nuclear weapons in India
India: Country position on nuclear weapons was 3 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Country position on nuclear weapons in India, 1938–2023
Source: Bleek (2017); Nuclear Threat Initiative (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
India recorded 3 for country position on nuclear weapons in 2023. That is the highest value across all 86 years on record.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, country position on nuclear weapons in India peaked at 3 in 1987 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1938.
India ranks 1st of 246 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1940s | 0.2 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| 1950s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.3 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.4 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.3 | 2 | 3 | 10 |
| 1990s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
More energy & mining data for India
- Fuel imports 31.5% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 6.9% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 3.7% (2024)
- Gas production 311.65 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 212.9 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 311.65 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 212.9 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel exports 17.1% (2024)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 14.2% (2023)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 66.7% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is country position on nuclear weapons in India?
- Country position on nuclear weapons in India was 3 in 2023, according to Bleek (2017); Nuclear Threat Initiative (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest country position on nuclear weapons recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 3 in 1987.
- What is the lowest country position on nuclear weapons recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1938.
- How does India rank for country position on nuclear weapons?
- India ranks 1st out of 246 countries with data for 2023.
- Is country position on nuclear weapons rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Bleek (2017); Nuclear Threat Initiative (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Country position on nuclear weapons. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 86 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Whether a country does not consider (0), considers (1), pursues (2), or possesses (3) nuclear weapons.