The Nuclear Testing Tally | Arms Control Association

Arms Control Today

In May, India conducted its first nuclear tests in 24 years, followed by Pakistan conducting its first tests ever. The tests—the first since the signing of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in September 1996—present the most significant challenge to the nuclear non-proliferation regime in decades. In a May 11 press statement, India said it would be prepared "to consider being an adherent to some of the undertakings" of the CTBT provided certain conditions were met. Pakistan has maintained it would be prepared to sign the CTBT if India does.

United States (1,030)
First tested: Jul. 16, 1945.
Last tested: Sept. 23, 1992.
Signed CTBT: Sept. 24, 1996.

USSR/Russia (715 tests)
First tested: Aug. 29, 1949.
Last tested: Oct. 24, 1990.
Signed CTBT: Sept. 24, 1996.

Great Britain (45 tests)
First tested: Oct. 3, 1952.
Last tested: Nov. 26, 1991.
Signed CTBT: Sept. 24, 1996.
Deposited CTBT Ratification:
Apr. 6, 1998.

France (210 tests)
First tested: Feb. 13, 1960.
Last tested: Jan. 27, 1996.
Signed CTBT: Sept. 24, 1996.
Deposited CTBT Ratification:
Apr. 6, 1998.

China (45 tests)
First tested: Oct. 16, 1964.
Last tested: Jul. 29, 1996.
Signed CTBT: Sept. 24, 1996.

India (3 tests¹)
First tested: May 18, 1974.
Subsequent tests May 11, 1998 and May 13, 1998.
Not a CTBT signatory.

Pakistan (2 tests¹)
First tested: May 28, 1998.
Subsequent test May 30, 1998.
Not a CTBT signatory.

Year	United States	USSR/ Russia	Britain	France	China	India	Pakistan	Total
1945	1							1
1946	2							2
1947	0							0
1948	3							3
1949	0	1						1
1950	0	0						0
1951	16	2						18
1952	10	0	1					11
1953	11	5	2					18
1954	6	10	0					16
1955	18	6	0					24
1956	18	9	6					33
1957	32	16	7					55
1958	77	34	5					116
1959	0	0	0					0
1960	0	0	0	3				3
1961	10	59	0	2				71
1962	96	79	2	1				178
1963	47	0	0	3				50
1964	45	9	2	3	1			60
1965	38	14	1	4	1			58
1966	48	18	0	7	3			76
1967	42	17	0	3	2			64
1968	56	17	0	5	1			79
1969	46	19	0	0	2			67
1970	39	16	0	8	1			64
1971	24	23	0	5	1			53
1972	27	24	0	4	2			57
1973	24	17	0	6	1			48
1974	22	21	1	9	1	1		55
1975	22	19	0	2	1	0		44
1976	20	21	1	5	4	0		51
1977	20	24	0	9	1	0		54
1978	19	31	2	11	3	0		66
1979	15	31	1	10	1	0		58
1980	14	24	3	12	1	0		54
1981	16	21	1	12	0	0		50
1982	18	19	1	10	1	0		49
1983	18	25	1	9	2	0		55
1984	18	27	2	8	2	0		57
1985	17	10	1	8	0	0		36
1986	14	0	1	8	0	0		23
1987	14	23	1	8	1	0		47
1988	15	16	0	8	1	0		40
1989	11	7	1	9	0	0		28
1990	8	1	1	6	2	0		18
1991	7	0	1	6	0	0		14
1992	6	0	0	0	2	0		8
1993	0	0	0	0	1	0		1
1994	0	0	0	0	2	0		2
1995	0	0	0	5	2	0		7
1996	0	0	0	1	2	0		3
1997	0	0	0	0	0	0		0
1998	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	4
Total	1,030	715	45	210	45	3	2	2,050

NOTE

1. In accordance with the definition of a nuclear test contained in the Threshold Test Ban Treaty and to allow accurate comparison with other countries' figures, India's three simultaneous nuclear explosions on May 11 are counted as only one nuclear test, as are the two explosions on May 13. Likewise, Pakistan's five simultaneous explosions on May 28 are counted as a single test.