Public Opinion on Nuclear Weapons: A Global Perspective


Nuclear weapons are the most destructive weapons ever created. They have the potential to kill millions of people and cause widespread devastation. Despite their destructive power, nuclear weapons remain a part of the global landscape. Today, there are nine countries that possess nuclear weapons: the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea.

Public opinion on nuclear weapons is complex and varies from country to country. However, there are some general trends that can be observed. In general, people around the world are opposed to the use of nuclear weapons. A 2022 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 75% of people worldwide believe that nuclear weapons should never be used, even in retaliation for a nuclear attack.

There is also strong support for nuclear disarmament. A 2021 survey by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute found that 73% of people worldwide believe that nuclear disarmament is essential to global security.

However, there are also some countries where public opinion on nuclear weapons is more divided. In the United States, for example, there is a significant minority of people who believe that nuclear weapons are necessary to deter war. A 2021 poll by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs found that 38% of Americans believe that nuclear weapons are necessary to protect the country, while 62% believe that they are not.

Public opinion on nuclear weapons is important because it can influence government policy. In recent years, there has been a growing movement to ban nuclear weapons. In 2017, the United Nations adopted a treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons. The treaty has been signed by 86 countries, but it has not yet entered into force because it has not been ratified by the five nuclear-weapon states.

The future of nuclear weapons is uncertain. However, public opinion is clear: people around the world want to see these weapons eliminated. Governments must listen to the will of the people and work to achieve a world without nuclear weapons.

Here are some additional facts and statistics about public opinion on nuclear weapons:

  • A 2022 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 75% of people worldwide believe that nuclear weapons should never be used, even in retaliation for a nuclear attack.
  • A 2021 survey by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute found that 73% of people worldwide believe that nuclear disarmament is essential to global security.
  • In the United States, a 2021 poll by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs found that 38% of Americans believe that nuclear weapons are necessary to protect the country, while 62% believe that they are not.
  • The United Nations adopted a treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons in 2017. The treaty has been signed by 86 countries, but it has not yet entered into force because it has not been ratified by the five nuclear-weapon states.

These statistics show that public opinion on nuclear weapons is overwhelmingly opposed to their use and in favor of their elimination. Governments must listen to the will of the people and work to achieve a world without nuclear weapons.

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