5 Countries That Have Nuclear Weapons Or Nuclear Power Technology

4. France

Number of Nuclear Warheads in 2022: 290

The codename for the first French nuclear test was Gerboise Bleue. 17 test detonations took place between 1960 and 1966 in the Algerian Sahara, with four of them being atmospheric detonations. During the Cold War, it is believed that France was a nuclear supplier to Israel, India, South Africa, Iran, and Iraq before it signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). At the moment, it is estimated that France has a nuclear arsenal of around 290 warheads.

France has been generating electricity through nuclear energy since 1970. 70% of the electricity in France is generated through nuclear power. However, the government is working toward reducing it to 50% by 2035. As of December 2022, the country has 56 operating reactors, 1 is under construction, and 14 have been shut down.

Additionally, France is the world’s biggest net exporter of electricity and generates around €3 billion per annum from it. The country provides 15% of all of Europe’s electric power through exports.