The World’s Bioweapons Blind Spot

The world's nuclear and chemical watchdogs conducted more than 2,500 treaty-verification inspections in 2024. The Biological Weapons Convention has no permanent inspectorate to verify compliance.

Figures refer to 2024. IAEA inspections verify nuclear safeguards, primarily the peaceful use of nuclear material, rather than nuclear weapons arsenals. OPCW figures include 200 industrial inspections and 29 chemical-weapons-related inspections; none were challenge inspections.
Chart: David AverreSource: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), 2024 annual reports; United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).