Member Countries

Brazil

Population: 221.6 million

GDP: $2.2 trillion

Key Industries: Agriculture, Mining, Manufacturing

Russia

Population: 146.2 million

GDP: $2.1 trillion

Key Industries: Energy, Defense, Mining

India

Population: 1.462 billion

GDP: $3.9 trillion

Key Industries: IT, Pharmaceuticals, Agriculture

China

Population: 1.474 billion

GDP: $19.4 trillion

Key Industries: Manufacturing, Technology, Construction

South Africa

Population: 63.1 million

GDP: $384 billion

Key Industries: Mining, Manufacturing, Tourism

Historical Timeline

  • 2001: Term "BRIC" coined by Jim O'Neill
  • 2006: First BRIC Foreign Ministers' Meeting
  • 2009: First BRIC Summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia
  • 2010: South Africa invited to join, forming BRICS
  • 2014: New Development Bank established
  • 2023: Expansion announced with 6 new members

Six New Members (2023)

Argentina

Population: 47.5 million

GDP: $683 billion

Key Industries: Agriculture, Automotive, Mining

Egypt

Population: 118.4 million

GDP: $410 billion

Key Industries: Tourism, Suez Canal, Agriculture

Ethiopia

Population: 128.6 million

GDP: $174 billion

Key Industries: Agriculture, Textiles, Hydropower

Iran

Population: 89.5 million

GDP: $425 billion

Key Industries: Oil & Gas, Petrochemicals, Agriculture

Saudi Arabia

Population: 37.3 million

GDP: $1.17 trillion

Key Industries: Oil, Petrochemicals, Construction

United Arab Emirates

Population: 10.2 million

GDP: $550 billion

Key Industries: Oil, Tourism, Finance, Trade

Strategic Objectives

Economic Cooperation

Promoting trade, investment, and financial cooperation among member states and with other emerging economies.

Political Coordination

Enhancing dialogue and cooperation on international peace, security, and global governance reform.

Development Finance

Providing alternatives to traditional Western-dominated financial institutions through the New Development Bank.

Cultural Exchange

Promoting people-to-people exchanges and cultural understanding among member nations.