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A bigger BRICS, a heavier economy but a harder consensus, explained in charts

A bigger BRICS, a heavier economy but a harder consensus, explained in charts
Countries
BrazilChinaEgyptEthiopiaIndiaIndonesiaIranRussiaSaudi ArabiaSouth AfricaUnited Arab Emirates
Cooperation areas
Economic GrowthInstitutional Development

Source: Livemint | Original Published At: 2026-09-09 04:50:02 UTC

Key Points

  • BRICS has expanded from five to 11 members, with Indonesia as the latest addition, and accounts for 29.1% of global GDP in 2025, up from 19.7% in 2009.
  • China contributes 60.4% of BRICS+ GDP, while India and Russia also add significant economic and political weight.
  • The BRICS+ bloc has narrowed its GDP gap with the G7, which remains about 15 percentage points higher than BRICS+.
  • Internal tensions, including those involving Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, led to the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi ending without a joint declaration.
  • BRICS has pursued de-dollarization, and New Development Bank-funded projects now have dollar financing below 60%, with the yuan and local currencies gaining share.
  • BRICS+ intra-trade reached $1.2 trillion in 2025, growing 72% since 2009 and outpacing comparable growth in ASEAN, G20 and EU intra-trade measures.
  • India’s trade with BRICS+ remains import-heavy, with the bloc accounting for 41.5% of India’s imports and 22.3% of its exports in 2025–26.
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