If you’re still thinking of the BRICS as just those five major emerging economies—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—you’ve essentially missed the biggest geopolitical shift of the last decade. Honestly, the group isn't even a neat little club of five anymore. It’s turned into something much more sprawling and, frankly, a bit harder to keep track of.
The question of what countries are part of the BRICS used to be an easy one for a geography quiz. Today? It’s a trick question. As of 2026, the group has effectively doubled in size, and that’s not even counting the long list of "partner countries" that are basically in the waiting room.
The Current 11: Who Is Actually in the Club?
Right now, in 2026, there are 11 full member states. India just launched the official website and logo for the 2026 BRICS Presidency, and they’ve made it very clear who is at the table. It’s a mix of the old guard and a new wave of energy producers and regional heavyweights.
The Original Five (The Founders)
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- Brazil: The agricultural powerhouse of the South.
- Russia: The energy giant currently pushing hardest for "de-dollarization."
- India: The world's fastest-growing major economy and the host of this year's summit.
- China: The undisputed heavyweight and the primary engine behind the group's expansion.
- South Africa: The gateway to the African continent, joined in 2011.
The 2024 Expansion Wave
On January 1, 2024, the group took its first massive leap. This wasn't just about adding names; it was about adding oil and strategic geography.
- Egypt: A key bridge between Africa and the Middle East.
- Ethiopia: One of the fastest-growing economies in Africa.
- Iran: A major energy player that significantly shifts the group's geopolitical leanings.
- United Arab Emirates (UAE): A global financial hub that brings serious capital to the table.
- Saudi Arabia: This one was a bit "it’s complicated." While they were invited in 2023 and have been participating in all meetings as a member, their formal finalization took a minute, but they are firmly part of the 11-member count discussed by officials in early 2026.
The 2025 Addition
- Indonesia: They officially joined the ranks as a full member in January 2025. Adding the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation and a G20 economy was a massive win for the bloc's legitimacy.
The "Partner Countries" — A New Way to Join
At the Kazan Summit in late 2024, the leaders realized they couldn't just keep adding full members every year without the whole thing becoming unmanageable. So, they created a "Partner Country" status. It’s like being a member of a gym but not having a seat on the board.
These countries participate in many of the discussions and initiatives but don’t have the same voting consensus power as the full 11.
The list of partners includes:
- Belarus
- Bolivia
- Cuba
- Kazakhstan
- Malaysia
- Nigeria
- Thailand
- Uganda
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
Basically, these ten countries are the next in line. Nigeria and Malaysia, in particular, are huge additions to the partner tier because they represent significant economic blocks in West Africa and Southeast Asia.
Why This Grouping Actually Matters (It's Not Just a Name)
You might wonder why everyone is so obsessed with what countries are part of the BRICS lately. It’s about the numbers. We’re talking about a group that now represents roughly 40% of the world's GDP and nearly half of the global population.
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That’s huge.
When Jim O’Neill at Goldman Sachs first coined the term "BRIC" in 2001, it was just an investment thesis. He thought these countries were going to be the next big thing. He was right, but he probably didn't expect them to form an actual political bloc that tries to create its own currency systems.
The group is currently obsessed with "de-dollarization." They want to trade with each other using their own currencies—like the Indian Rupee or the Chinese Yuan—instead of the U.S. Dollar. For the new members like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, this is a way to diversify their political and economic risks.
Misconceptions: What People Get Wrong
One big mistake people make is thinking the BRICS is like the European Union. It's not. There’s no single market, no common passport, and honestly, some of the members don't even like each other that much.
Take India and China. They have a long-standing border dispute and are constantly competing for influence in Asia. Yet, they both sit at the same BRICS table. Why? Because they both want a "multipolar world." They’re tired of the West (the G7) making all the rules.
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Another misconception? That Argentina is a member. They were actually invited along with Egypt and the others in 2023, but when Javier Milei became president, he basically said "no thanks" and pulled them out of the process.
What’s Next for the Bloc?
Under India's 2026 chairship, the focus is on "Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability." External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has been very vocal about making the group more "people-centric."
If you're watching the markets, keep an eye on the New Development Bank (NDB). That's the BRICS version of the World Bank. As more countries join, the NDB gets more funding to lend for infrastructure projects, often without the strict "Western-style" strings attached.
Actionable Insights for the Global Observer:
- Follow the Money: If you are an investor, watch how the UAE and Saudi Arabia integrate into the BRICS New Development Bank. Their capital could change how infrastructure in the Global South is funded.
- Watch the Partner List: If a country like Thailand or Vietnam moves from "Partner" to "Full Member," it’s a sign that the bloc is successfully cracking the pro-Western alliances in Southeast Asia.
- Currency Shifts: Don't expect the dollar to die tomorrow, but do expect more "bilateral trade" agreements. If you do business in these regions, you might soon be asked to settle invoices in something other than USD.
- The 2026 Summit: Keep an eye on the meetings in India this year. With 11 full members now solidified, the 2026 summit will be the first real test of whether this larger group can actually agree on anything substantial or if it will just be a lot of talking.
The expansion is real, and the map of global power is being redrawn right now. Understanding what countries are part of the BRICS is just the first step in seeing where the world is headed by 2030.