- BRICS membership expanded to eleven countries by mid-2025, up from its original five.
- The group represents over 40% of the world’s population and accounts for around 37.3% of global GDP.
- Six new members joined between January 2024 and July 2025, including Saudi Arabia.
- Thirty-two countries have signaled interest in joining BRICS, with twenty-three submitting formal applications.
- Internal differences within BRICS impact decision-making on further expansion and strategy.
As of 2025, the BRICS alliance has grown to include eleven full member countries, expanding from the original five. The group now represents over 40% of the global population and manages about 37.3% of global gross domestic product. Recent additions reflect continued interest from countries seeking alternatives to Western-led institutions.
BRICS started with Brazil, Russia, India, and China in 2006, with South Africa joining in 2010. The latest expansion introduced Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates on January 1, 2024. Indonesia joined in January 2025, followed by Saudi Arabia completing its membership in July 2025. Chinese President Xi Jinping stated, “Adding new economies will inject new vitality into BRICS cooperation and increase the representativeness and influence of BRICS.”
Interest in the group is growing, with thirty-two countries expressing desire to join and twenty-three already submitting applications through diplomatic channels. BRICS also names thirteen “partner countries,” among them Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. Top candidates for membership include Bahrain, Malaysia, Turkey, Vietnam, Kuwait, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Uzbekistan. Most seek alternative financing and ways to reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar.
BRICS significantly influences world oil markets, especially after adding Iran, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. The group now accounts for almost half of global oil production and about 35% of world oil consumption. The Goldman Sachs Build Better Global Economic BRICs research paper originally described the bloc as offering a healthier environment for growth. The New Development Bank, a BRICS initiative, has funded over $32 billion across ninety-six projects since 2016, focusing on infrastructure with the option for loans in local currencies to limit dollar risks.
Decision-making in the expanded group now faces more challenges, with China and Russia encouraging rapid growth and Brazil and India pushing for more careful evaluation of new applicants. According to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “This system was created by rich countries to benefit rich countries. Practically no African country was sitting at the table of the Bretton Woods Agreement.” The continued growth of BRICS signals a shift toward a more multipolar world economy as new and developing countries join or seek membership.
Some oil-producing nations, such as Bahrain and Kuwait, have positioned their energy exports as strategic benefits, while Mexico may give BRICS more reach in Latin America. The ongoing expansion could create more decision-making complexity but also attract countries wanting reduced reliance on traditional Western systems.
✅ Follow BITNEWSBOT on Telegram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X.com, and Google News for instant updates.
Previous Articles:
- US Treasury Seeks Input on Digital ID for DeFi Money Laundering
- Novogratz: $1M Bitcoin Would Signal US Economic Crisis, Not Victory
- Kraken Halts Monero Deposits Amid 51% Attack, Network at Risk
- Ethereum Unstaking Queue Surges to $3.7B, Prompting Sell Pressure
- ERMAC 3.0 Android Trojan Source Code Leak Exposes Major Flaws
