Last updated: October 27, 2026. Reference guide, reviewed when the underlying official data changes.
BRICS has 11 full members in 2026: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia. Ten more countries joined as partner countries in 2025, according to the official BRICS India 2026 site.
The 11 BRICS members
| Country | Joined | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | Founder | Original BRIC |
| Russia | Founder | Original BRIC |
| India | Founder | 2026 chair |
| China | Founder | Original BRIC |
| South Africa | 2011 | Turned BRIC into BRICS |
| Egypt | 2024 | Johannesburg 2023 expansion |
| Ethiopia | 2024 | Johannesburg 2023 expansion |
| Iran | 2024 | Johannesburg 2023 expansion |
| Saudi Arabia | 2024 | Listed as a member by the BRICS chair |
| United Arab Emirates | 2024 | Johannesburg 2023 expansion |
| Indonesia | 2025 | Entry announced Jan. 6, 2025 |
India’s Press Information Bureau says the 11 members represent 49.5% of the world’s population, 40% of global GDP and 26% of global trade.
The 10 BRICS partner countries
Leaders created the partner-country category at the 2024 Kazan summit. The partners are Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. Eight started on January 1, 2025; Nigeria accepted that January, and Brazil’s presidency announced Vietnam as the 10th, Brazil’s BRICS FAQ says. Partners take part in outreach but do not hold full membership.
2026 chair and summit
The chair rotates in the order of the acronym, starting each January 1. India took its fourth chairship on January 1, 2026, under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” and hosted the 18th summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, India said.
BRICS vs. NATO
BRICS is a political and economic coordination forum with no founding treaty, budget or permanent secretariat, according to Brazil’s foreign ministry. NATO is a treaty-based military alliance with a collective defense commitment. No country belongs to both.
Frequently asked questions
How many countries are in BRICS?
11 full members in 2026, plus 10 partner countries.
Is Saudi Arabia in BRICS?
The 2026 BRICS chair, India, lists Saudi Arabia among the 11 members.
Who chairs BRICS in 2026?
India, for the fourth time after 2012, 2016 and 2021.
Does BRICS have a common currency?
No. BRICS has no founding treaty, budget or secretariat, and members use their own currencies.
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By Peter. This guide was prepared with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed above.
