BRICS
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Business & Finance, Organizations & Companies |
BRICS has two meanings. It stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (economics) or Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (international organization).
Meanings of BRICS at a glance
| # | BRICS stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa | Business & Finance › Economics |
| 2 | Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa | Organizations & Companies › International Organization |
1. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa
Business & Finance · Economics Abbreviations
Group of major emerging economies, originally Brazil, Russia, India and China, that hold annual summits and cooperate on trade, finance and development. South Africa joined in 2010, and the group expanded further from 2024.
Example: BRICS leaders discussed settling more trade in local currencies at their summit.
Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill coined the term BRIC in a 2001 paper predicting the economies' growing weight. The countries held their first leaders' summit in 2009 and created the New Development Bank in 2014. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the UAE joined in 2024 and Indonesia in 2025, so the acronym no longer lists every member.
2. Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa
Organizations & Companies · International Organization Abbreviations
Intergovernmental grouping of major emerging economies, originally Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, that holds annual summits and seeks greater influence in global governance. It expanded in 2024 with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the UAE, and Indonesia joined in 2025.
Example: BRICS leaders discussed settling more trade in local currencies.
The term BRIC was coined in 2001 by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill; the first summit was held in 2009 and South Africa joined in 2010. The group created the New Development Bank in 2014. It has no permanent secretariat, and the leading role of China and Russia shapes perceptions of it.
Related abbreviations
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