The Research Wise
22 Aug 2026

BRICS 2026: Beyond the Aggregates

By Deekshant Bhailot

“Data Note: This visualizes data from the 2026 BRICS Joint Statistical Publication. It distinguishes between the Core 5 (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and the Extended 5* (UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia).”

The UAE's per capita GDP is nearly 20x higher than India's

When aggregating the BRICS economies, massive populations in China and India dominate total GDP figures. However, adjusting for population size reveals the bloc's most highly concentrated wealth center: the UAE.

UAE output dwarfs the rest of the bloc per person
$54k
UAE Per Capita

While the UAE's total GDP ($614 billion) places it in the middle of the expanded bloc, its per capita output highlights a stark divergence. It contrasts sharply with the massive, populous economies acting as global growth engines, showcasing two very different types of economies within the same geopolitical alliance.

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