News coverage of global economics constantly references the G7, G20, and BRICS countries — but the three groups have different membership, different purposes, and represent very different visions of the world economic order.
G7 (Group of Seven)
The G7 is a forum of seven of the world’s largest advanced economies: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan, with the European Union also participating. It focuses on coordinating economic policy among major Western-aligned democracies and has existed in its current form since the late 1990s.
G20 (Group of Twenty)
The G20 is a much broader forum representing about 85% of global GDP, including all G7 members plus major emerging economies: China, India, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Mexico, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Argentina, Australia, South Korea, and the European Union and African Union. It was elevated to a leaders-level summit after the 2008 financial crisis specifically because the G7 alone no longer represented enough of the global economy to coordinate an effective response.
BRICS
BRICS began as an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — major emerging economies positioning themselves as a counterweight to Western-led institutions. The group has since expanded to include additional members such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, with several more countries expressing interest in joining. Unlike the G7 and G20, BRICS operates without formal permanent institutions in the same way, though it has established its own development bank.
See GDP figures for members of all three groups on our Rankings page.
How the Groups Overlap
Several countries — the US, Japan, Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and Canada — appear in the G7 and also the G20. China, India, Brazil, Russia, and South Africa appear in both the G20 and BRICS. This overlap is exactly why the three names get used somewhat interchangeably in news coverage, even though each group has a distinct membership and purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the G7 and G20?
The G7 includes seven major Western-aligned advanced economies, while the G20 is a much broader group of 19 countries plus the EU and African Union, representing about 85% of global GDP.
Which countries are in BRICS?
The founding BRICS members are Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa; the group has since added several more countries including Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE.
Is China part of the G7?
No — China is not a G7 member, but it is a member of both the G20 and BRICS.
Compare GDP for any G7, G20, or BRICS members using our Compare tool.
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