The nine BRICS member states have agreed to include thirteen new nations in the category of “partner states” in the association, the BRICS News X feed reported. Before they are formally admitted, there will be consultations of each with the Russian presidency to make things official.

Together, the new nations represent nearly 1 billion people! That brings the total now represented by the BRICS to more than 57% of Mankind. The new additions and their respective populations are:

Indonesia (283 million)

Nigeria (233 million)

Vietnam (101 million)

Turkey (87 million)

Thailand (72 million)

Uganda (50 million)