Is the Global South leading the new world order?
The Global South — covering Africa, Latin America, parts of Asia, and the Middle East — now accounts for nearly 80% of the world’s population and over half of global GDP with the BRICS+ bloc alone representing 46% of people and roughly 30% of global output.
These figures alone signal a significant shift in global economic power that is heavily tilted toward the Global South.
Resource control is central to this rise as these countries hold most of the world’s key minerals, oil, gas, and agricultural output, vital for electric vehicles, AI, energy systems, and food supply. Recognising this dominance, many Global South countries now focus on local processing, industrial diversification, South–South trade and reforms in global institutions.
Demographics, resources and growth increasingly favor the Global South, while advanced economies expand slowly. Thus, the key question now is not whether the shift is happening, but how traditional powers will respond to a world where influence is more shared than dictated.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
