About the Journal

The International Journal on BRICS Statistics (IJBS) is an open‑access, peer‑reviewed journal dedicated to advancing knowledge, innovation, and applied research in official statistics focused on, or in relation to BRICS countries. 

 

Purpose and Positioning 

IJBS is created to provide a dedicated platform for sharing methodological, technical, and applied contributions that address the specific realities, challenges, and opportunities faced by National Statistical Offices (NSOs) and statistical systems in BRICS countries. These systems operate in diverse socioeconomic and institutional contexts and are navigating rapid transformations driven by new data sources, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and evolving governance and ethical frameworks. 

While the Journal is open to submissions from researchers worldwide, its core focus is on contributions that are directly relevant to BRICS statistical systems. Manuscripts are expected to demonstrate clear analytical, methodological, or practical value for the production, use, modernization, or governance of official statistics in BRICS contexts, including comparative analyses involving BRICS countries. 

IJBS complements existing international journals in the field of official statistics by offering a space particularly oriented toward applied and context‑sensitive work grounded in BRICS experiences and Global South perspectives among others. The Journal expands publication opportunities for contributions that are highly relevant to official statistics but may not easily fit within more established outlets. 

 

Scope 

The Journal welcomes submissions covering, among others, the following areas: 

• Statistical methodologies and frameworks; 

• Demographic and social statistics, including labor, population, and migration; 

• Economic statistics and national accounts; 

• Integration and use of administrative records and non‑traditional data sources (e.g., big data, citizen‑generated data, platform data); 

• Data science and artificial intelligence applications in official statistics; 

• Environmental, climate, and geospatial statistics; 

• Statistical capacity building, modernization, and digital transformation; 

• Data governance, ethics, and quality assurance frameworks. 

Special attention is given to applied experiences, regional cooperation, and innovations that address shared challenges across BRICS countries, including but not limited to the Global South. 

 

Editorial Principles 

IJBS is guided by principles of: 

• Relevance to official statistics, with emphasis on practical and methodological contributions; 

• Scientific rigor and transparency, supported by peer review and open science practices; 

• Balanced representation and collaboration among BRICS countries; 

• Accessibility and equity, through open access publication without fees; 

• Responsible innovation, including ethical and transparent use of artificial intelligence. 

 

Language and Accessibility 

English is the official and mandatory language for submission and publication. The English version of each article is the authoritative reference text. While IJBS values multilingual dissemination and accessibility, translations into other languages are not required and will be considered on a case‑by‑case basis when feasible. 

 

Outreach and Community Engagement 

Beyond publication, IJBS seeks to actively engage the community of official statisticians, researchers, and practitioners working with and for BRICS countries. Outreach activities may include announcements, webinars, and presentations through institutional, regional, and international networks, developed in collaboration with Editorial Board members and partner institutions, depending on available capacity.