This year is a year of Russian presidency in BRICS, and fostering of cooperation in social sphere is declared among priority themes. This article deals with the common issues of BRICS countries in social sphere and possible ways of cooperation to address them. Article is divided into four thematic areas: social protection, healthcare, housing and education. First part highlights unemployment and inequality issues. Second part deals with the questions of healthcare financing, coverage of medical services, HIV/AIDS and non-communicable diseases response. Third item is dedicated to urbanization and quality of housing issues. Fourth part underscores questions of coverage of education, expenses on it and academic mobility between five countries.

Article concludes that the analysis of the partner-countries experiences may be quite beneficial for Russia, especially in the sphere of progressive taxation as a mechanism to fight inequality, promotion of healthy lifestyle, public private partnership in healthcare, cooperation in academic mobility, education standards unification. Russia in its turn can share experience in healthcare and education coverage, national programmes of social protection of vulnerable social groups.