This article discusses the methodological aspects of comparative research on sustainable development in order to form the BRICS Sustainable Development Index. The index can be considered as a mechanism for assessing the progress of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in achieving the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs) in 2015–20.

The authors systematize the accumulated experience of international studies, indices, and rankings that address social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainability, highlighting the key research problems of these works and intrinsic issues of the SDG methodological framework in general. The methodology of the BRICS Sustainable Development Index is described in detail, taking into account the conclusions on the applicability of the available experience for the purposes of the current study. The final section presents the interim results of the Index.

The article was written on the basis of the RANEPA state assignment research programme