G8 countries or Group of Eight is an intergovernmental organization which came into being in 1975 through uncorroborated summit meetings of the leaders of the world’s first industrialized countries such as the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), France, West Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan. Though Japan did not take part in the initial meeting in 1975 and the President of the European Commission joined the discourse in 1977. Russia joined the discussion in 1994and became the eighth member in 1997. And that’s how the ‘Political Eight’ or ‘Group of 8’ was formed.
In 2014, Russia was suspended from the forum, and within three years, the nation officially announced that it would permanently withdraw from the forum. Hence, today it is known as G7, which includes nations of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States.
| G8 Country Name |
Country Govt. Heads |
Name of Country Leaders |
| Canada |
Prime Minister |
Stephen Harper |
| France |
President |
François Hollande |
| Germany |
Chancellor |
Angela Merkel |
| Italy |
Prime Minister |
Matteo Renzi |
| Japan |
Prime Minister |
Shinzō Abe |
| Russia |
President |
Vladimir Putin |
| United Kingdom |
Prime Minister |
David Cameron |
| United States |
President |
Barack Obama |
|
