G8 definition
G8
The Group of Eight (G8) was an international governmental political forum that existed from 1997 until 2014.
The discussion forum originated in 1975 as the Group of Six (G6) after France held the first summit.
Who are the G8 countries?
France invited representatives of six governments: France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the United States to take part, the six largest economies at the time.
With the addition of Canada in 1976, the group became the G7. Russia was added to the forum in 1997 and became known as the G8 in the following year.
Following the annexation of Crimea, Russia was suspended indefinitely in March 2014. The political forum name reverted to G7. In 2017, Russia announced its permanent withdrawal from the G8.