Definition: The Group of Eight industrialized democracies -- or G-8 -- is the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Japan, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. The G-8 nations meet annually in a summit to discuss issues ranging from the environment and the economy to foreign policy and crime. Russia was the last country to join the G-8, in 1997. The G-8 nations combined account for about two-thirds of the world's economic power and most of the world's military might.
Alternate Spellings: G8
