The Group of Seven (G7) is an informal forum of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States; the European Union takes part too. It began as a six-nation summit at Rambouillet, France, in 1975, with Canada joining in 1976. Russia joined in 1997-98 (making it the G8) but was suspended in 2014 after annexing Crimea.
Key facts
- First summit Rambouillet, France, 1975 (G6); Canada joined 1976; Russia was in from 1997-98 until suspended in 2014.
- No treaty, no secretariat; a rotating annual presidency hosts the summit.
- Members have about 10 percent of world population but around 44 percent of nominal GDP. (as of 23 Oct 2026)
- 2025 summit: Kananaskis, Canada; 2026 summit: Evian-les-Bains, France (15 to 17 June), with India invited as a partner country. (as of 23 Oct 2026)
Latest
On 2 October 2026 G7 leaders agreed to release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel from emergency stocks over four months after disruption in the Strait of Hormuz; the release is coordinated through the Paris-based International Energy Agency.
Why exams ask about it
Members, the summit host, India's invitations and the G8-to-G7 story are the usual questions.