The Group of Eight (G8, and formerly the G6 or Group of Six) is a forum, created by France in 1975,[1] for the governments of six major economies: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 1976, Canada joined the group (thus creating the G7). In 1997, the group added Russia, thus becoming the G8. In addition, the European Union is represented within the G8, but cannot host or chair.[2] "G8" can refer to the member states or to the annual summit meeting of the G8 heads of government. The former term, G6, is now frequently applied to the six most populous countries within the European Union. G8 ministers also meet throughout the year, such as the G7/8 finance ministers (who meet four times a year), G8 foreign ministers, or G8 environment ministers.
Canada Prime Minister Stephen Harper
France President Nicolas Sarkozy- President of the G8 for 2011
Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel
Italy Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
Japan Prime Minister Naoto Kan
Russia President Dmitry Medvedev
United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron
United States President Barack Obama