The
Group of Twenty (also known as the
G-20 or
G20) is an
international forum for the governments and
central bank governors from 20 major economies. The members include 19 individual countries—
Argentina,
Australia,
Brazil,
Canada,
China,
France,
Germany,
India,
Indonesia,
Italy,
Japan,
South Korea,
Mexico,
Russia,
Saudi Arabia,
South Africa,
Turkey, the
United Kingdom and the
United States—along with the
European Union (EU). The EU is represented by the
European Commission and by the
European Central Bank. The G-20 was founded in 1999 with the aim of studying, reviewing, and promoting high-level discussion of policy issues pertaining to the promotion of international financial stability. It seeks to address issues that go beyond the responsibilities of any one organization. Collectively, the G-20 economies account for around
85% of the
gross world product (GWP), 80% of
world trade (or, if excluding EU intra-trade, 75%), and two-thirds of the
world population. The G-20
heads of government or
heads of state have periodically conferred at summits since their initial meeting in 2008, and the group also hosts separate meetings of
finance ministers and
central bank governors.