What It Is
The Group of 77 (G77) is a coalition of 134+ developing countries at the United Nations that coordinates positions on economic development, climate, and global governance. The Group was founded in 1964 by 77 developing countries at the first UNCTAD conference; it has since grown to over 134 members, though the name was kept for historical continuity.
China is not a formal member but coordinates as 'G77+China' — a formulation that lets Beijing align with developing-country positions without formal membership in a non-aligned . The G77+China formulation has become standard for coordination on UN issues.
How the G77 Works
The G77 chairs a rotating annual presidency, with the chair country leading coordination across the calendar year. It produces joint positions on UN budget negotiations, , sustainable development, the Sustainable Development Goals, and global tax governance. The Group operates through:
- Annual Ministerial Meetings in September each year, coinciding with the high-level week.
- Chapter coordination in Geneva, Vienna, Rome, Paris, Nairobi, and Washington — each city's G77 chapter handles issues at the relevant UN body.
- Working groups on specific themes (climate, debt, technology, finance).
Where the G77 Has Impact
The Group's largest is in shaping General Assembly outcomes where developing-country majorities matter. The G77 can pass resolutions in the GA by mobilizing its majority; this is why so many GA resolutions reflect Global South priorities.
The Group has less weight in the (where the P5 dominate), the (where favors developed economies), and the WTO (where and effective economic power matter more than vote counts). The structural mismatch between G77 numerical majority and limited weight in financial governance is a long-running source of Global South frustration with the international system.
Recent G77 Positions
Climate finance: the G77 has consistently pressed developed-country donors on the $100B/year climate finance commitment and on the architecture of the new '' fund.
Debt restructuring: the Group has called for systematic sovereign-debt restructuring mechanisms for low-income economies, complementing Common discussions.
Global tax: the G77 has driven the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation, an attempt to move tax governance from the OECD (which excludes most G77 members) to a UN venue where Global South states have voice.
Common Misconceptions
The G77 is not always a unified bloc. Member countries have diverging interests on many issues — oil exporters vs importers, large vs small island states, middle-income vs low-income countries. The Group's strength is on issues where common Global South interests align; on internally divisive issues, it often does not take a position.
Another misconception is that G77 membership is the same as Non-Aligned Movement membership. The two overlap substantially but are not identical — the NAM has different membership criteria and a different historical lineage.
Real-World Examples
2023 UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation — a major G77 push that won UN GA adoption against developed-country opposition. The convention is now in negotiation, with the OECD vs UN tax-governance question central to its outcome.
2024 G77 chairmanship by Uganda was followed by 2025 G77 chairmanship by Iraq, illustrating the rotation that spreads diplomatic leadership across regions and political families within the Group.
Example
The G77+China bloc has consistently demanded $100B+/year in climate finance from developed countries since the 2009 Copenhagen pledge, achieved in 2022 according to OECD estimates.