Global South

American  

[gloh-buhl sauth] / ˈgloʊ bəl ˈsaʊθ /

Or global south

noun

1. the low- or middle-income countries located in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania; Third World.

   The article argues that poverty in the Global South stems from European exploitation of its natural resources.

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Etymology

Origin of Global South

First recorded in 1965–70; not literally referring to the Southern Hemisphere, but continuing the 20th century contrasts between the wealthy industrial north and the poverty-stricken agricultural south, and probably beginning with Antonio Gramsci’s essay “The Southern Question” (1926), in which he argued southern Italy had, in effect, been colonized by capitalists from northern Italy

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Global South

By eliminating many of the costs associated with museum visits and extensive fieldwork, citizen science platforms are making large scale biological research more accessible, particularly for scientists working in the Global South.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 12, 2026

Chinese policy advisers say doing so would alienate the Global South audience that has become central to Xi’s goal of reshaping the world order in Beijing’s favor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026

According to CACE, most countries in the Global South expected to authorize large volumes of credits have little ability to do so.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 23, 2026

"When India and Brazil work together, the voice of Global South becomes stronger and more confident."

From Barron's ● Feb. 21, 2026

"For this summit to have any real impact for the Global South, there needs to be access for all to AI and that can only be achieved by opening it up," she argues.

From BBC ● Feb. 16, 2026