Global South

American  

[gloh-buhl south] / 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

Its long-term price forecast—which is 12% above consensus—reflects a new phase for iron-ore demand, as China pivots to manufacturing and exports from construction, and steel demand from the Global South rises, UBS says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

Wang said Friday it was crucial for Beijing and Jakarta to "increase strategic communication, to deepen strategic coordination" as important representatives of the Global South.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

History will likely view the papacies of Francis and Leo as a transitional era for a Catholic Church slowly adjusting to a world in which the church’s future lies increasingly in the Global South.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 20, 2026

Scientists around the world, particularly in the Global South, will be able to access these resources through institutional portals and platforms such as GBIF, or request specimens for further study.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 27, 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