GNH

Gross National Happiness (GNH) is Bhutan’s policy framework for development. It was first articulated by the Fourth King in 1979 on the coronation tour, in response to a journalist’s question about GDP. Operationalisation took until 2008, when the Centre for Bhutan Studies and GNH Research produced the GNH Index — a composite spanning nine domains and 33 indicators administered through the periodic GNH Survey.

The 2010, 2015, and 2022 surveys document a rising headline score (0.743 → 0.756 → 0.781). Domain-level movement is more mixed; see Chapter Four for the analysis.

See also: Chapter Four, Topic: GNH.