Gross National Happiness: how Bhutan measures progress

Bhutan is famous for measuring its progress by happiness as well as by money. The idea of Gross National Happiness (GNH) is credited to the Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, in the 1970s, who said it mattered more than Gross National Product.

The four pillars

GNH is usually described through four pillars:

• Sustainable and fair economic development
• Protection of the environment
• Preservation and promotion of culture
• Good governance

These are measured in more detail across nine areas of life, including health, education, time use, community and psychological wellbeing, and new policies are checked against them.

In practice

Bhutan's constitution requires that at least 60 percent of the country remain under forest, and the country is one of very few that absorb more carbon than they emit. Culture is protected too: the national dress is worn every day, and new buildings follow traditional architecture.

Why tourism works the way it does

Bhutan has long followed a "high value, low volume" approach to tourism, so that visitors support the country without overwhelming it. A Sustainable Development Fee is charged for each night of a stay and goes towards conservation, health and education.

What you will notice

Quiet roads, forested hills, unhurried towns and a warm welcome. GNH is not a promise that everyone is happy every day, but it is a real way of deciding what matters.