What national happiness measure did Bhutan make internationally famous?

Bhutan made Gross National Happiness internationally famous as an alternative measure of national progress.

The concept is associated with Bhutan’s fourth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who used the phrase in the 1970s. It argues that development should not be judged only by economic production, such as gross domestic product, but should also consider people’s broader well-being and the sustainability of their society.

Bhutan’s official framework groups well-being into nine domains, including psychological well-being, health, education, time use, cultural diversity, good governance, community vitality, ecological diversity, and living standards. Surveys are used to assess these areas across the population.

Gross National Happiness is not simply a daily mood score or a replacement for every economic statistic. Bhutan still uses conventional measures such as income and GDP. The idea has nevertheless influenced international discussions about well-being, sustainability, and public policy.