The 2010 Gross National Happiness Index : Part II The Centre for Bhutan Studies 2011.

Part II: Understanding Happiness 1.National happiness 2.Happiness by Dzongkhag 3.Happiness by region 4.Happiness by gender 5.Happiness by age group 6.Happiness by marital status 7.Happiness by educational level 8.Happiness by occupational group 9.People’s Stories

Part II: Understanding Happiness 1.National happiness 2.Happiness by Dzongkhag 3.Happiness by region 4.Happiness by gender 5.Happiness by age group 6.Happiness by marital status 7.Happiness by educational level 8.Happiness by occupational group 9.People’s Stories

A person who has achieved sufficiency in at least 6 of the 9 domains of GNH is classified as “HAPPY”

How is happiness measured? 33 indicators: Sufficiency thresholds Nine domains: Happiness threshold GNH Index: 0.743

40.8% of Bhutanese are classified happy after applying sufficiency and happy threshold. The value for GNH Index 2010 is

. Indicator: Consumption per capita Domains: Health, Education and Living Standards Domains: Psychological wellbeing, Health, Time use, Culture, Ecology, Community vitality, Good Governance and Living standards

Observation 1: All nine dimensions contribute to GNH. Happy people live relatively balanced lives. No dimension is unimportant

Observation 2: Good Health (14%) Community (12%) Ecology (12%), and Psychological well- being (12%) Contribute the most to GNH in 2010.

Observation 2: Good Health (14%) Community (12%) Ecology (12%), and Psychological well-being (12%) Contribute the most to GNH in % of Bhutanese either do not suffer from long term disability or those who are disable ones are not restricted from doing their daily activities 86% of Bhutanese have normal mental wellbeing 76% of Bhutanese have sufficient number of healthy days 74% of Bhutanese have rated their health as either “good” or “very good”

89% of Bhutanese either do not suffer from long term disability or those who are disable ones are not restricted from doing their daily activities 86% of Bhutanese have normal mental wellbeing 76% of Bhutanese have sufficient number of health days 74% of Bhutanese have rated their health as either “good” or “very good” Of the Bhutanese who achieved sufficiency levels in disability, 39% are happy (fulfill the happiness threshold) Of the Bhutanese who have normal mental wellbeing (86), 39% are happy Of the Bhutanese who have achieved sufficient levels of healthy days, 36% are happy Of the Bhutanese who have sufficiency in self reported health status, 35% are happy

Observation 2: Good Health (14%) Community (12%) Ecology (12%), and Psychological well-being (12%) Contribute the most to GNH in % of Bhutanese have never been victims of crime 93% of Bhutanese report good family relationship 76% of Bhutanese report good community relationship 46 % of Bhutanese have sufficiency in donations (time & money)

Observation 2: Good Health (14%) Community (12%) Ecology (12%), and Psychological well-being (12%) Contribute the most to GNH in % of Bhutanese who report good family relationship are happy 27% of Bhutanese who have good community relationship are happy 21 % of Bhutanese who have sufficiency in donations (time & money) are also classified happy

Observation 2: Good Health (14%) Community (12%) Ecology (12%), and Psychological well-being (12%) Contribute the most to GNH in % of Bhutanese have sufficiency in life satisfaction 65% of Bhutanese report low negative emotions 59% of Bhutanese report high positive emotions Only 53 % of Bhutanese have sufficiency in spirituality

83 % of Bhutanese have sufficiency in life satisfaction 65% of Bhutanese report low negative emotions 59% of Bhutanese report high positive emotions 53 % of Bhutanese have sufficiency in spirituality

83 % of Bhutanese have sufficiency in life satisfaction 65% of Bhutanese report low negative emotions 59% of Bhutanese report high positive emotions 53 % of Bhutanese have sufficiency in spirituality

Observation 3: Happy Bhutanese did not necessarily have high education (9%). Nor did they score equally high in Good Governance (9%).

. Bhutanese enjoy highest sufficiency in value, safety, native language, family, mental health, etc.

The indicators in which happy people still often lack sufficiency were knowledge, participation in festivals, donations, having more than 6 years of schooling, enjoying government services, participating politically, and believing in the practice of Driglam Namzha.

Part II: Understanding Happiness 1.National happiness 2.Happiness by Dzongkhag 3.Happiness by region 4.Happiness by gender 5.Happiness by age group 6.Happiness by marital status 7.Happiness by educational level 8.Happiness by occupational group 9.People’s Stories

The GNH Index is relatively equal. There are not many significant differences. A larger sample would give higher definition.

But we might divide Dzongkhags into roughly 3 groups.

Higher GNHLower GNH Samdrup Jongkhar probably has the lowest GNH Index

GNH index map by district Higher GNH Index Lower GNH Index GNH Index by district Low GNH Index High GNH Index

Higher GNH Index Lower GNH Index Percentage of happy people by district Lower percentage of happy people Higher percentage of happy people

GNH ranks districts differently than per capita income

Thimphu is not ranked most highly in GNH.

GNH ranks districts differently than per capita income Thimphu is not ranked most highly in GNH. Dagana and Zhemgang do much better in GNH than income.

Where do the happy people live? Thimphu and Chukha are home to the highest number of happy people…. And unhappy people! They are big dzongkhags. Next: Samtse & Sarpang

The composition of happiness changes a little across Dzongkhags. Thimphu is better in education & living standards, but worse in community vitality

Psychological wellbeing HealthTime use Education Cultural diversity and resilience Good Governance Community vitality Ecological diversity and resilience Living standards Paro and Samdrup differ most in work time, fundamental rights, services, income, housing and wildlife damage.

Part II: Understanding Happiness 1.National happiness 2.Happiness by Dzongkhag 3.Happiness by region 4.Happiness by gender 5.Happiness by age group 6.Happiness by marital status 7.Happiness by educational level 8.Happiness by occupational group 9.People’s Stories

.

. 50% of urban dwellers are happy as per GNH criteria

. In rural areas, Community vitality, Cultural diversity and Good Governance contribute more to happiness Living standards, Education and Health contribute more to happiness in urban areas

Psychological wellbeing Health Time use Education Cultural diversity and resilience Good Governance Community vitality Ecological diversity and resilience Living standards

Psychological wellbeing Health Time use Education Cultural diversity and resilience Good Governance Community vitality Ecological diversity and resilience Living standards Urban areas have higher sufficiency in Health, Education, and Living standards.

Psychological wellbeing Health Time use Education Cultural diversity and resilience Good Governance Community vitality Ecological diversity and resilience Living standards Rural areas have higher sufficiency in Community, Culture, & much of Governance.

Part II: Understanding Happiness 1.National happiness 2.Happiness by Dzongkhag 3.Happiness by region 4.Happiness by gender 5.Happiness by age group 6.Happiness by marital status 7.Happiness by educational level 8.Happiness by occupational group 9.People’s Stories

Men are happier than women.

Psychological wellbeing Health Education Cultural diversity and resilience Good Governance Community vitality Ecological diversity and resilience Living standards

Part II: Understanding Happiness 1.National happiness 2.Happiness by Dzongkhag 3.Happiness by region 4.Happiness by gender 5.Happiness by age group 6.Happiness by marital status 7.Happiness by educational level 8.Happiness by occupational group 9.People’s Stories

Age group analysis of GNH Index and Psychic Happiness variable

Part II: Understanding Happiness 1.National happiness 2.Happiness by Dzongkhag 3.Happiness by region 4.Happiness by gender 5.Happiness by age group 6.Happiness by marital status 7.Happiness by educational level 8.Happiness by occupational group 9.People’s Stories

Part II: Understanding Happiness 1.National happiness 2.Happiness by Dzongkhag 3.Happiness by region 4.Happiness by gender 5.Happiness by age group 6.Happiness by marital status 7.Happiness by educational level 8.Happiness by occupational group 9.People’s Stories

As education increases, contribution of living standards & education to happiness increases; governance and culture decrease

Part II: Understanding Happiness 1.National happiness 2.Happiness by Dzongkhag 3.Happiness by region 4.Happiness by gender 5.Happiness by age group 6.Happiness by marital status 7.Happiness by educational level 8.Happiness by occupational group 9.People’s Stories

Part II: Understanding Happiness 1.National happiness 2.Happiness by Dzongkhag 3.Happiness by region 4.Happiness by gender 5.Happiness by age group 6.Happiness by marital status 7.Happiness by educational level 8.Happiness by occupational group 9.People’s Stories

Who is Happy? Some real people (minor details have been changed)

One happy person in the GNH survey was a married woman aged 35 living in rural Haa. She is a housewife who has completed primary school. Again, she achieved sufficiency in over 90% of the domains. She said she still suffered from selfishness and jealousy, and did not donate very much time/money. She was concerned about littering and the absence of good waste disposal, as well as floods, and did not know any zorig chosum skill.

When asked what contributed most to her happiness she said: Having sufficient income Being in good relation with the husband When everyone is in good health.

Another happy person in the GNH survey was a young man aged 22 who lived in rural Sarpang and was never married. He is a farmer who finished primary school. His only deprivations were that wildlife damaged his crops, and that he did not know about his political rights.

When asked what contributed most to happiness he said: A peaceful environment Enough money No suffering Good health Good relations with my friends.

Another happy person in the GNH survey was a widowed gomchen aged 70 living in rural Thimphu. He had no formal education, and was deprived in education, housing, sleep and did not participate politically. He observed that getting good agricultural products from the land contributes to happiness.

Another happy person in the GNH survey was a married woman farmer aged 44 living in rural Tongsa. She was illiterate, and was deprived from wildlife damage to her crops, and thought she never felt forgiveness among the positive emotions – yet was happy. She mused that she felt happy when she was able to do her household work, when she was harvesting potatoes, and as she wove.

Another happy person in the GNH survey was a married shopkeeper aged 37 living in urban Bumthang. He has finished 10 th class, and meditates and prays regularly. He enjoys sufficiency in nearly every indicator. But he did mention that at the moment he only rarely experiences calmness and contentment. He also lacked some knowledge and did not think Driglam Namzha was terribly important.

Another happy person in the GNH survey was a married corporate employee aged 35 living in urban Chukha. He has completed 10 th class, and has achieved sufficiency in nearly all indicators. He was a bit sleep deprived, and did not feel a deep sense of belonging to his community, but was overall very satisfied with his life.

When asked what contributed most to happiness he said: To be healthy To meet basic needs To have peace in the family To be religious

Our final happy person in the GNH survey is an unmarried young woman aged 26 living in urban Tashigang. She completed a bachelor’s degree and is a civil servant living alone. She scores highly across domains, although she misses a sense of belonging. When asked what contributes to her happiness she replied: Love, Family, Friends, Education, and Enough money..

The 2010 Gross National Happiness Index : Part II The Centre for Bhutan Studies 2011.