CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE - issue 02/2023

LE MONDE BHUTAN
Gross national happiness
FACTS &
FIGURES
This year, the Kingdom of Bhutan leaves the group of the poorest countries in the world,
due to a wise development policy, clean energy and sustainable tourism.
Text: Otmar Lahodynsky
PHOTOS: BHUTAN.TRAVEL, ADOBE STOCK
Gangtey Black-Necked Crane Festival, Central Bhutan.
A monk in Rinpung Dzong- fortress in Paro.
The small kingdom in the Himalayas - situated
between Tibet (China) in the north and India
in the south – has made a big leap in its development:
this year Bhutan leaves the group of “least
developed countries“ and joins the group of states
whose majority of population no longer has to live in
great poverty.
This was made possible by a prudent policy of the
King of Bhutan and his governments over the past 25
years. The responsible politicians focused on cautious
and sustainable development in tourism, energy,
forestry and agriculture, the most important sectors
for Bhutan. Although there is a small army of
6,000 soldiers, expenses for defence are low.
Bhutan, about half the size of Austria, has currently
over 72% of its land under forest cover, including
50 percent of its area permanently designated as
protected areas. The Constitution mandates maintaining
a minimum forest coverage of 60%, at all times.
It has one of the richest biodiversities in the world,
with some of the rarest and most significant flora and
fauna. Bhutan has been declared as one of the ten
global biological ‘hot spots’.
In the energy sector Bhutan built on hydroelectrical
and solar power – endowed with a river system
that has an estimated potential to generate 30,000
MW of hydroelectricity. The healthy environment
has helped Bhutan achieve carbon negative status in
the world with the country absorbing more carbon
than it emits.
Today, Bhutan is a democratic constitutional monarchy,
after Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the
Fifth King of Bhutan, abolished the absolute monarchy
and introduced democracy in 2008. The King of
Bhutan is the sovereign head of the state. The National
Council and the National Assembly constitute
the two legislative bodies and the government is formed
by the political party with a majority in the National
Assembly.
As for development cooperation, Bhutan relied
early on cooperation with smaller countries with a
comparable topography, also because aid from larger
states is usually associated with secondary intentions
or interference. Therefore, Bhutan chose its own
partner countries in the 1990s, including Switzerland
and Austria.
When it comes to energy production, the goal is
clear: most of the electricity is sold to neighbouring
India. The proceeds from this were and are used to
finance projects in their own country, ranging from
transport and telecommunications to education and
health.
Today, school attendance and health services are
free for all of Bhutan’s 770,000 citizens. The majority
of the population works in agriculture, still often for
subsistence only. Great importance is attached to the
preservation of traditions: Men and women wear the
traditional costume – the wrap-around skirt Gho or
the dress Kira – and houses are built in the typical
architectural style of the Himalayan kingdom. The
many Buddhist monastery castles (dzongs) have
been restored, and the monks are state employees.
The chronicled history of the kingdom begins
with the advent of Buddhism in the 8th Century.
Bhutan’s traditional culture is still alive in its arts,
dance and music which are an integral part of all ceremonies
and festivals and Bhutanese way of life.
Gross National Happiness (GNH) is firmly enshrined
in the Bhutanese Constitution. The concept
of GNH is attributed to the 4th King Jigme Singye
Wangchuck, answering a question of a journalist
concerning Bhutan’s Gross National Product. The
King’s reply has since gained proverbial status:
“Gross National Happiness is more important than
Gross National Product.“
As indicator of prosperity GNH became the philosophy
governing the five-year plans of development.
Half of the population is younger than 27 years.
8.2 per cent of the population live below the
national poverty line. In 2012, this number was at 12
per cent. A special ministry for GNH checks the effects
of happiness measures with surveys.
Tourism in Bhutan is guided by the policy of high
value, low volume and is founded on the principle of
sustainability. The kingdom only accepted visitors in
1974. Only 5,000 tourists per year were allowed to
visit Bhutan at that time. This year, after the decline
due to the covid pandemic, more tourist arrivals are
expected. But this hope is dimmed by a newly introduced
high daily fee of 200 US dollars per day
Bhutan
Official name:
Kingdom of Bhutan (Druk Yul)
Form of government: Constitutional
monarchy with a parliament
Population: 777,400
Capital: Thimphu
Area: 38,394 sq km
Official language: Dzongkha
Religion:
Mahayana (Tibetan) Buddhism is
Bhutan‘s official religion and
around 75% of the population are
Buddhists. The remaining 25% are
Hindus.
Ethnic groups:
Bhutia (Ngalop) 50% (inclusive of
Sharchops), as well as ethnic
Nepalese (Lhotsampas) 35%, and
indigenous or migrant tribes 15%.
Currency: Bhutan Ngultrum (BTN)
GDP per capita: 3,477 USD (2022)
Monastery Taktshang, also
called ”Tiger‘s nest”, built
in 1692.
People in traditional fabrics
(left) and Snowman race in the
Himalayas.
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