The term GNH, Gross National Happiness, was coined by His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Singye Wangchuck in 1972. GNH is a holistic and sustainable approach to development which aims to strike a balance between material and non-material values. The four pillars of GNH philosophy are the promotion of sustainable development, preservation and promotion of cultural values , conservation of the natural environment and establishment of good governance. Since the time of the fourth King’s declaration in 1972, GNH has been Bhutan’s guiding development philosophy with substantial steps being taken since 2000 to define, explain and measure GNH.
