Which is the only country in the world to officially proclaim the Gross National Happiness (GNH) as the measure of the country’s progress?

The correct option is Bhutan.

Explanation

Gross National Happiness (GNH) is a philosophy and measurement framework used to guide the government of Bhutan. It serves as an alternative to traditional metrics like Gross Domestic Product (GDP), focusing on the holistic well-being of the population rather than solely on economic output.

• Bhutan is the only country in the world to officially proclaim Gross National Happiness (GNH) as the primary measure of the country’s progress.
• The concept was introduced in the 1970s by the fourth King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who stated that "Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product."
• The GNH framework is built upon four pillars:
  1. Sustainable and equitable socio-economic development.
  2. Environmental conservation.
  3. Preservation and promotion of culture.
  4. Good governance.
• While other nations (like Norway and Switzerland) rank high on happiness and human development indices, they do not use GNH as their official constitutional or policy-guiding metric for progress.

Key Takeaway: Bhutan is the sole nation to officially adopt Gross National Happiness (GNH) as its central development philosophy, prioritizing spiritual, physical, social, and environmental health over material economic growth.