Bhutan’s Economic Crisis and National Happiness

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Bhutan’s general elections are being held amid economic challenges, raising concerns about its commitment to prioritizing “Gross National Happiness” over economic growth.

The Bhutan Tendrel Party (BTP) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are committed to a constitutionally enshrined philosophy of government that measures success by the happiness and well-being of the people.

Despite its size, some voters are trekking for days to participate, with the younger generation facing chronic unemployment and a brain drain from migration abroad.

Bhutan’s youth unemployment rate is at 29%, with economic growth at an average of 1.7% over the past five years. This has led to a record number of young citizens leaving Bhutan for better opportunities abroad, with Australia being the top destination.

In one year, nearly 15,000 Bhutanese were issued visas to Australia, representing almost 2% of the country’s population. The issue of mass exodus is central to both political parties.

Bhutan’s civil servant Pema Chewang of the Bhutan Tendrel Party (BTP) has warned that the country is losing its “cream of the nation” and faces a potential deserted nation if this trend continues.

Former Prime Minister and PDP chief Tshering Tobgay has raised concerns about Bhutan’s economic challenges and mass exodus, with statistics showing one in eight people struggling to meet basic needs for food and other necessities. Tourism, a small part of Bhutan’s economy, has not recovered from the coronavirus pandemic’s disruptions.