101 East

Bhutan: The Pursuit of Happiness

We explore the price of happiness for young people in the secluded kingdom of Bhutan.

In the small, secluded country of Bhutan, happiness is not just a traditional way of life – it is a national statistic.

Bhutan’s government introduced “Gross National Happiness” as a measure of the nation’s progress.

Opening the country up to international tourism has allowed for some development, but the weight of tradition still weighs heavily on the kingdom’s young generation. Not everyone gets to enjoy the perks of a modern lifestyle.

101 East explores the cost of happiness in this hermit kingdom.