The 2010 GNH Survey findings report on the demographics, psychological well-being, health, education, cultural diversity, and time use of Bhutanese citizens. Some key findings include:
- The population is young, with over 30% under age 20. Disability rates increase with age, with over 30% of those over 65 having a long-term disability.
- Bhutanese report high levels of happiness, life satisfaction, and meaning. However, alcohol, tobacco, and betel nut use remain problems, especially in eastern dzongkhags.
- Health outcomes are good overall, but non-communicable diseases are rising threats. Disability rates rise sharply with age.
- Bhutanese retain strong knowledge
111. Proportion of people with long-term disability by age
35.0%
30.0%
25.0%
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%
<=20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 51-55 56-60 61-65 >65
112. 0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
Tashi Yangtse 25.0%
Lhuntse
Pema Gatshel
Samdrup Jongkhar
Paro
Tashigang
Mongar
Tsirang
Bumthang
Punakha
Sarpang
Chukha
Wangdue Phodrang
Trongsa
Samtse
Thimphu
Haa
Proportion of people with disability by Dzongkhag
Zhemgang
Dagana
Gasa
113.
114.
115.
116.
117.
118. Alcohol consumption in life and in past 12 months by Dzongkhag
90
80
70
60
Percent
50
40
30
20
10
0
Life Current
The area under the green shade represents the proportion
who have quitted the habit
119.
120.
121.
122.
123.
124.
125.
126.
127.
128.
129.
130.
131.
132.
133.
134.
135.
136. Smoking in life and in past 12 months by Dzongkhag
25
20
15
Percent
10
5
0
Yes Current
The area under the green shade represents the proportion
who have quitted the habit
137. Smoking in life and in past 12 months by Education
50
45
40
35
30
Percent
25
20
15
10
5
0
Yes Current
The area under the green shade represents the proportion
who have quitted the habit
138.
139.
140.
141.
142.
143.
144.
145.
146.
147.
148.
149.
150.
151.
152.
153.
154.
155.
156. Doma chewing in life and in past 12 months by Dzongkhag
90
80
70
60
Percent
50
40
30
20
10
0
Life Current
The area under the green shade represents the proportion
who have quitted the habit
279. % of respondents who knows the names of their great-
grandparents by age
40
35
30
25
Percent
20
15
10
5
0
<=20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 51-55 56-60 61-65 >65
Age
280.
281.
282.
283. Knowledge in 13 arts and crafts
Weaving 30.22
Masonry 17.63
Bamboo works 17.05
Carpentry 16.89
Painting 6.66
Embroidery 6.34
Carving 2.06
Blacksmithing 1.20
Leather works 1.17
Sculpture 0.78
Paper making 0.69
Casting 0.67
Gold/silver… 0.35
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Percent
284.
285.
286.
287. % of people who know at what age a person can vote
Dagana 71.40
Thimphu 71.24
Tsirang 71.04
Chukha 69.78
Paro 69.53
Sarpang 69.49
Tashi Yangste 67.36
Samtse 66.66
Gasa 66.2
Mongar 64.51
Punakha 62.83
Bumthang 60.33
Wangdue… 60.07
Pema Gatshel 59.98
Haa 59.06
Tashigang 58.86
Samdrup… 58.16
Zhemgang 57.71
Trongsa 56.42
Lhuntse 52.19
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Percent
288. % of respondents who know at what age a person can vote
90
80 77.57
75.7
72.92
70 67.59
65.25 65.6
63.15
59.26 58.61
60
50 48.1
Percent
41.63
40
30
20
10
0
<=20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 51-55 56-60 61-65 >65
Age
329. How well can you speak your mother tongue now?
0.3%
3.8%
0.7%
95.2%
Not at all Only a little
Quite well Very well
330. Importance of Bhutanese Traditions
0.3%
8.1%
0.5%
91.1%
Not important Important
Very important Don't Know
331. Do you think children respect elders?
1.6%
25.8%
27.5%
45.0%
Not at all A little
Quite a lot A lot
332. Do you think children respect parents?
1.2%
19.2%
35.2%
44.4%
Not at all A little
Quite a lot A lot
333. Do you think children practice discipline(drig)?
1.8%
25.0%
28.3%
44.8%
Not at all A little
Quite a lot A lot
334. Do you think children practice honesty?
1.7%
20.1%
33.5%
44.7%
Not at all A little
Quite a lot A lot
335. Do you think children practice tolerance?
15.3% 6.4%
42.3%
36.0%
Not at all A little
Quite a lot A lot
336. Do you think children work hard?
1.1%
28.9% 24.7%
45.4%
Not at all A little
Quite a lot A lot
337. Do you think children practice obedience to authority?
1.2%
21.2%
31.3%
46.3%
Not at all A little
Quite a lot A lot
338. Do you think children take care of family members and relatives?
0.7%
17.3%
36.5%
45.5%
Not at all A little
Quite a lot A lot
339. Do you think children help others?
1.3%
23.5%
27.4%
47.8%
Not at all A little
Quite a lot A lot
340. Do you think children practice impartiality towards rich, poor, etc?
7.6%
22.5%
30.4%
39.5%
Not at all A little
Quite a lot A lot
341. Women are more suited for domestic work/ house work than men
27.7%
9.7% 62.7%
Agree Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
342. An education is more important for a boy than a girl
17.1%
9.8%
73.0%
Agree Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
343. On the whole, men make better leaders than women do
30.2%
54.0%
15.9%
Agree Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
344. Females tend to carry drip
10.6%
8.9%
80.5%
Agree Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
345. Do you take part in local festivals in your community?
5.9%
51.3%
42.8%
Never Sometimes
Always
346. In a year, how many days do you spend attending social and cultural activities?
5.7%
6.9%
6.7%
20.1%
60.6%
None 1-5 days
6-12 days 13-20 days
+20 days
347. Frequency of playing traditional games in the past 12 months
1.8%
5.9%
17.1%
75.2%
Never A few times a year
Once or twice a month More than once a week
348. Frequency of playing modern games in the past 12 months
4.7%
4.3%
7.4%
83.6%
Never A few times a year
Once or twice a month More than once a week
349. Is Driglam Namzha (etiquette) important?
6.1%
0.5%
93.4%
Not important Important
Very important
350. Change in Driglam Namzha (etiquette) during the last few years
19.9%
60.7% 19.4%
Getting weaker Stayed same
Getting stronger
351. During the last few years, most people in Bhutan have become
11.4%
24.4%
64.2%
Less compassionate Stayed the same
More compassionate
GNH Survey 2010
352. During the last few years, most people in Bhutan have become
1.9%
10.3%
87.8%
More concerned about material wealth Stayed the same
Less concerned about material wealth
GNH Survey 2010
353. During the last few years, most people in Bhutan have become
16.1%
51.7%
32.1%
More selfish Stayed the same
Less selfish
GNH Survey 2010
354. During the last few years, most people in Bhutan have become
28.3%
34.4%
37.3%
Less honest Stayed the same
More honest
GNH Survey 2010
355. During the last few years, most people in Bhutan have become
8.8%
19.5%
71.6%
Less spiritual Stayed the same
More spiritual
GNH Survey 2010
356. During the last few years, most people in Bhutan have become
22.5%
39.5%
38.0%
Less tolerant Stayed the same
More tolerant
GNH Survey 2010
357. Change in deterioration of traditional architectural designs in houses over the last 5y
21.5% 22.3%
25.4%
30.7%
A lot Moderate
Little None
GNH Survey 2010
378. Pe
10 20 30 40
m 0
a
G
at
Ta she
l
38
sh
ig
an
g
36
Ta G
sh a
i Y sa
34
an
gs
Lh te
un
ts
32 32
Ts e
W ira
an ng
gd Pu
ue na
Ph kha
od
ra
n
M g
on
g
Tr ar
on
gs
a
Zh Ha
em a
30 30 30 30 29 29
g
Bu ang
m
th
an
Sa g
Sa m
ts
m D e
29 28 28
dr ag
up a
Jo na
28
ng
kh
ar
26
Pa
Sa ro
24
rp
an
C g
hu
k
Th ha
21 21
im
Duration of stay in the community by dzongkhag
ph
u
13
379. Tr
us 10 20 30
tm 0
os
to
ft
he
m
32
Tr
us
ts
om
e
of
th
em
23
Tr
us
ta
fe
w
of
th
em
18
Tr
us
tn
on
e
of
th
em
17
Duration of stay in the community by trust in neighbours
380. Duration of stay in the community (in years)
1.4%
19.1%
12.6%
66.9%
Less than 1 year 1-5 years
Greater than 5 to 10 years More than 10 years
381. Did you give people unpaid voluntary help in the past 12 months?
46%
54%
Did not volunteer Volunteered
382. Did you give people unpaid voluntary help in the past 12 months?
Male Female
41%
48% 52%
59%
Did not volunteer Volunteered
GNH Survey 2010
383. Did you give people unpaid voluntary help in the past 12 months?
1 Rural 2 Urban
34%
38%
62%
66%
Did not volunteer Volunteered
GNH Survey 2010
384. In the past 12 months, did you donate money or goods?
10%
90%
Did not provide donation Provided donation
385. 5,000
0
Th
im
Bu phu
m
th
14009
an
g
G
9696
as
a
9032
H
Pu aa
na
7483
kh
a
6606
Pa
ro
C
hu 6231
kh
Tr a
Ta
W on
gs
an shi
gd Ya a
ue ng
Ph ste
od
ra
559655735488
Sa ng
m
dr Lhu
up n
Jo tse
ng
52835190
Ta kha
sh r
ig
4041
an
g
Pe Mo
m ng
a ar
G
at
32823235
sh
e
Ts l
i
2897
Zh ran
Mean donation by dzongkhag
em g
ga
Sa ng
rp
28252345
an
Sa g
m
ts
D e
ag
an
a
229222312087
386. Sense of belonging to your local community
3%
25%
71%
Weak Somewhat strong
Very strong
388. Sense of belonging to the community and voluntary help
Weak Somewhat strong
40% 46%
60% 54%
Very strong
43%
57%
Did not volunteer Volunteered
GNH Survey 2010
389. How much do you trust Bhutanese people in general?
1%
21%
31%
47%
Trust none of them Trust a few of them
Trust some of them Trust most of them
390. Trust in Bhutanese people in general by gender
Male Female
1% 2%
19%
28% 23%
35%
46%
48%
Trust none of them Trust a few of them
Trust some of them Trust most of them
GNH Survey 2010
391. How much do you trust your neighbour?
2%
15%
46%
38%
Trust none of them Trust a few of them
Trust some of them Trust most of them
392. Trust in neighbour by gender
Male Female
1% 2%
12%
17%
41%
51%
36%
40%
Trust none of them Trust a few of them
Trust some of them Trust most of them
GNH Survey 2010
393. People in this community treat you fairly
3.0%
0.4%
27.8%
68.7%
Never Rarely
Sometimes Always
394. Would you say this is a neighbourhood where neighbours help each other?
4.0%
2.5%
36.8%
56.6%
Never Rarely
Sometimes Always
395. Frequency of socializing with neighbours in the last month
26% 22%
18%
35%
Not in the last month Once a month
Few times a month Few times per week
396. Frequency of socializing with neighbours by gender
Male Female
23% 21% 22%
28%
18% 17%
37% 33%
Not in the last month Once a month
Few times a month Few times per week
GNH Survey 2010
397. Frequency of socializing with relatives in the last month
12%
34%
34%
20%
Not in the last month Once a month
Few times a month Few times per week
398. Frequency of socializing with relatives by gender
Male Female
12% 13%
34% 33%
34% 35%
20% 20%
Not in the last month Once a month
Few times a month Few times per week
GNH Survey 2010
399. Enmity in the community in the past 12 months
11%
89%
Yes No
400. Members of your family really care about each other
3%
1%
96%
Disagree Neutral
Agree
401. You wish you were not part of your family
2%
2%
96%
Agree Neutral
Disagree
402. Members of your family argue too much
4%
17%
79%
Agree Neutral
Disagree
403. You feel like a stranger in your family
2%
2%
96%
Agree Neutral
Disagree
404. You have enough time to spend with your family
7%
26%
68%
Disagree Neutral
Agree
405. There is a lot of understanding in your family
2% 10%
89%
Disagree Neutral
Agree
406. Your family is a real source of comfort to you
3%6%
92%
Disagree Neutral
Agree
407. Have you been a victim of crime in the last 12 months?
4%
96%
Yes No
408. Did you see/know other people being victimized of crime in the last 12 months?
20%
80%
Yes No
409. Safety from human harm in the neighbourhood/village
19%
56%
25%
Rarely safe Usually safe
Always safe
410. Safety from human harm in the village by gender
Male Female
14%
25%
21% 46%
65%
29%
Rarely safe Usually safe
Always safe
GNH Survey 2010
411. Safety from wild animals in the neighbourhood/village
20%
52%
28%
Rarely safe Usually safe
Always safe
412. Safety from ghosts in the neighbourhood/village
20%
52%
28%
Rarely safe Usually safe
Always safe
413. Safety from ghosts in the village by gender
Male Female
15%
25%
45%
59% 26%
31%
Rarely safe Usually safe
Always safe
GNH Survey 2010
415. Do you feel responsible for conserving the natural environment?
1.2%
0.5%
14.5%
83.9%
Not at all A little responsible
Somewhat responsible Highly responsible
416. There should be tougher anti-pollution law
3.0%
0.6%
40.2%
56.2%
Disagree Neither Agree nor Disagree
Agree Strongly Agree
431. Modes of transportation used in the past 12 months
1.1%
10.9%
0.3% 28.7%
27.2%
7.2%
24.6%
Drove you car Rode a passanger
Public transportation (bus) Taxi
Bicycle Walk
Others
432. Use of public transport in last month
2%
5%
8%
24%
60%
Hardly ever Once a month
More than once a month Once a week
Everyday
433. Types of fuel used most often for cooking
0%
34%
50%
16%
Others Solar
Kerosene Wood
LPG Electricity
434. How do you usually heat your dwelling?
19% 19%
0%
1%
61%
Others Solar
Kerosene heater Wood
Electric heater
435. Awareness about climate change
9%
26%
32%
33%
Not at all Unsure what it is
Have some understanding Have a good understanding
436. Awareness about climate change
Male Female
12% 6%
21%
30%
29%
36%
30%
35%
Not at all Unsure what it is
Have some understanding Have a good understanding
GNH Survey 2010
437. Change in vegetation cover as compared to previous years
33% 36%
31%
Decreased Stayed same
Increased
438. Mode of household waste disposal
0.9%
0.8%
1.1%
0.7%
24.4% 19.8%
52.2%
Others Dump on open air
Dump in forest Dump in rivers/streams
Municipal garbage pick-up Burning
Composting
439. Quality of agricultural land of farmers
4%
1%
21%
16%
58%
Very poor Poor
Neither good nor poor Good
Very good
443. Extent of damages caused by wild animals to crops
21%
38%
16%
25%
A lot Some
Little Not at all
444. Do you have any land that have not been cultivated due to wild life threats?
13%
87%
Yes No
445. Have you lost any livestock to predators?
3%3%
2%
8%
85%
More than 5 4-5
2-3 1-2
Not at all
446. 100 150 200
50
Bu
0
m
th
an
Ts g
194
ira
n
Lh g
181
u
Zh nts
em e 144
ga
ng
D
ag
a
Sa na
117 116
rp
a
Pu ng
na
Ta kha
sh
113 112
ig
Sa an
m Tr g
dr on
up g
Jo sa
ng
108 105
kh
ar
90
Pe Mo
m ng
a a
Ta Ga r
sh tsh
iY e
81 80
an l
gs
te
H
aa
71 69
W G
an as
C a
61
gd hu
ue
Ph kha
od
ra
Th ng
60 57
im
ph
50
Sa u
m
ts
e
41
Pa
ro
24
Land left uncultivated due to wild life threats by dzongkhags