BHUTANESE CENSUS RELEASED, GROSS NATIONAL

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 002910 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF IN BT NP SUBJECT: BHUTANESE CENSUS RELEASED, GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS INDICATORS HIGH ¶1. (U) Bhutan released the results of its May 2005 census on April 27, listing the total population of the country at 672,425, roughly the same population as Baltimore City, Maryland. The census included all residents, regardless of nationality, who were present in Bhutan on May 30 and 31, ¶2005. Questioned on their state of happiness, the population responded that 45.2 percent are "very happy," 51.6 percent are "happy," and only 3.3 percent are "not very happy," suggesting Bhutan is meeting its goal of achieving "Gross National Happiness (GNH)." ¶2. (U) Happiness is slightly higher in urban areas with only 2.7 percent of the population indicating they were "not very happy," while rural percentage was 3.5. The urban-rural breakdown is 30.9 and 69.1 percent respectively. ¶3. (U) Note: No detailed information on population by religion, ethnicity or nationality is currently available on the RGOB website. We have contacted the RGOB asking for the full census report. End Note. ¶4. (U) For more on the Bhutanese Census, including information on households by type of toilet and roofing material, visit www.bhutancensus.gov.bt. ¶5. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website: (http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/) BLAKE