International Day of Happiness

What Is the International Day of Happiness?

March 20th is the "International Day of Happiness," one of the United Nations' international days, proclaimed by UN General Assembly resolution 66/281, adopted by consensus of all member states on June 28, 2012. It is based on the idea that the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal, and it encourages a more inclusive, balanced approach to development that values people's happiness and well-being, not just economic growth. In the background is Bhutan's idea of pursuing "Gross National Happiness (GNH)" rather than Gross National Product as a policy goal, which attracted international attention.

Surveys That Measure Happiness

There are ongoing efforts to compare happiness across countries using survey data.

• The World Happiness Report: Each year, around the International Day of Happiness, the "World Happiness Report" is published. Based on surveys asking people to rate their own lives from 0 to 10, it analyzes how factors such as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity and perceptions of corruption relate to happiness.
• Nordic countries at the top: Finland ranked first for the ninth consecutive year in the 2026 report, with Nordic countries such as Iceland, Denmark and Sweden close behind.
• Japan's ranking: Japan ranked 61st in the 2026 report (55th in 2025). While it scores well on income and healthy life expectancy, items such as generosity tend to come out lower.

Bhutan and "Gross National Happiness"

The small Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan had a major influence on the thinking behind this day.

• The origins of GNH: Since the 1970s, Bhutan has championed "Gross National Happiness," making citizens' happiness, not only economic wealth, a goal of national development.
• Written into the constitution: Bhutan's constitution, adopted in 2008, states that the state shall strive to promote the conditions that enable the pursuit of GNH.

Fun Facts About Happiness

• Japan's "Happiness Day": In Japan, May 29th is "Happiness Day" from the wordplay "ko (5) u-fu (2) ku (9)" (kofuku = happiness), and February 9th is "Fuku no Hi" from "fu (2) ku (9)" (fuku = good fortune).
• A long-running study of relationships: Harvard University has been following the same people's lives since 1938, and the study reports that good relationships are closely linked to health and happiness.
• Writing down gratitude: "Three Good Things," writing down three good things at the end of each day, is one of the methods introduced in positive psychology.
• Income and happiness: Happiness tends to rise with income, but some research suggests the increase slows beyond a certain level, and the relationship is still debated.

Tips for Enjoying the International Day of Happiness

• Write down the moments when you feel most comfortable and sort out what matters to you
• Say "thank you" to someone close to you, or do a small act of kindness
• Before bed, write down three good things that happened that day
• Look over the World Happiness Report results and talk with family or coworkers about Japan and other countries

A Day to Think About What Happiness Means

The International Day of Happiness is a day for people around the world to think about a kind of happiness that economic wealth alone cannot measure. On March 20th, why not take a moment to notice the small joys and human connections around you?