First celebrated in 2013, International Day of Happiness was created by the United Nations to highlight the role of happiness in helping people lead fulfilling lives around the world. On June 28, 2012, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 66/281, which proclaimed International Day of Happiness to take place on March 20 each year. The resolution recognized “the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of human beings around the world and the importance of their recognition in public policy objectives,” and also recognized “the need for a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes sustainable development, poverty eradication, happiness and the well-being of all peoples.” All 193 United Nations member states adopted the resolution.

The resolution was initiated in part by Bhutan, a country that had earlier adopted the goal of Gross National Happiness (GNH) instead of Gross National Product (GDP), after beginning to focus on national happiness over national income in the early 1970s. In April 2012, Bhutan hosted the “Happiness and Well-Being: Defining a New Economic Paradigm” conference at the General Assembly. This was the first high-level meeting about happiness at the United Nations, and over 30 countries were in attendance.