The Republic of Confluent is a mid-sized, cultured nation, renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape and complete absence of social welfare. The hard-nosed, hard-working, devout population of 56 million Confluentians are highly moralistic and fiercely conservative, in the sense that they tend to believe most things should be outlawed. People who have good jobs and work quietly at them are lauded; others are viewed with suspicion.

The medium-sized government is primarily concerned with Spirituality, although Law & Order, Defense, and Industry are also considered important, while Welfare and International Aid receive no funds. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 20.6%.

The very strong Confluentian economy, worth 2.84 trillion Provincial Talers a year, is dominated by the Trout Farming industry, with significant contributions from Woodchip Exports, Retail, and Automobile Manufacturing. Average income is 50,776 Provincial Talers, with the richest citizens earning 7.1 times as much as the poorest.

Crocodile roadkill is smeared across the asphalt of the new Formula One track, masterpieces by male artists are on display in the dumpsters behind the gallery, Animal Liberationists are regularly arrested, and corporations cut costs by taking away safety-features on their products. Crime is almost non-existent, thanks to a capable police force. Confluent's national animal is the Provincial Dog, which can occasionally be seen sifting through garbage in the nation's cities.

Confluent is ranked 274,195^th in the world and 33^rd in Urcea for Most Scientifically Advanced, scoring -19.49 on the Kurzweil Singularity Index.