The Protectorate of DisasterArea is a gargantuan, genial nation, remarkable for its museums and concert halls, multi-spousal wedding ceremonies, and national health service. The compassionate, democratic population of 21.497 billion DisasterAreans are free to do what they want with their own bodies, and vote for whomever they like in elections; if they go into business, however, they are regulated to within an inch of their lives.

The government — a sprawling, bureaucracy-choked, outspoken morass — juggles the competing demands of Education, Welfare, and Environment. The average income tax rate is 81.0%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The DisasterArean economy, worth a remarkable 1,084 trillion Altairdollars a year, is driven almost entirely by government activity. The industrial sector, which is extremely specialized, is mostly made up of the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Furniture Restoration. Average income is 50,462 Altairdollars, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Relations with Dàguó have warmed from frosty to chilly, praying before a battle is a court-martial offence, visiting dignitaries often end up cuddling in the hot tub with Leader, and card players are calling the government's bluff on anti-gambling legislation. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a very well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. DisasterArea's national animal is the BugBlatterBeast, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

DisasterArea is ranked 290,811^th in the world and 2^nd in Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy for Highest Disposable Incomes, with 9,587.97 Standard Monetary Units.