The Element of Hydrogen is a gargantuan, cultured nation, ruled by Electron with an iron fist, and renowned for its enslaved workforce, ubiquitous missile silos, and public floggings. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical, humorless, devout population of 14.793 billion Hydrogenians are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

The large, corrupt, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defense, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Proton. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 63.1%.

The all-consuming Hydrogenian economy, worth a remarkable 1,426 trillion Golds a year, is quite specialized and dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Woodchip Exports, Information Technology, and Basket Weaving. Black market activity is rampant. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 96,407 Golds, with the richest citizens earning 7.3 times as much as the poorest.

Metal detectors at school gates make sure that teenagers are carrying at least one sidearm, a newly discovered small mammal's name translates into Hydrogenian as 'your finger, you fool', the nation has welcomed its expats back with open arms, and when their backs are against the walls Hydrogenians look out for gay men. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Hydrogen's national animal is the Elephant, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation.

Hydrogen is ranked 49,584^th in the world and 3,019^th in Balder for Lowest Crime Rates, with 74.29 law-abiding acts per hour.