The Republic of Ulm 357 is a massive, efficient nation, remarkable for its ritual sacrifices, parental licensing program, and compulsory gun ownership. The compassionate, cynical, devout population of 1.661 billion Ulm 357ians are kept under strict control by the oppressive government, which measures its success by the nation's GDP and refers to individual citizens as "human resources."

The medium-sized, corrupt, moralistic government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defense, and Industry. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 39.6%.

The all-consuming Ulm 357ian economy, worth 188 trillion Ducats a year, is led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Information Technology, and Furniture Restoration. Black market activity is notable. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 113,331 Ducats, but there is a large disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 541,560 per year while the poor average 13,907, a ratio of 38.9 to 1.

Government buildings are being cleansed of anything that might have racist connotations, acrimonious legal battles result during divorce proceedings, the government is hoping that medical aid will speak louder than human rights abuses, and the Department of Health is snowed under by requests for crisper ciabatta and tenderer tagliatelle. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Ulm 357's national animal is the Bear, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Ulm 357 is ranked 79,889^th in the world and 386^th in Swabian autonomous region for Smartest Citizens, with 38.72 quips per hour.