The Union State of Greater Bahland is a colossal, efficient nation, ruled by President Andrew with an even hand, and renowned for its sprawling nuclear power plants, keen interest in outer space, and ubiquitous missile silos. The hard-nosed, hard-working, humorless, devout population of 5.272 billion Bahlandians enjoy some of the most opulent lifestyles in the region, unless they are unemployed or working-class, in which case they are variously starving to death or crippled by easily preventable diseases.

The medium-sized, corrupt, liberal government juggles the competing demands of Education, Industry, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Layshill. The average income tax rate is 38.2%.

The frighteningly efficient Bahlandian economy, worth a remarkable 1,017 trillion Geld-Shards a year, is fairly diversified and dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology, Tourism, and Beef-Based Agriculture. Black market activity is rampant. Average income is an impressive 192,950 Geld-Shards, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 4.8 times as much as the poorest.

New "Commiserations! It's An Accident!" greetings cards for expectant mothers are selling surprisingly quickly, the "swords to plowshares" policy has created a generation of farmers that can kill a yak from 200 yards away, students are known to arrive at school in their pyjamas, and the government's new 'Crime Can Fight Itself' policy appears to be backfiring rather badly. Crime is a problem, perhaps because of the country's complete lack of prisons. Greater Bahland's national animal is the lion, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its national religion is Christianity.

Greater Bahland is ranked 279,958^th in the world and 1,356^th in Europe for Most Cheerful Citizens, with 29.43 Percentage Of Water Glasses Perceived Half-Full.