The People's Republic of Zesta is a massive, orderly nation, notable for its closed borders, keen interest in outer space, and free-roaming dinosaurs. The hard-nosed, cynical, humorless, devout population of 3.861 billion Zestans 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, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defense, and Industry. The average income tax rate is 72.5%.

The frighteningly efficient Zestan economy, worth 646 trillion zarks a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology, Furniture Restoration, and Trout Farming. Black market activity is notable. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 167,531 zarks, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 4.0 times as much as the poorest.

Increasing inclusiveness is a sign of the times, middle-aged metal fans quite enjoy being called "rebellious youths" by even older politicians, citizens are encouraged to report friends, family members or co-workers who seem depressed to the government for "counselling", and adult magazines are having a sales resurgence as internet anonymity disappears. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Zesta's national animal is the squirrel, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Zesta is ranked 287,501^st in the world and 7,087^th in the Rejected Realms for Most Cultured, scoring 42 on the Snufflebottom-Wiggendum Pentatonic Scale.