Location: The Black Riders

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The United Lands of Mariadan is a colossal, devout nation, ruled by Overlord Wolf with an even hand, and notable for its keen interest in outer space. Its compassionate, hard-working population of 5.499 billion have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it concentrates mainly on Defence, although Law & Order and the Environment are secondary priorities. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Ascuncion. The average income tax rate is 95%. A powerhouse of a private sector is dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry.

Door-to-door salesmen are frequently beaten up by 'vigilantes', morning coffees are no longer the same since the disappearance of newspapers, condemned prisoners spend hours a day sitting in lotus position looking perplexed, and students abandon classrooms for online education. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Mariadan's national animal is the Wolf, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, its national religion is Work, and its currency is the Diamond.

Mariadan is ranked 34th in The Black Riders and 6,389th in the world for Largest Trout Fishing Sector, scoring 4 on the Nemo Depletion Efficiency Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and