Location: Middle Earth

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Kingdom of Salegard is a huge, devout nation, notable for its anti-smoking policies. Its hard-nosed, cynical population of 661 million 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."

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt, moralistic government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Defence, Law & Order, and Religion & Spirituality. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Lys Forest. The average income tax rate is 83%. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Arms Manufacturing.

Strange looking men with big red noses are found hiding behind bushes and inside dustbins, immigrants are required to salute the flag five times a day, the government has instituted 'traveller reservations' across the country, and tourists from around the world come to visit the country's famous rainforests. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force. Salegard's national animal is the Crocodile, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its currency is the Metal Coin.

Salegard is ranked 12th in Middle Earth and 91,916th in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring -23 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and