Location: The East Pacific

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Dominion of Spenland is a massive, devout nation, ruled by Lord Threems with an iron fist, and renowned for its complete lack of public education. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 1.083 billion are ruled with an iron fist by the corrupt, dictatorship government, which oppresses anyone who isn't on the board of a Fortune 500 company. Large corporations tend to be above the law, and use their financial clout to gain ever-increasing government benefits at the expense of the poor and unemployed.

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 Ansley. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 67%. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Uranium Mining industry, followed by Arms Manufacturing and Information Technology.

Citizens are regularly arrested in queues for 'loitering', penurious citizens die from easily remedied ailments because they aren't 'taking enough initiative', only the rich can afford the latest medical innovations, and scenic mountain valleys are flooded with water as damming projects get underway. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force. Spenland's national animal is the Kraken, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, its national religion is Athreemsism, and its currency is the Plashy.

Spenland is ranked 52nd in The East Pacific and 2,389th in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring 26 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and