Location: the South Pacific

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Constitutional Monarchy of Te Lia is a huge, safe nation, ruled by King So-Mal with an even hand, and remarkable for its barren, inhospitable landscape. Its hard-nosed, hard-working population of 988 million are either ruled by a sleek, efficient government or a conglomerate of multinational corporations; it's difficult to tell which.

The medium-sized, pro-business government juggles the competing demands of Defence, Law & Order, and Education. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Marsong. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 13%. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Beef-Based Agriculture, Gambling, and Woodchip Exports industries.

All-natural foods are becoming a major fad, the nation has an international reputation for compassion, prisoners work-share to cut down rising costs of keeping them in jail, and elected officials often serve for decades in a single term. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Te Lia's national animal is the Giant Bembob, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the Noodle.

Te Lia is ranked 2,371st in the South Pacific and 47,501st in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring -12 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and