Location: 0000

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Asian-Pacific Union of Uptgrad is a massive, economically powerful nation, ruled by King Panic with a fair hand, and remarkable for its keen interest in outer space. Its hard-nosed, intelligent population of 1.049 billion enjoy a sensible mix of personal and economic freedoms, while the political process is open and the people's right to vote held sacrosanct.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Defence, Law & Order, and Healthcare. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Ynitchpov. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 71%. A powerhouse of a private sector is dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry.

New safety regulations require all cars manufactured in Uptgrad to be bombproof, the 'kind of scrawny' 500 meter hurdle is a popular event, protesters are up in arms over new nuclear power stations, and radio shows frequently feature people denouncing religion. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Uptgrad's national animal is the SheWolf, which is also the nation's favorite main course, its national religion is Catholic-based Syncreticism, and its currency is the Uptgrad Omako.

Uptgrad is ranked 4th in 0000 and 90,791st in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring -22 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and