Location: Capitalist Paradise

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Armed Republic of Zaku-stan is a massive, economically powerful nation, ruled by Commissar Mike with an iron fist, and renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 4.1 billion enjoy great individual freedoms in everything except elections, which, where they exist at all, are populist shams for a dictatorship government that has no intention of ever giving up power.

There is no government in the normal sense of the word; however, a small group of community-minded, corrupt, liberal, pro-business individuals devotes most of its attentions to Defence, with areas such as the Environment and Social Welfare receiving almost no funds by comparison. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Mikabad. Income tax is unheard of. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, followed by Information Technology and Uranium Mining.

The nation is experiencing a severe shortage of sporting events, the government regularly hires contractors to construct high rise apartments, Beaver is one of the most popular forenames in Zaku-stan, and the nation has recently been attributed to the funding of terrorist organisations. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is crippling. Zaku-stan's national animal is the Beaver, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the Zollar.

Zaku-stan is ranked 16th in Capitalist Paradise and 491st in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring 53 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and