Location: India

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Democratic Republic of Zarqa is a massive, safe nation, ruled by Rais Ryouta with an even hand, and notable for its restrictive gun laws. Its compassionate, intelligent population of 1.978 billion have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Education, Healthcare, and Religion & Spirituality. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Madinat al-Zarqa. The average income tax rate is 69%, and even higher for the wealthy. A large private sector is dominated by the Information Technology industry.

Shanty towns are forming in the suburbs of major cities, the institution of marriage is held sacred and strictly enforced, Animal Liberationists are regularly jailed, and new safety regulations require all cars manufactured in Zarqa to be bombproof. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Zarqa's national animal is the Red Panda, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, its national religion is Kanzo, and its currency is the Dollar.

Zarqa is ranked 41st in India and 85,850th in the world for Shortest Average Lifespan, scoring -19 on the Bus Surprisal Index.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and