The Republic of -Astoria- is a massive, safe nation, renowned for its multi-spousal wedding ceremonies, irreverence towards religion, and absence of drug laws. The democratic population of 3.512 billion Astorians hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The relatively small, liberal, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Welfare, and Healthcare. The average income tax rate is 18.0%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The large but inefficient Astorian economy, worth 145 trillion Astorian dollars a year, is led by the Trout Farming industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology, Automobile Manufacturing, and Beef-Based Agriculture. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 41,299 Astorian dollars, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.1 times as much as the poorest.

Recreational drug businesses are regularly pruned if they grow above the maximum legal size, the latest Harry Potter book is a bestseller, cyber-crime and tin-foil hat sales are both increasing at record rates, and many aides in Leader's office are known to be serial jaywalkers. Crime is well under control. -Astoria-'s national animal is the opossum, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

-Astoria- is ranked 169,926^th in the world and 25^th in Council of Constructed Languages for Largest Publishing Industry, scoring -1.98 on the Bella Potter Productivity e-Index.