The Armed Democratic Republic of Aerde is a massive, orderly nation, ruled by Winterfliege with an iron fist, and remarkable for its keen interest in outer space, compulsory military service, and complete lack of prisons. The hard-nosed, cynical population of 1.169 billion Aerdeans are ruled without fear or favor by a psychotic dictator, who outlaws just about everything and refers to the populace as "my little playthings."

The medium-sized, corrupt, well-organized government prioritizes Defense, although Education, Industry, and Law & Order are also considered important, while International Aid isn't funded at all. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of City of Deer Valley. The average income tax rate is 67.3%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Aerdean economy, worth 146 trillion Aerdean Silvermarks a year, is broadly diversified and dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Retail, Uranium Mining, and Furniture Restoration. Black market activity is rampant. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 125,197 Aerdean Silvermarks, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.2 times as much as the poorest.

Wheelchair-enabled paratroopers need access ramps to get onto planes but not off them, father-son fishing trips have been banned, childhood friends of Winterfliege are living it large abroad at the taxpayers' expense, and people believe that if you teach a man to fish he won't buy fish from you any more. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Aerde's national animal is the Aerdean Valley Deer, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is Christianity.

Aerde is ranked 7,284^th in the world and 54^th in 10000 Islands for Largest Furniture Restoration Industry, scoring 7,370.03 on the Spitz-Pollish Productivity Index.