The Galactic Empire of Flarbinia is a gargantuan, cultured nation, ruled by Grand Emperor Vladimir Novgorod IV with an iron fist, and remarkable for its avowedly heterosexual populace, frequent executions, and zero percent divorce rate. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical, humorless, devout population of 20.229 billion Flarbinians are kept under strict control by the oppressive government, which measures its success by the nation's GDP and refers to individual citizens as "human resources."

The relatively small, corrupt, moralistic, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Industry, Defense, and Law & Order. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Deroth Ungol. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 6.6%.

The frighteningly efficient Flarbinian economy, worth an astonishing 12,372 trillion Shark'towels a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology, Retail, and Uranium Mining. Black market activity is extensive. Average income is a breathtaking 611,611 Shark'towels, but there is a vast disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 4,149,774 per year while the poor average 33,065, a ratio of 125 to 1.

Sports journals are full of uplifting puff-pieces on professional boxers, street preachers sell salvation with a side order of shame on every corner, 'Mountain Doobie' is widely regarded as the nation's favourite drink, and invasive drug testing is now performed at elementary school sports days. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Flarbinia's national animal is the Hellhound, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its national religion is Church Of Crulmoxius.

Flarbinia is ranked 214,886^th in the world and 7,156^th in Lazarus for Largest Welfare Programs, scoring -32.86 on the Safety Net Mesh Density Rating.