The Commonwealth of Noratia is a huge, environmentally stunning nation, notable for its multi-spousal wedding ceremonies, absence of drug laws, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate, democratic population of 541 million Noratians hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The large, liberal government juggles the competing demands of Education, Healthcare, and Welfare. The average income tax rate is 39.2%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The Noratian economy, worth 23.2 trillion Norats a year, is quite specialized and dominated by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Trout Farming, Soda Sales, and Pizza Delivery. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 42,935 Norats, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

There have been reports of people marrying housepets, all tariffs have been abolished, attendance of fathers at PTA meetings is at an all-time high, and the slowest students feel vaguely targeted by their Mendelian Inheritance coursework. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Noratia's national animal is the Ferret, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Noratia is ranked 15,600^th in the world and 1,155^th in The North Pacific for Most Valuable International Artwork, with 16.9 Bank.