The Empire of The Surface is a massive, environmentally stunning nation, notable for its ban on automobiles and absence of drug laws. The hard-working, democratic, devout population of 1.657 billion Surfaceans enjoy a sensible mix of personal and economic freedoms, while the political process is open and the people's right to vote held sacrosanct.

The relatively small, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Welfare, Education, and Healthcare. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 9.9%.

The strong Surfacean economy, worth 102 trillion dollars a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Cheese Exports industry, with major contributions from Woodchip Exports, Furniture Restoration, and Tourism. Average income is 61,939 dollars, with the richest citizens earning 5.9 times as much as the poorest.

The new foreign policy is "why bother invading neighbours when they can be bought wholesale?", a major religion has been named as The Surface's national religion, Leader has just been declared ruler of The Surface in an international press conference, and The Surface has designated The Surface City as its capital city. Crime, especially youth-related, is almost non-existent. The Surface's national animal is the wolf, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

The Surface is ranked 272,214^th in the world and 1^st in The Surface for Highest Average Tax Rates, with 9.89 Effective Tax Rate.