The Federal Republic of Izern 218 is a massive, efficient nation, remarkable for its infamous sell-swords, compulsory military service, and public floggings. The devout population of 1.307 billion Izern 218ians are fiercely patriotic and enjoy great social equality; they tend to view other, more capitalist countries as somewhat immoral and corrupt.

The large, corrupt, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Law & Order, and Industry. The average income tax rate is 68.0%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The powerhouse Izern 218ian economy, worth 118 trillion monies a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector is led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Tourism and Information Technology. Average income is 90,736 monies, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Tourists flock to see the giant stone carvings of historical leaders at Mount Rushless, citizens are forced to donate blood once every three months, public footpaths are being slowly eroded by the burgeoning number of ramblers, and no suburban lawn is complete without barbed wire and landmines. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a very well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Izern 218's national animal is the card, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Izern 218 is ranked 41,909^th in the world and 206^th in Izern for Nicest Citizens, with 18.34 average smiles per day.