The United Provinces of Ventelia is a gargantuan, socially progressive nation, ruled by Mertkan with a fair hand, and notable for its sprawling nuclear power plants, infamous sell-swords, and unlimited-speed roads. The compassionate, hard-working, democratic, cheerful population of 25.9 billion Ventelians 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 Education, Industry, and Environment. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Flouse. The average income tax rate is 9.8%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Ventelian economy, worth a remarkable 5,029 trillion Argels a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Book Publishing, and Retail. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 194,194 Argels, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.6 times as much as the poorest.

Priceless Maxtopian artwork can often be found in executive bathrooms, cultural heritage is measured in Scoville Heat Units, business owners return from long vacations to find their factories have been turned into homeless shelters, and the government seizes private property for the 'good of the people'. Crime is totally unknown. Ventelia's national animal is the dolphin, which frolics freely in the nation's sparkling oceans.

Ventelia is ranked 5,458^th in the world and 145^th in Europe for Nicest Citizens, with 44.11 average smiles per day.