The People's Republic of Zapatal is a large, safe nation, remarkable for its keen interest in outer space, sprawling nuclear power plants, and avant-garde cinema. The compassionate, democratic population of 131 million Zapatalis enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The enormous, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Welfare, Administration, and Education. The average income tax rate is 75.8%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The sizeable but underdeveloped Zapatalian economy, worth 5.66 trillion Veris a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector, which is quite specialized, is led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Beef-Based Agriculture, Information Technology, and Basket Weaving. Average income is 43,206 Veris, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Singing in public is only allowed if you are singing the praise of the Motherland, kindergartners' favourite dance move is the stop-drop-and-roll, the jails are alive with the sound of birdsong, and burglars are known for taking cash, socks, and other valuables. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Zapatal's national animal is the Swordfish, which frolics freely in the nation's sparkling oceans.

Zapatal is ranked 23,575^th in the world and 301^st in The Leftist Assembly for Highest Average Tax Rates, with 75.82 Effective Tax Rate.