The Union State of Greater Bahland is a colossal, socially progressive nation, ruled by President Andrew with an even hand, and notable for its multi-spousal wedding ceremonies, compulsory military service, and ritual sacrifices. The hard-nosed, hard-working, humorless, devout population of 5.291 billion Bahlandians enjoy some of the most opulent lifestyles in the region, unless they are unemployed or working-class, in which case they are variously starving to death or crippled by easily preventable diseases.

The medium-sized, corrupt, liberal government juggles the competing demands of Education, Industry, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Layshill. The average income tax rate is 38.2%.

The frighteningly efficient Bahlandian economy, worth a remarkable 1,020 trillion Geld-Shards a year, is fairly diversified and dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology, Tourism, and Beef-Based Agriculture. Black market activity is rampant. Average income is an impressive 192,943 Geld-Shards, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 4.8 times as much as the poorest.

New "Commiserations! It's An Accident!" greetings cards for expectant mothers are selling surprisingly quickly, the "swords to plowshares" policy has created a generation of farmers that can kill a yak from 200 yards away, students are known to arrive at school in their pyjamas, and the government's new 'Crime Can Fight Itself' policy appears to be backfiring rather badly. Crime is a problem, perhaps because of the country's complete lack of prisons. Greater Bahland's national animal is the lion, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its national religion is Christianity.

Greater Bahland is ranked 19,223^rd in the world and 300^th in Europe for Most Scientifically Advanced, scoring 286.4 on the Kurzweil Singularity Index.