The Principality of Calanthe is a massive, socially progressive nation, ruled by Prime Minister Sargon Dawson with an even hand, and renowned for its otherworldly petting zoo, irreverence towards religion, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate, democratic population of 1.204 billion Calanthians have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Healthcare, Education, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Leonida. The average income tax rate is 42.1%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The Calanthean economy, worth 67.5 trillion Calanthian ducats a year, is quite specialized and dominated by the Tourism industry, with significant contributions from Door-to-door Insurance Sales, Book Publishing, and Cheese Exports. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 56,041 Calanthian ducats, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Foreign casinos have trouble paying fans who bet on the triumph of the Leonida Lions against long odds, houses and businesses are bulldozed to make way for ever-expanding cemeteries, sexually-starved male dinosaurs terrorise tourists during weekly breakouts from Mesozoic Park, and fancy dress parties are raided by military police for new recruits. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Calanthe's national animal is the lion, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Calanthe is ranked 37,946^th in the world and 126^th in Concord for Safest, scoring 106.11 on the Bubble-Rapp Safety Rating.