The Sleeping City of Fractethyst is a colossal, cultured nation, ruled by Sunset with an even hand, and notable for its pith helmet sales, otherworldly petting zoo, and devotion to social welfare. The compassionate, hard-working, democratic population of 5.116 billion Fractals enjoy extensive civil freedoms, particularly in social issues, while business tends to be more regulated.

The medium-sized, liberal government juggles the competing demands of Industry, Education, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Rheasilvia. The average income tax rate is 72.6%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Fractal economy, worth 862 trillion Pearls a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Retail, and Arms Manufacturing. Black market activity is rampant. Average income is an impressive 168,655 Pearls, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.4 times as much as the poorest.

Nihilistic thrill-seekers claim that suicide by roller coaster is the ultimate life experience, strict term limits have been applied to all elected offices, the mining industry is making inroads into environmentally sensitive areas, and census workers struggle to account for the rapidly increasing number of citizens to tabulate. Crime, especially youth-related, is pervasive, probably because of the absence of a police force. Fractethyst's national animal is the Grey Catbird, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its national religion is Ascension.

Fractethyst is ranked 258,019^th in the world and 672^nd in 10000 Islands for Most Patriotic, with 1.38 flags saluted per person per day.