The Burnt World of Athas is a gargantuan, cultured nation, ruled by Tithian of Mericles with an iron fist, and notable for its otherworldly petting zoo, irreverence towards religion, and complete absence of social welfare. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical, humorless population of 30.884 billion Athasians are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

The medium-sized, corrupt, well-organized government is primarily concerned with Defense, with Environment, Education, and Industry also on the agenda, while Welfare and Social Policy receive no funds. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Tyr. The average income tax rate is 96.5%.

The frighteningly efficient Athasian economy, worth an astonishing 15,711 trillion gold pieces a year, is mostly comprised of black market activity, especially in Arms Manufacturing, Gambling, Retail, and Tourism. Average income is a breathtaking 508,735 gold pieces, with the richest citizens earning 8.3 times as much as the poorest.

Shelters struggle to keep up with the endless intake of stray animals, no cul-de-sac or trailer park is complete without a gambling parlor, foreign musicians that Tithian of Mericles dislikes are turned away at the border, and the ban on cars has been repealed. Crime, especially youth-related, is so common that it is unusual to encounter someone following the law, with the police force struggling against a lack of funding and a high mortality rate. Athas's national animal is the Thri-kreen, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its national religion is Psionics.

Athas is ranked 3,982^nd in the world and 1^st in Athas for Highest Average Tax Rates, with 96.48 Effective Tax Rate.