The Commonwealth of Baanta is a small, genial nation, remarkable for its keen interest in outer space and irreverence towards religion. The hard-working, democratic population of 40 million Baantins hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Welfare. The average income tax rate is 20.6%.

The thriving Baantan economy, worth 2.61 trillion Commonwealthian Uosses a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Woodchip Exports, Furniture Restoration, and Retail. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 65,233 Commonwealthian Uosses, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.9 times as much as the poorest.

Earthquake sirens are a leading cause of hearing loss, consumption of cat memes has skyrocketed, children often kick wedge-tailed Eagles for amusement, and schoolchildren learn an R-rated version of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes". Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown. Baanta's national animal is the wedge-tailed Eagle, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Baanta is ranked 68,832^nd in the world and 4^th in New Ukraine for Most Scientifically Advanced, scoring 139.67 on the Kurzweil Singularity Index.