The Kingdom of United Islands of Cotarl is a massive, genial nation, ruled by Garshield Bayhan with an even hand, and notable for its remarkably easy parental licensing program, compulsory military service, and rampant corporate plagiarism. The compassionate, hard-working population of 2.02 billion Cotarlians have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and look forward to their next free and open election, to be held on an as-yet unannounced date.

The enormous government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Healthcare, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Liocott. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 73.8%.

The frighteningly efficient Cotarlian economy, worth 189 trillion Flanelas a year, is quite specialized and led by the Trout Farming industry, with major contributions from Tourism and Woodchip Exports. Black market activity is extensive. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 93,788 Flanelas, with the richest citizens earning 9.3 times as much as the poorest.

The natural world is burning as the government adds hot sauce, exploding toys that leak battery acid are back in the shops after the government declared child safety 'over-rated', a performance of the hit musical "Mamma Tua" has been delayed after squatters were found sleeping in the orchestra pit, and solving crossword puzzles requires fluency in at least five languages. Crime, especially youth-related, is almost non-existent. Cotarl's national animal is the Fish, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its national religion is Fishism.

Cotarl is ranked 313,258^th in the world and 97^th in Flanelistan for Largest Pizza Delivery Sector, scoring -13.2 on the Pepperoni Propulsion Productivity Index.