The Republic of Maariko is a mammoth, socially progressive nation, remarkable for its museums and concert halls, national health service, and public floggings. The hard-nosed, hard-working, democratic population of 7.18 billion Maarikovians 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 Administration, Industry, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Warsu. The average income tax rate is 24.1%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Maarikovian economy, worth 783 trillion Euros a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Retail industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Arms Manufacturing, and Furniture Restoration. Average income is an impressive 109,168 Euros, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.0 times as much as the poorest.

Blackacrean security services are wondering why Leader is so fond of the numbers 6, 7 and 9, going on a diet invalidates your passport, voters regularly try to eat their ballot papers, and decaying farm hamlets have twice the representation of major urban areas. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown. Maariko's national animal is the Cougar, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, and its national religion is Christianity.

Maariko is ranked 28,697^th in the world and 354^th in Europe for Largest Welfare Programs, scoring 2,718.81 on the Safety Net Mesh Density Rating.