The Republic of Sayshell is a gargantuan, socially progressive nation, ruled by Hari Seldon with an even hand, and renowned for its keen interest in outer space, frequent executions, and complete lack of prisons. The compassionate, hard-working, democratic, humorless population of 22.905 billion Sayshellians enjoy extensive civil freedoms, particularly in social issues, while business tends to be more regulated.

The minute government, or what there is of one, is primarily concerned with Environment, with Education also on the agenda, while Spirituality and Defense are ignored. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Terminus. Income tax is unheard of.

The enormous but sluggish Sayshellian economy, worth a remarkable 1,318 trillion Rupees a year, is driven almost entirely by the private sector, which is quite specialized and led by the Book Publishing industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Tourism, and Retail. Average income is 57,550 Rupees, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.6 times as much as the poorest.

The nation's politicians are known more for the internet memes they spawn than any of their accomplishments, a favorite "life hack" for gap year backpackers is to pretend to be homeless for government handouts, hypochondriacs demand treatment for genetic disorders they don't have, and candidates make campaign speeches at the funerals of former rivals. Crime, especially youth-related, is all-pervasive, perhaps because of the country's complete lack of prisons. Sayshell's national animal is the Mule, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is Psychohistory.

Sayshell is ranked 285,525^th in the world and 4,020^th in the Pacific for Most Primitive, scoring -438.99 on the Scary Big Number Scale.