The Republic of Uvalor is a huge, cultured nation, notable for its smutty television, public floggings, and compulsory gun ownership. The compassionate, cynical population of 415 million Rijks 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, Education, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Lion County. The average income tax rate is 45.6%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Rijk economy, worth 41.3 trillion harris a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Book Publishing industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Trout Farming, and Information Technology. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 99,549 harris, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Every day has been a surprise since weather reporters turned to consulting ancient totems for their seven-day forecasts, citizens complain about a burning sensation after bathing, public shaming has become the favoured form of punishment, and the nation's weary schoolchildren excel at sport but must count scores on their fingers. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Uvalor's national animal is the lion, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Uvalor is ranked 118,470^th in the world and 3,821^st in the South Pacific for Largest Mining Sector, scoring 1,712.46 on the Blue Sky Asbestos Index.