The Ripobaek of Whelaen is a mammoth, cultured nation, ruled by David Solsonne with an even hand, and remarkable for its ubiquitous missile silos, pith helmet sales, and keen interest in outer space. The compassionate population of 5.019 billion Whelaenians are fiercely patriotic and enjoy great social equality; they tend to view other, more capitalist countries as somewhat immoral and corrupt.

The medium-sized, corrupt government juggles the competing demands of Education, Industry, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Kolasten. The average income tax rate is 48.1%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Whelaenian economy, worth 688 trillion Whels a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Tourism industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Book Publishing, and Arms Manufacturing. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 137,215 Whels, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.4 times as much as the poorest.

All the world's a stage for Whelaenian political theatrics, the new 'Things We Stole From Other Countries' exhibition at the National Museum of Antiquities is a hit, the government subsidizes those who produce the worst results, and top gamblers bet against seedy hoopers. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Whelaen's national animal is the Whelaenian Dog, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Whelaen is ranked 12,098^th in the world and 4^th in Lonia Kreptia Llor for Largest Publishing Industry, scoring 10,440.9 on the Bella Potter Productivity e-Index.