The Republic of 17- is a mammoth, safe nation, remarkable for its infamous sell-swords, disturbing lack of elderly people, and stringent health and safety legislation. The compassionate, devout population of 5.843 billion 17-ians are highly moralistic and fiercely conservative, in the sense that they tend to believe most things should be outlawed. People who have good jobs and work quietly at them are lauded; others are viewed with suspicion.

The large, moralistic government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Education, and Defense. The average income tax rate is 56.6%.

The strong 17-ian economy, worth 321 trillion pounds a year, is led by the Uranium Mining industry, with significant contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Furniture Restoration, and Woodchip Exports. Black market activity is frequent. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 55,057 pounds, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.6 times as much as the poorest.

Anyone who sneezes at border crossings is turned away, lions with strange deformities like three eyes and tentacles have been seen prancing through the countryside where industrial waste is dumped, gamblers often find their stakes burnt, and Leader's exquisite office door is replaced monthly due to angry petitioners. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a very well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. 17-'s national animal is the lion, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation.

17- is ranked 125,124^th in the world and 3^rd in Daylight Savings for Largest Populations, with 5.84 billion capita.