The Kingdom of Atherfield is a titanic, efficient nation, ruled by King Edward the Elder with an even hand, and remarkable for its anti-smoking policies, complete lack of prisons, and devotion to social welfare. The compassionate, democratic population of 19.473 billion Atherfielders enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The large, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Environment. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Pyle. The average income tax rate is 82.6%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Atherfieldian economy, worth a remarkable 2,324 trillion vects a year, is led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Tourism, Basket Weaving, and Book Publishing. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 119,346 vects, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Finders keepers is the law of the land, real power lies not in the debating room but with those who decide what is debated, government officials frequently cut taxes as a distraction from antics with their secretaries, and voters regularly try to eat their ballot papers. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Atherfield's national animal is the European badger, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is pagan.

Atherfield is ranked 15,023^rd in the world and 2^nd in Vectis for Highest Poor Incomes, with 105,294.41 Standard Monetary Units.