The Republic of Cantarose is a very large, environmentally stunning nation, remarkable for its ubiquitous missile silos, enslaved workforce, and compulsory military service. The hard-nosed, hard-working, devout population of 486 million Cantaroseans are either ruled by a sleek, efficient government or a conglomerate of multinational corporations; it's difficult to tell which.

The relatively small government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Defense, and Education. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 14.8%.

The very strong Cantarosean economy, worth 34.9 trillion florins a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Uranium Mining, Retail, and Furniture Restoration. Average income is 71,866 florins, but there is an enormous disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 436,683 per year while the poor average 5,255, a ratio of 83.1 to 1.

Visual acuity is worsening amongst teenagers, the only thing slower than the economy is the exchange where it's managed, international terrorists often get their weapons supply in Cantarose, and belligerent citizens shoot at passing clouds for 'violating their airspace'. Crime is a problem. Cantarose's national animal is the Toucan, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Cantarose is ranked 274,199^th in the world and 510^th in Starlight for Nicest Citizens, with 1.52 average smiles per day.