The Nation of United Islands of Cotarl is a massive, efficient nation, ruled by Garshield Bayhan with an even hand, and renowned for its zero percent divorce rate, compulsory military service, and irreverence towards religion. The compassionate, hard-working population of 2.064 billion Cotarlians 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 enormous government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Healthcare, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Liocott. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 73.1%.

The frighteningly efficient Cotarlian economy, worth 188 trillion Flanelas a year, is highly specialized and mostly made up of the Trout Farming industry, with major contributions from Tourism. Black market activity is rampant. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 91,447 Flanelas, with the richest citizens earning 8.4 times as much as the poorest.

Economists speak of trusting in the Tao of Free Market Capitalism, women who display their ankles are shunned by society, scholars are leaving the country at an alarming rate, and most fires are already out by the time the bucket brigade gets to them. Crime is moderate, with the police force struggling against a lack of funding and a high mortality rate. Cotarl's national animal is the Fish, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its national religion is Fishism.

Cotarl is ranked 321,994^th in the world and 96^th in Flanelistan for Highest Unexpected Death Rate, scoring 20.4 on the Bus Surprisal Index.