The Grand Holy Empire of Istacidia Ri is a huge, cultured nation, renowned for its museums and concert halls, aversion to nipples, and complete absence of social welfare. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical, humorless, devout population of 881 million Istacidians are ruled with an iron fist by the corrupt, dictatorship government, which oppresses anyone who isn't on the board of a Fortune 500 company. Large corporations tend to be above the law, and use their financial clout to gain ever-increasing government benefits at the expense of the poor and unemployed.

The relatively small, corrupt, moralistic, pro-business, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Industry, and Spirituality. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Calata. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 11.5%.

The frighteningly efficient Istacidian economy, worth 104 trillion coemis a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Information Technology, Retail, and Automobile Manufacturing. Black market activity is notable. Average income is an impressive 118,764 coemis, but there is a vast disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 913,254 per year while the poor average 4,136, a ratio of 220 to 1.

Mining is the nation's most dangerous occupation, money grows on trees, the government is suspected of mass disappearing dissidents both at home and abroad, and the path to inner peace is paved with state-mandated punishment. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, despite the fact that it is difficult to make it through a day without breaking one of the country's many laws. Istacidia Ri's national animal is the lion, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Istacidia Ri is ranked 113,800^th in the world and 6,118^th in Balder for Largest Publishing Industry, scoring 2,907.97 on the Bella Potter Productivity e-Index.