The Free Land of Matarata is a small, cultured nation, notable for its digital currency, punitive income tax rates, and stringent health and safety legislation. The devout population of 36 million Mataratapels 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 large government juggles the competing demands of Spirituality, Law & Order, and Defense. The average income tax rate is 53.4%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The strong Matarater economy, worth 2.14 trillion 🍇 Glucose 🍬s a year, is led by the Book Publishing industry, with significant contributions from Retail, Information Technology, and Arms Manufacturing. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 59,376 🍇 Glucose 🍬s, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.3 times as much as the poorest.

Business meetings across the country are interrupted by the sound of squeaking whoopee-cushions, toxic smog is dismissed as the populace just "letting off steam", the words guilty and evidence have left the Matarater lexicon, and the experimental sculpture "Overtures In Dried 🐬 Cá Heo 🏝 Dung" has been declared a national treasure. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Matarata's national animal is the 🐬 Cá heo 🏝, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Matarata is ranked 95,358^th in the world and 4^th in Paladin Astralblitz for Most Advanced Defense Forces, scoring 2,740.47 on the Total War Preparedness Rating.